All-on-4 Dental Implants

Durango, CO

You Don’t Have to Live With Tooth Loss

There are distinct advantages to living in the modern world. One of these, from the dental perspective, is the ability to live without the stigma and challenges of tooth loss. According to the Periodontic Association of America, roughly 175 million people, of all ages, have lost one or more teeth and this number is actually expected to grow larger over time. What this has done is spurred growth in the replacement tooth industry and the revolution of dental implants. Implants are a way to get the most natural-looking and behaving replacement teeth. However, the standard implant procedure is not always physically viable or convenient. In this situation, the All-on-4® procedure can be a better solution.

What is All-on-4®?

All-on-4® is a minimally invasive method of placing a full mouth of implants only using four implants to support a full arch (upper or lower) fixed non-removable replacement teeth. All-on-4® allows you to have a full set of teeth without having to undergo multiple surgeries and replacements to place a full set of implants in your mouth. The greatest thing about All-on-4® is that the procedure we can typically complete it in our office during one appointment under local anesthesia. For our patients who have lost all their teeth or may need to have the remaining teeth pulled due to decay, this is an amazing advancement that allows them to have a full set of teeth without undergoing multiple procedures. Simultaneously, this solution gives patients the kind of teeth that look real and act like the original teeth.

Who Should Get All-on-4®?

The simple answer is that anyone who has lost teeth and wants to have a permanent good-looking set of replacement teeth will benefit from dental implants. The All-on-4® systems offer people a chance to live a full and healthy lifestyle by replacing their teeth with implants over removable dentures. The ideal candidate for All-on-4® implants is someone who already wears dentures or is already missing multiple teeth. Additionally, this is an ideal procedure for someone that does not have the bone density to support a full set of individual implants, the time to have individual implants placed, or the budget to pay for them. The All-on-4® procedure is faster and more affordable.

There are several ways in which All-on-4® implants are better than dentures. Patients take care of All-on-4® implants in the same way they care for their natural teeth by brushing each day. The implants also operate in the same way as natural teeth, so the patient does not have to be cautious of what he or she eats. Along with the fact that patients do not have to remove All-on-4® implants when eating or cleaning their teeth, there is also no need for uncomfortable wires or brackets to hold the implants in place. Even more importantly for patients, dental implants allow anyone to eat what the heart desires. You do not have to worry about hot or cold affecting your dentures. You also can bite down with up to 70 percent more force, which allows you to eat the foods that you love. Finally, All-on-4® implants look exactly like your natural teeth. No one will be able to tell that you are wearing a dental prosthetic. From a dental health perspective, it is important to note that when you have All-on-4® implants, it is going to prevent bone deterioration in the jawbone and ultimately restore your facial features by fighting resorption. The process of resorption involves the implants stimulating the jaw to send a message to the body that the jaw is supporting teeth once again. Resorption will help the jawbone to regain some of the mass that it has lost previously. Many of our patients who visit our office notice a difference in their facial structure as a result.

The Process of Getting All-on-4®: The

Typically, the surgery takes approximately two hours and 30 minutes per arch. We can install your All-on-4® implants on your upper, lower, or both arches at the same time. While a dentist may make the process look easy, the surgery is a complex procedure that we can complete at an efficient pace. The process of getting All-on-4® implants can be laid out in four steps:

• The first step: A detailed examination where we will look at your records, existing conditions, whether you have a denture, what your facial structure needs are, and any other factors that may come into play when placing your implants.

• The second step: Typically involves CT scans, which are 3D pictures, of the jawbone. The scans include the positions of the replacement teeth, while also giving us critical information about where the bone sinuses and nerves are located for the implants.

• The third step: Involves creating a computer simulation of the implants, which we digitally position into the jawbone at the appropriate location to give you the most support from your replacement teeth. We can adjust the implants as needed and fabricate your new set of teeth for your needs.

• The fourth step: Finally, the most important step is the oral surgery. During surgery, we will provide you with anesthesia and then place the implants directly into your jawbone to secure your new set of teeth in place.

Benefits of implant-supported dentures

Here are some of the benefits patients get to enjoy when they choose implant-supported dentures:

1. Great stability

Implant dentures are secured to the patient’s jawbone the same way real teeth are anchored to bone tissues in the jaw. This means people who choose implant dentures do not have to restrict their meals to soft foods only.

