What are All on 4 Dental Implants?
All on 4 dental implants are an innovative dental restoration dependent on dental implants. First, we will describe the dental implant procedure, and then we can identify this unique adaptation and when it might be beneficial for you.
A Description of a Dental Implant
If an extraction, an accident, or an injury has left you with a missing tooth, you now have a space or gap where that tooth was. It is essential to have that tooth replaced as soon as possible. If you leave the gap, the neighboring teeth will immediately begin to drift and shift into the space, which will lead to a negative effect on your bite alignment and even your speech. Your traditional option for replacement has been a dental bridge, but now you can receive a dental implant.
With simple minor oral surgery, a tiny titanium post is placed into your jawbone. After a few months of healing, this post will integrate and bond to the bone. Next, an extension or abutment is added to the post to reach the gumline surface. Finally, an enamel or porcelain crown, custom fabricated in a dental lab to match your natural teeth, will be affixed to the abutment. This restoration is extraordinarily strong and the most realistic solution available when it comes to replacing that tooth. The titanium post functions as a root, stabilizing the tooth. In fact, with the addition of this artificial root, it also helps preserve the integrity of your jawbone.
Transitioning to an All on 4 Dental Implant Restoration
Statistically speaking, dental implants are currently used in over three million dental procedures a year. Successful, safe, and dependable when it comes to preserving both the health and integrity of your natural teeth, your gums, and of course, your natural smile. Over 35 million American adults today are missing all their teeth in either their upper or lower arch. Through the years, the only option was traditional dentures. Or now, with dental implants, an implant for each missing tooth, which would be quite costly. The All on 4 restoration solution innovatively combines both restorations.
How does an All on 4 Dental Implant work?
Your dentist will precisely position four small titanium posts into the arch with the missing teeth. Once the posts have fused to the bone, the abutment extensions will again be added. Next is the innovative step. An acrylic tray or bridge with artificial teeth will be affixed to those four posts, and you now have a permanent replacement for your arch with all missing natural teeth.
The Benefits of an All on 4 Dental Implant
The life expectancy of an All on 4 dental implant restoration is at 98% over the ten years they have been researched, used, and documented. With the four posts functioning as artificial roots, they are permanent, so you do not need to take out this tray like traditional dentures. They are considerably stronger when it comes to biting and chewing. Also, the hidden benefit is that the four posts deliver stimulating pressures to the jawbone, which maintains jawbone integrity, preventing atrophy and facial changes. An All on 4 dental implant is a viable new option if you have lost an arch of teeth or are tired of dealing with traditional dentures. Discuss this life-changing option with your dentist today.