Pros and Cons of All-on-4 Dental Implants

All-on-4® dental implants are permanent full-arch restorations. This alternative to dentures restores the teeth without the use of a removable device. Instead, All-on-4 functions like real teeth, providing various benefits beyond simply restoring one's smile. Here are a few pros and cons of All-on-4 implants.

Defining All-on-4 dental implants

Dental implants are screwlike posts that act as replacement tooth roots. A periodontist places them directly into the jawbone and then places a tooth restoration on top of them. With All-on-4 implants, as their name suggests, a full arch of artificial teeth is cemented in place with four strategically placed implants. This is also known as a permanent denture.

Pros of All-on-4 implants

All-on-4 implants bring a host of advantages as a full-arch restoration. Not only are they quicker and easier on the patient than standard implants, but they are also a more affordable option. Check out their key advantages below:

Fewer implants, faster recovery

Only four dental implants per arch are needed to provide full-arch restoration. That means the patient only has to wait for fewer implants to heal before receiving the artificial teeth compared to traditional methods. In some cases, patients can receive temporary teeth while waiting for permanent artificial teeth. Regardless, the All-on-4 process has a faster recovery due to only needing four implants for an arch.

Done in a single visit

A major benefit of All-on-4 dental implants is that they may be placed in a single appointment. With standard dental implants, the patient must wait for the implants to fuse to the jawbone before dental crowns may be placed on top, completing the restoration. However, All-on-4 implants enable the periodontist to place the permanent dentures in the same appointment. That means patients can walk out with a fully restored smile that same day.

Preserves the jawbone

All-on-4s help preserve the integrity of the jawbone, as they regularly engage the bone. This prevents bone loss and the shrunken facial appearance that would otherwise occur. Further, the four implants are spread throughout each arch. The result? Patients are often able to get All-on-4 implants without a bone graft, as the periodontist will place each implant in the strongest parts of the jawbone.

Easy to care for

Patients merely need to practice good oral hygiene to maintain All-on-4 implants. Some periodontists recommend a dental checkup every three months (instead of every six months) to ensure the permanent dentures are in good condition. They will also be professionally cleaned during these checkups.

Potential cons

There are some cons to All-on-4s, but most are related to improper care or unmanaged patient expectations. For one, like any surgical procedure, there is a risk of infection at the site of incision. And if the implants cannot fuse to the jawbone because an infection delays healing, they may even fail. A periodontist may be able to try placing All-on-4s again once the infection is resolved.

In addition, while dental implants look and feel like real teeth, there will still be an adjustment period of about four to six months. For example, some patients report that full-arch restoration feels bulky at first. After all, they are not real teeth but an effective replacement for them.