Ask the Implantologist: Frequently Asked Questions About ‘All on Four Implants’, PART 3

In this article, part 3 of 3, some frequently asked questions pertaining to the innovative ‘All-on-Four’ dental implant technique are addressed.

All on Four Implants: Introduction

In the last two blog posts, we addressed some of the questions most frequently asked of implantologists; experts in the placement of dental implants. In this final installment, we will be looking at a fairly recent advancement in the field of fixed oral rehabilitation: All on Four implants (www.nodentures.com). This innovative dental implant technique was designed by European implantologist Dr. Paulo Malo in order to address and correct the oral problems presented by patients who have lost all, or who are about to lose all of their original adult teeth. Edentulism (the state of being toothless) and the leading cause of it, periodontal (gum) disease, is a pervasive problem in the United States. The ability for patients to have a full set of aesthetic, immediately functional and non-removable teeth placed with All on Four implants is a massive step forward and an important advancement in dental science; especially considering that All on Four implants can in most cases be placed in a single day! So, for your information, here are some frequently asked questions about All on Four implants.

Question 5 ~ What is the procedure involved in the placement of All on Four implants?

If you are a candidate for All on Four implants – and most near-edentulous or edentulous patients are – then the implantologist will begin by eliminating bacterial infection in your mouth. A thorough, deep clean is imperative and must be done before any implants are placed. Subsequently, your remaining failing teeth (if any) will be extracted under a local or general anesthetic, so you won’t feel a thing and then, the All on Four implants placed. There are (as the name suggests) four dental implants per jaw, so the surgical component of the procedure will consist of the placement of eight in total for restoration of both the upper and lower dental arch. Once the All on Four implants have been placed, the prosthodontist will take over and affix a fully customized prosthetic dental bridge to the four abutments of the implants. This titanium-framed bridge will have been custom fabricated from molds taken of your mouth in your initial consultation with the implantologist.

Question 6 ~ What makes All on Four implants different from removable dentures or false teeth?

A whole world of advantages and benefits, that’s what! The prosthetic dental bridge that is attached to the All on Four implants is fixed and non-removable, which means:

· It does not shift around and cannot fall out

· It is cleaned just like your original teeth, so no removal after meals and at nighttime

· It does not cause any pain or discomfort of the underlying gums

Furthermore, your All on Four implants are fabricated to function, feel and look just like natural, healthy teeth. Removable dentures may enable you to eat and look as close to normal as possible given the circumstances, but they just don’t offer the advantages that the permanent, immediately functional and highly aesthetic All on Four implants do (www.dentalimplantcosthouston.com).