What You Need to Know about All-on-Four

We know complete tooth loss is devastating for many people and can cause a loss of confidence and difficulties with eating and talking comfortably. Complete tooth loss can affect your facial appearance and even impact your jaw joints, potentially causing jaw and neck pain. Traditionally, full dentures were the only option, but nowadays, All-on-Four is often a far preferable solution.

What Is All-on-Four?

All-on-Four is an implant solution where just four dental implants can hold a complete arch of teeth. It is suitable for replacing teeth in the upper or lower jaw or both and is an excellent alternative to loose dentures, providing patients with a set of teeth that are firmly fixed in place.

How Does Treatment Work?

When dental implants are used traditionally to restore a complete arch of teeth, the implants are situated evenly throughout the jaw. With All-on-Four, the implants are inserted in the front of the mouth. This is where the jawbone is naturally thicker and stronger.

Situating the implants at the front of the mouth helps avoid bone grafting, which is often required when dental implants are situated towards the back of the mouth, where the jawbone is often thinner and less suitable for supporting dental implants. The four dental implants are also inserted slightly differently. Normally dental implants are inserted vertically, but while the two implants right front of the mouth are upright, those on either side are tilted backwards. Tipping these implants backwards allows implant dentists to use a longer implant post, increasing the contact with the bone surrounding the implant post and the strength and stability of the implants, so they are more able to support a complete arch of teeth.

After the dental implants are in place, they need time to heal and integrate with the bone around them, but you can still receive a set of temporary teeth within one or two days of surgery. These are called immediate teeth and are designed and fabricated before your surgery. They will restore your appearance so you can smile and talk confidently while your implants heal, but you will need to follow a softer diet as the immediate teeth are not suitable for chewing harder foods.

Once your implants have fully healed, we can make your permanent implant teeth. These are fitted onto your dental implants and should look and feel comfortable and natural. Your biting strength will be restored, so you can eat just about anything you wish.

What Are the Advantages of Choosing All-on-Four?

Because just four dental implants are required, treatment is quicker and more affordable. It is also a good option for anyone who may have investigated implant treatment previously but were told they were unsuitable, perhaps because they needed a bone graft and did not wish to have this procedure. Dental implants are a long-lasting solution, provided you care for them properly. When looked after correctly, you could be enjoying your implant teeth for many years to come or for life. Looking after dental implant teeth is simple, and we can show you exactly how to care for them in between your regular six-monthly checkups and dental cleanings.