The improved stability that comes with dentures attached to implants also prevents the formation of sores on soft tissues in the mouth. This typically occurs due to traditional dentures constantly rubbing against these soft tissues, irritating them.

The excellent stability that comes with implant-supported dentures also makes it easier to speak with these prosthetics. There is less of an adjustment period since patients no longer have to struggle with loose dentures while talking.

2. Prevents bone tissue breakdown

Bone tissues in the jaw tend to breakdown when teeth fall out. This is due to the jaw no longer getting the stimulation it needs to remain healthy. Like muscle tissues, bone tissues need stimulation to remain healthy. Atrophy occurs when this stimulation stops.

Implants are inserted into the patient’s jaw and they fuse with bone tissues around them through osseointegration. These implants are then fitted with dentures. When the wearer bites down on something, bite forces are transferred from the artificial teeth to the jaw via the implants. This gives the person’s jaw all the stimulation it needs to remain healthy. Implants are the only restorations that prevent the bone tissue loss that occurs when a tooth falls out.

3. Improved lifestyle

Implant dentures give patients artificial teeth that are almost as good as real teeth. It gives them a confidence boost and it allows them to get back to how life was before losing their teeth. There are special types of implant dentures that do not require any special care as is the case with traditional dentures. The patient simply takes care of them the same way they would take care of real teeth.

4. Oral Health Benefits

A missing tooth leaves a gap that goes all the way into the jaw,  which is less than ideal. The absent tooth root is no longer there to stimulate bone regeneration in the jaw. This puts the jawbone at risk of losing bone mass.  In the long term, people who stick to removable dentures start to lose definition in their lower face.

Dental implants act as replacements for tooth roots. Like a natural tooth root, a dental implant will flex in the jawbone as its wearer chews or bites down. The minimal movement of the implant stimulates the regeneration of the jawbone. To put it another way, an implant triggers the jaw to create new bone tissue to replace the minerals it loses to resorption.

The ideal number of implants for full arch dental restoration of the upper jaw

For the patient who is an excellent candidate for treatment, the dentist will use four implants. If the bone density of the patient’s upper jaw is on the low side, the dentist may use five or six implants.

As a rule of thumb, an oral surgeon will avoid areas of the upper jaw that sit close to sinus cavities and certain nerves. This is the reason why it is rare to find a dentist who recommends eight implants. In contrast, a healthy lower jaw can easily accommodate eight implants.

Fixed full-arch restoration with dental implants

One dental implant can support a single dental restoration. Several dental implants in strategic positions can support a prosthetic replacement for every tooth on a dental arch. This is what full-arch restoration means: The use of an implant-supported denture to replace every tooth on the jaw.

How many implants will a dentist use to support a patient’s permanent dentures? It depends on:

• The mass and density of the patient’s jawbone

• The full-arch dental restoration technique the dentists chooses

• Whether the procedure is for the upper or lower jaw

A good dentist will walk their patient through the process of full-arch dental restoration. They will explain the treatment plan they craft for their patient. The explainer should cover the number of implants needed and the reason why said implants go in certain spots.

The upper and lower jawbones are different in their structure. The lower jaw is stronger with far greater bone density than the upper jaw. It also has fewer adjacent structures to tiptoe around during implant surgery.

In contrast, the upper jaw has less bone density, making it the soft board to the lower jaw’s hardwood. Now, a solid jawbone provides solid support for a dental implant, which becomes a solid anchor for a restoration or prosthetic. This is the main consideration that a dentist accounts for as they work out how many implants their patient needs.

A set of implant-supported dentures can restore a smile by creating a permanent set of artificial teeth. The first benefit of permanent or fixed dentures is that they function like natural teeth, which means no slippage. The second upside of implant-supported dentures is their contribution to the health of the jaw.

Replace your missing teeth

Implant dentures are one of your best options if you have lost most of your real teeth. While other solutions like conventional dentures might be cheaper, implant dentures give you a more comfortable, healthier option. It helps to prevent issues that can arise with other alternatives like sores forming inside your mouth and bone tissue breakdown in the jaw. Call or visit our Durango clinic to learn more about how implant-supported dentures might be the solution you need.

The Success of the All-on-4® Procedure

The Oral and Maxillofacial Associates state that All-on-4® implants have a success rate of 98 percent. With All-on-4® implants, patients have a 98 percent probability of leaving our Durango offices with a perfect set of teeth that are permanently attached to their jawbone. To discuss how successful the procedure may be for you, call (970) 259-1646.