There is a technique available to dental patients to end edentulism. This is a condition of having missing teeth. Edentulism could be used to describe either a partial or total loss of teeth. All-on-four implant is a surgical procedure that has been designed to provide permanent teeth to replace upper or lower teeth. The procedure is often recommended for patients who have substantial tooth loss and decay. These will be individuals who have a substantial bone loss in their jaw. This condition will make makes dental implants not possible for them.
History
The All-on-Four procedure was developed during the 1990s by a company called Nobel Biocare. It worked with Paulo Malo who is a Portuguese dentist. The procedure was designed to place for implants where the bone density is the highest. The four implants were able to hold a prosthesis with as many as 14 teeth. The prosthesis was then able to be put in place on the same day as the surgery.
Benefits
All in four can provide a person with a permanent set of teeth that feel and have the appearance of natural teeth. Since they are permanent teeth, they need to be cleaned and brushed the same as natural teeth. Unlike dentures, they do not have to be removed. There is no requirement for a person to used any dental adhesives. They are comfortable since the don’t press down on a person’s gums. People with All-on-4 implants can experience the various temperatures of their food as well as the taste. A person’s bite force will increase. They will be able to eat all of their favorite foods. People can once again have a nice smile.
All-on-Four Procedure
Before this procedure was developed restoring this many teeth could involve taking bone grafts and several months of treatments. A patient would have to deal with having no teeth or dentures for an extended period of time. A dental patient will begin the All-on-Four procedure after two visits to the dentist. These visits could involve photos, impressions, taking X-rays as well as a CAT scan and more. The procedure is then scheduled. A person’s new teeth can be fitted and adjusted within a 24-hour period. During the next several weeks after the surgery, a patient will need to have a number of check-ups. This could last for weeks or even months depending on the success of the procedure. After six months, a patient’s gums will have completely healed. A final set of teeth may be installed if necessary for a better fit. The All-on-Four surgical procedure will take about 2.5 hours per dental arch to complete.
Compared To Other Dental Implants
There have been a number of studies done concerning dental implants. All-on-4 dental implants have a success rate of over 97 percent. All-on-4 dental implants are placed at an angle. This utilized the natural support of the bone and increased contact. There are usually no requirement to have bone grafting. Patients say the All-on-4 dental implant procedure saved them money, time, and discomfort.