What is All-on-4 Dental Implants?
All-on-4 Dental Implants rockwall tx are a safe and effective treatment option for patients missing most or all of their teeth using only four strategically placed implants in the top or bottom jaw rather than one individual implant per tooth. All-on-4 is a wonderful option for patients who require extensive implant support and for patients whose jawbone has deteriorated to the point of no longer being able to support a traditional implant.
Although getting All-on4 dental implants is a costly and time-consuming undertaking, it may be helpful to remember that what you are really investing your money in is quality of life. Once the All-on-4 dental implant process is complete, you will enjoy countless benefits that come with having a full, healthy smile, including a restored ability to eat all kinds of foods, improved self-confidence, and better overall oral and physical health. If missing or severely damaged teeth are left untreated, you dramatically increase your risk of developing further jawbone deterioration and developing other oral and physical health issues. All-on-4 also eliminates many of the issues people have with dentures, which often cause irritation of the gums, require constant special maintenance, and frequently slip out of place when talking or eating.
All-on-4 Dental Implant Process
It generally takes between two to four hours to complete one arch of the All-on-4 dental implant, however the process of implementing All-on-4 will take several months or even years to complete depending on the severity of your case and your body’s natural healing rate. The first step in the All-on-4 process is your initial evaluation. During this exam, your periodontist will review your oral and medical history, determine the underlying cause of your tooth loss, and take diagnostic exams to determine your viability for this procedure.
Once this information is collected, a treatment plan will be developed. This treatment plan may include preliminary procedures, such as tooth extraction, bone grafting, and/or correcting periodontal disease. Following this, your All-on-4 implants will be ready to be placed. To ensure you do not experience discomfort, a local anesthetic and dental sedation will be administered. Once you are comfortable, your periodontist will make an incision in your gum and shape the socket into which the implant will be placed. Once the socket is prepared, they will insert the titanium screw and attach the abutment, after which your gums will be sutured, and a temporary set of dentures placed.
After this part of the procedure is complete, you will begin the healing process whereby the titanium posts that were placed in your jaw will begin to naturally fuse with the surrounding jawbone through a process called osseointegration. Immediately following the placement of your implants, you will likely experience some pain and discomfort, but this can be managed with over-the-counter or prescribed pain medication, ice pack therapy, and rest. You will also need to follow a soft food diet for some time following the procedure to avoid damaging the implant and reduce your risk of complications.
Once the titanium posts have fully healed, you will return one last time and your permanent dentures will be placed and you can begin to enjoy having a bright, full smile again!