What To Know Before Getting All-on-4 Implants

All-on-4® dental implants are permanent dentures with quick, same-day installation and straightforward maintenance, making them popular among patients. If you are considering getting All-on-4s, here is what you should know before booking your first appointment.

All-on-4 dental implants explained

Dental implants are metal posts that fit into the jawbone, acting as a new tooth root. A dental crown will be placed on standard implants to replace the tooth. Other restorations, such as dental bridges, may be affixed to implants to replace up to five teeth. All-on-4s offer an even more comprehensive restoration, as only four dental implants need to be placed along the upper arch to secure a full-arch replacement (permanent denture).

With the all-on-4 process, the patient will receive four titanium implant posts in specific areas of the mouth. The posts will then need four to six months to go through the process of osseointegration, which is when the post fuses with the jawbone. A patient can receive temporary artificial teeth during this period until the implants fuse to the jawbone. Once complete, the patient will then return to receive the actual implants.

A natural-feeling restoration that protects the jawbone

All-on-4s act like real teeth because they are attached to the jawbone. Therefore, patients can avoid the deterioration of their jawbone from lack of use. There is an adjustment period to living with All-on-4s. However, most patients will adjust fairly quickly to these artificial teeth and enjoy easier maintenance methods than other options.

Maintaining All-on-4s

All-on-4 implants are easy to care for and clean. Practicing good hygiene with these full-arch replacements involves daily brushing and flossing. Patients can extend the lifetime of their implants with professional cleanings every three months.

Candidacy

Meeting the eligibility requirements for All-on-4 implants is generally easier than for standard implants because the periodontist will strategically place them in the strongest part of the jawbone. However, the patient will need sufficient jawbone density in those areas. The periodontist will locate these areas through dental X-rays.

Good candidates for All-on-4s also have good oral health. That means no untreated gum disease or infected teeth. Patients must seek treatment for these conditions before getting implants. Good general health is crucial, as well. Any conditions that affect bone healing could result in the implants failing to fuse to the jawbone (dental implant failure), requiring their removal and replacement. A periodontist may try placing All-on-4s once again; alternatively, they may need to recommend a different tooth replacement solution.

Potential for qualifying procedures

In the event that a patient has a disqualifying health condition, a periodontist may recommend or provide treatment so they may become a candidate for All-on-4s. This could be a dental bone graft to strengthen the jawbone or gum disease treatment. Root canal therapy may be necessary to restore infected teeth. In other words, patients can still seek the all-on-4 treatment even if they do not qualify for All-on-4s at first.