At some point in our lives, we’re faced with an unfortunate situation where we lose our teeth due to accidental impact, old age, and oral health problems like advanced tooth decay.
Regardless of the cause, restoring your teeth will benefit you significantly in terms of self-confidence and functionality. All-on-4 dental implants are a popular new method to achieve this goal.
“What is an all-on-4 dental implant,” you ask? In this blog, we will walk you through all you need to know about this treatment, including how it’s performed and how much it costs.
What Is an All-on-4 Dental Implant?
All-on-4 dental implants are dental prosthetics used to replace a row of teeth with four dental implants precisely placed on the upper and lower jaws of your mouth.
They are used to support fixed dentures and restore the mouth’s full function without needing individual implants for each missing tooth. They are made of durable titanium and easily fuse with your jawbone.
Advantages
The All-on-4 dental implant treatment is the solution to many traditional denture shortcomings such as premature loosening, uncomfortable denture adhesive, and gradual bone density loss. It is embedded into the jawbone, offering a more secure adhesion and stimulation like natural teeth. This maintains jawbone strength and prevents bone density loss.
This dental solution also:
- prevents accidental looseness and detachment while eating
- costs less than individual replacements
- makes teeth replacement procedures easier and faster
- serves as a permanent solution for restoring teeth
- offers a more secure denture support
The All-on-4 Dental Implant Procedure
1. Consultation and Examination
The dentist will begin with a consultation and a comprehensive examination. It will include the mouth’s physical examination, a detailed review of a patient’s medical history and dental health, digital 3D scans, and x-rays. The information gathered will give the dentist an accurate picture of the patient’s current dental health and identify underlying issues to address before proceeding with the All-on-4 dental implant procedure.
In addition, the dentist will ask the patient about their goals and enlighten them about the expected outcomes for treatment. This step will consider all aspects involved and keep the patient informed before undergoing any major surgical procedure.
2. Pre-procedure and Patient Prep
The patient will be prepared for surgery after the dentist confirms that they are an eligible candidate for All-on-4 dental implants, well-informed, and committed to the rest of the procedure.
To ensure that the dental implant’s design, shape, placement, and orientation offers a perfect fit, comfort, and stability for the patient, the dentist will measure and prepare the following:
- height of natural gum lines
- the extent of an overbite or underbite
- required ridge reduction
- bite impressions
After measuring and preparing these components, the dentist will schedule the patient for All-on-4 dental implant surgery.
3. All-on-4 Dental Implant Surgery Proper
During the surgical proper, the dental surgeon will measure and mark the correct natural distance between the patient’s top and bottom jaw to keep the jaw and facial structure in the same position after the procedure.
The patient will be sedated before surgery. Any damaged or excess gum tissue will be removed.
The dentist will make an incision along the ridge’s length to expose the jaw for ridge reduction using the predetermined bone measurements at the top and bottom arches as a guide. They will then smooth out the remaining bone to prepare it for the embedding of implants.
Next, the dentist will mark each insertion point on the bone surface and drill pilot holes at precise angles to ensure maximum strength and stability. After each implant is inserted and tightened, the dentist will replace the gum tissue surrounding the implants and close all incisions.
Recovering From the All-on-4 Dental Implant Procedure
The recovery time following the surgery usually takes a few days. However, the fusing of implants to the jawbone and healing of the gums takes three to eight months. Following standard guidelines for post-surgery care helps facilitate healing.
After the procedure, the dentist may recommend pain killers as needed and offer you advice on keeping your mouth clean. They will also recommend you to follow a soft-food diet for the first few months following the procedure. If necessary, they can also schedule a follow-up appointment to monitor your progress.
How Much Does the All-on-4 Dental Implant Cost?
Now that you know about the procedure, you may ask, “How much does the All-on-4 dental implant cost?”
The typical price range for these implants is 12,000 to 50,000 dollars. You might need to prepare an average cost of around 25,000 dollars per arch.
However, it may increase depending on several factors like:
- the materials used
- the number of teeth to be replaced
- bone grafting and jawbone strengthening done
- the area you live in
- market competition
Get Better Smiles at Century Dental
Restore your smile and experience the difference of All-on-4 dental implants — at Century Dental!
Century Dental offers 40 years of comfortable and trusted dental care. With our team of experienced dentists in Treasure Island, FL, you’ll achieve the best results from this life-changing dental procedure. Make an appointment with us today to have your queries about our treatment resolved.
