While the pain and social anxiety associated with tooth loss may seem overwhelming, there is hope available with a one-day dental implant solution. Advanced dental technology provides tooth replacement options that were impossible in the past. The All-on-4® procedure can replace all your teeth in one day, allowing you to smile with confidence.
Different dental procedures, like x-rays and a dental exam, are performed before the one-day All-on-4® treatment, which involves extraction of remaining teeth and placement of natural-looking artificial teeth. The treatment is also common for prior denture patients who want a more permanent and comfortable solution. Instead of hiding away after your tooth extraction, you will walk out of the dental office with the smile of your dreams.
Is the All-on-4® One-Day Treatment Right for Me?
A dentist must examine you to determine your candidacy for All-on-4 tooth replacement. The one-day tooth replacement procedure is an excellent option for patients experiencing extensive tooth loss or patients whose remaining teeth require extraction due to periodontal disease and decay. All-on-4 allows patients to enjoy a complete set of teeth without undergoing extensive delays and multiple surgeries.
Step one to getting All-on-4® implants is a physical examination to determine if the dentist can preserve your remaining teeth. If they cannot, the dentist will explain extraction and replacement options, such as removable false teeth (also known as dentures), a full mouth of implants with permanently attached artificial teeth, and All-on-4® using four implants to secure a set of dentures permanently.
Because All-on-4® artificial teeth are less bulky than traditional dentures, the process is beneficial for patients with a shallow palate or reduced bone ridge. The process is also customized to match the patient’s needs, and good candidates may have several teeth missing on the top, bottom, or both. The advanced technology used in All-on-4® is an excellent option for candidates who would otherwise need bone grafting for full implants because fewer implants are required in the All-on-4 treatment.
All-on-4® may be right for you if you desire a permanent new smile without the inconvenient and lengthy process required for a complete set of implants, which takes months to complete and involves at least two surgeries with a rest period between each to allow for healing. After All-on-4®, patients leave the office with finished implants and natural-looking teeth. Same day All-on-4® implants minimize office visits and provide patients with immediate results.
The All-on-4® Procedure
The All-on-4® procedure, unlike traditional implants, does not require an implant for each missing tooth. If multiple teeth are missing in the jaw, the dentist will remove the other teeth that cannot be saved and place four implants to anchor a set of natural-looking false teeth. The implants are made of titanium and look like screws, securing the denture base and artificial teeth.
All-on-4® technology secures a complete set of artificial teeth with four implants per arch. After the procedure, temporary dentures are placed on the four implants.
Approximately six months later, when the implants have fully integrated into the bone, you will return to the office to have the temporary dentures removed, and the final dentures positioned. The final denture usually has a titanium bar in it for strength and durability.
All-on-4® Reduces Bone Grafting Needs
Patients who have a lot of missing teeth will typically experience deterioration of the jawbone. The bone must be rebuilt using grafts before traditional implants are placed, and this requires additional time because the jawbone takes months to heal. Unlike conventional dental implants, All-on-4® technology provides patients with a natural-looking, stable smile without requiring bone grafts.
The dentist uses high-tech diagnostics to locate areas in the jawbone with the volume and bone density needed to secure the four implants. The dentist also tilts the posterior implants to access strong bone without bone grafts.
In most cases, the All-on-4® technique eliminates the need for bone grafting. The implants create a sturdy anchor for an entire arch of new, permanent teeth without bone grafting, even when the patient has a significant bone loss.
All-on-4® Prevents Further Bone Loss
When tooth loss occurs, bone loss is a secondary condition that alters the structure of the face. All-on-4® helps restore the natural facial system and activate muscle tone, so patients begin to appear younger, feel more confident, and enjoy foods they loved before their tooth loss.
If you have your teeth fixed with All-on-4®, you can expect to experience a healthier lifestyle as you can consume all the nutrients you need. You will also not have to worry about jawbone deterioration or a decrease in your facial structure. Your new teeth will be beautiful and straight, and you will no longer be embarrassed to smile.
All-on-4® Recovery
The All-on-4® procedure is completed in one office visit. The dentist explains the process in detail during the consultation, including post-care instructions. The minimally invasive procedure is performed with oral sedation, which fades within 4 to 5 hours after the treatment.
You will need to ask a family member or close friend to drive you home after the procedure. A liquid or soft food diet is required for a few days.
Your gums will begin to heal around the four implants quickly. Antibiotics and an antimicrobial mouthwash are prescribed after the procedure, along with pain medication to help with any discomfort.
Most patients return to work within 2 to 3 days, and the dentist will discuss your return to work during the consultation. Bone grafting is rarely needed with All-on-4® because the dentist can strategically place the implants in areas with strong bone density. But when it is required, the dentist will explain the adjustment to the process, including the extended recovery, as the healing may take three weeks.
You will have some food restrictions for a few months after the All-on-4 procedure, which are needed to avoid disturbing the implants. Patients are also encouraged to avoid smoking, heavy lifting, and extreme exercise for a few weeks after the treatment. Patients need to follow all of the dentist’s instructions because they will encourage healing and protect the implants as they bond with the bone, which will increase the treatment’s long-term success.
Follow-up appointments will ensure that the implants are properly healing. Some bleeding and soreness are common, but complications are rare. The dentist will discuss any risks during the consultation.
Once the brief period of soreness subsides, you will experience full chewing capability, just as you would with your natural teeth. While your mouth will undergo a healing process after the All-on-4 procedure, it is minimal as compared to full implants.
You’ll be able to speak normally and enjoy food and beverages after a brief period of tenderness are resolved. You can laugh and smile with confidence after the All-on-4 same-day tooth replacement procedure.
Ask to see before and after photos from previous patients to know what to expect after your procedure. The All-on-4 treatment provides outstanding results and a short recovery period.
All-on-4® Benefits
All-on-4® is an attractive option for patients with missing teeth who would like a permanent solution, unlike removable dentures. All-on-4® is fast and convenient, and the dentist completes the procedure in one day. Patients can enjoy a new smile and full function of their mouth while saving time and reducing the anxiety and stress associated with lengthy replacement options like conventional implants.
All-on-4® provides durability and outstanding aesthetic results. Unlike conventional implants, All-on-4® requires only four implants and is a more accessible, cheaper, quicker, and more comfortable treatment. All-on-4® also uses advanced technology and placement to reduce the need for bone grafting in individuals with bone deterioration.
All-on-4® offers long-lasting results that most dentists believe will last 15 years or longer with proper care. Patients must clean the implants like regular teeth, including brushing consistently, flossing, and using recommended products. The new teeth will not need adhesives like dentures to prevent slipping and sliding, and All-on-4® are more comfortable on the gums than removable dentures.
All-on-4® teeth look and function naturally. After the implants bond with the bone, patients can eat and drink normally, the pain of tooth decay is gone, and the teeth feel great. The many health issues patients experience with failing teeth are reversed, and they begin to experience renewed health after having their teeth restored with All-on-4®.
Learn More About All-on-4®
A dentist will examine your teeth, take x-rays, perform diagnostic tests, and review your health history to determine if All-on-4® one-day tooth replacement is suitable for you. They will explain the procedure, the benefits you will experience, and the recovery process during the consultation.
If you are suffering from missing teeth and are interested in replacing all of your teeth in one day, call 713-960-9623 or visit Uptown Dentistry to schedule an All-on-4® consultation. We look forward to meeting you at Uptown Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry in Houston, TX, where we offer outstanding and compassionate dental care.