According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every 1 in 6 adults over the age of 65 suffer from edentulism (loss of all teeth). This number increases significantly when considering people with severely damaged or decayed teeth, highlighting the importance of cosmetic dentistry.
To find the best solution to edentulism, the ever-improving world of cosmetic dentistry has come up with All-on-4 Dental Implants. Let’s explore All-on-4 Dental Implants in detail to better understand this innovative treatment modality.
All-on-4 dental implants consist of a bridge with a complete set of teeth supported by four implants placed strategically into the bone. To put it simply, consider a regular complete denture. If we attach four implants to it, anchored in the bone, we have an all-on-4 dental implant.
Traditional dental implants require 6-8 implants placed in each arch. However, the all-on-4 maximizes the use of available bone, eliminating the need for a bone graft or a sinus lift. This makes implants a more affordable and efficient treatment option.
All-on-4 dental implants are indicated in patients who have lost all their teeth in one or two arches. Moreover, patients with grossly deteriorated teeth can also have all-on-4 dental implants after extraction. However, it is crucial to check the health of periodontal tissue before opting for any implant option.
Since conventional dental implants are embedded vertically in the bone, patients with compromised ridges cannot go for them without getting a surgical bone graft or a sinus lift procedure. In such patients, all-on-4 dental implants prove to be a beneficial treatment option. The minimum bone width required is 5mm, with a minimum height of 8-10 mm.
When a patient has reduced bone height, it is difficult to place the implant while avoiding sinus cavities in the maxilla and nerve pathways in the mandible.
In the maxilla, two implants are placed vertically in the front. At the back, they are tilted at an angle of 30-45 degrees to avoid the overlying sinus. Similarly, the distal implants are tilted in the mandible, too, to avoid the inferior alveolar canal. Tilting these implants also reduces the cantilever at each end, preventing high-stress points in occlusion. These tilted implants are splinted later for extra support and grip.
Getting all-on-4 dental implants is a time-consuming procedure. During your first visit, a dentist will thoroughly examine your oral cavity and address issues like active caries or periodontal infection. If your teeth are decayed, they will be extracted periodically and given time to heal.
After the initial examination, imaging procedures such as X-rays, OPGs, and CBCTs will be conducted to have a complete picture of your bone condition, sinuses, and nerve pathways. Based on that, they will devise and discuss a treatment plan with you.
Once all the prep is completed, the next step is to excise the gums, drill the bone, and strategically place four implants in each arch. After placement, they will put in a temporary set of teeth, so you don’t have to go home edentulous.
After this appointment, your dentist will give you a few months to allow the titanium implant to fuse with your bone, a process called osseointegration. Once integrated, temporary teeth will be replaced with a custom-made set of permanent teeth. These teeth will be fine-tuned to occlude together perfectly.
Finally, your dentist will provide instructions on maintaining your new teeth and the implants. They will also schedule follow-up appointments to monitor your condition.
While considering the variety of options available in cosmetic dentistry, it is best to weigh your options beforehand. Let’s have a look at some benefits that come with all-on-4 dental implants.
Along with its benefits, all-on-4 dental implants have their disadvantages, too. Some of the all-on-4 dental implant problems are as follows;
To increase the life of your all-on-4 dental implants, you must maintain them properly. Here are some tips to do so,
All-on-4 dental implants have revolutionized the world of cosmetic dentistry. Hesed Dental is a reliable name for all-on-4 dental implants in NJ. Here, we understand the importance of having a healthy smile, offering comprehensive installation services of all-on-4 dental implants in NJ.
Additionally, our in-house labs allow us to design custom veneers to meet our customers’ requirements. So contact us now if you need all-on-4 implants or are looking for custom-made veneers.
Hesed Dental 543 Gorge Road Cliffside Park, NJ 07010
201 941 8877