Losing teeth is a common dilemma that requires action. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the average American over 50 has lost 12 permanent teeth to issues like gum disease, decay, or traumatic injury. You can trust us, Houston’s leading All-on-4 provider, to protect and restore your teeth.
Tooth loss doesn’t just affect your smile; it affects your overall health, and delayed treatment allows the problem to grow. Missing teeth, tooth decay, and gum disease create an environment that triggers pain and infection, alters your bite, and weakens the jawbone.
Advances in dental medicine provide various functional and attractive replacement options. Implants are the preferred tooth replacement option, but many can’t have implants due to the expense or a weak jawbone. But, All-in-4 technology brings hope and answers.
We have put together this All-on-4® dental implant guide at Uptown Cosmetic Implant Dentistry to answer our patient’s most commonly asked questions.
All-on-4® Compared to Dentures and Implants
Conventional dentures, full-mouth dental implants, and All-on-4 permanent dentures are the three leading full-arch tooth replacement options. Let’s review the options, and you will see the distinct benefits that push All-on-4® technology as the number one best dental replacement option.
Conventional Dentures
Conventional dentures are removable dental prosthetic teeth supported by the gums and tissues in the oral cavity. Traditional dentures also typically cover the roof of the mouth. There are many reasons why people struggle with conventional removable dentures. Patients often express concern about gum irritation, eating limitations, and the required daily maintenance.
Full Mouth Dental Implants
Dental implants with attached crowns or bridges are one of the top tooth replacement choices based on functionality and appearance. Still, they are also the most costly full-mouth restoration option, and the process is lengthy, possibly requiring multiple bone grafts. Full-mouth dental implants require 8-10 implants per jaw, compared to 4 implants per jaw for All-on-4.
All-on-4® Permanent Dentures
All-on-4® permanent dentures by Nobel Biocare™ offer adults a faster, more affordable way to replace a row of missing teeth. The treatment uses just four implants to secure high-quality, natural-looking dentures in position. All-on-4® offers the most comfortable and realistic option by combining the stability power of implants with natural-looking permanently affixed dentures that function like natural teeth.
All-on-4® gives patients a new smile, removes painful teeth, and fixes dental problems they may have struggled with for many years. Compared to a full mouth of implants and conventional removable dentures, All-on-4® leads the way in comfort, cost, appearance, and functionality.
All-on-4® Benefits
All-on-4® utilizes innovative technology for adults who have lost all their teeth on the upper or lower jaw (or both). The process involves four implants inserted into the upper or lower jaw. The support system provides a solid foundation for permanently adhered dentures, which allow patients to enjoy eating a full menu once again.
The many benefits of the All-on-4 technology include the following:
- Beautiful, natural-looking teeth that complement your face
- Perform and feel like natural teeth.
- Quick recovery time from implants to final smile
- The roof of the mouth remains uncovered.
- Food tastes better with an open roof.
- Fully restore chewing capability.
- Requires minimal jaw volume (significantly reducing the need for bone grafts)
- All-on-4 teeth gain strength from the jaw (dentures gain strength from the gums)
- Enjoy eating a regular diet.
All-on-4® Consultation
The first step towards beautiful, healthy teeth is an All-on-4 consultation with Dr. Robert Velasco, DDS or Dr. Camilla Barrilleaux, DDS. The prosthodontist will examine your mouth and explain different options to restore your teeth. Next, he will do a CBT scan to assess your suitability for implants. The dentist will take x-rays and impressions to help plan your treatment.
The CBT scan will check your bone density and determine where implants could be inserted. Bone grafting is not typically needed for the All-in-One procedure, but the dentist will explain the other process if required.
Full arch rehabilitation involves two straight implants in the anterior and two tilted implants at a 45° angle in the posterior. Tilting the posterior implants helps to utilize available bone and avoid bone grafting. In some cases, the dentist may recommend a fixed provisional bridge on the upper and lower jaw.
The helpful office staff will discuss the cost and help you set up your All-on-4 procedure. If you are a suitable candidate, the dentist will take impressions and photos and send them to a lab. The lab will create a beautiful set of natural-looking teeth customized to match your goals.
All-on-4 One-Day Procedure
The All-on-4 treatment is a same-day procedure performed at our beautiful Uptown Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry office in Houston, TX. The relaxing, calm environment will help you relax throughout your treatment.
The surgeon begins by administering sedation. If some extractions are needed, they can usually be done on the same day as the implants.
The dentist will insert the four titanium implants that look like screws into each jaw. Then he will secure a complete arch of temporary dentures onto each set of four implants. In approximately six months, the implants will permanently bond to the bone, and the dentist will replace the temporary dentures with final beautiful teeth.
What About Bone Grafts?
The jawbone deteriorates when you lose teeth or experience advanced gum disease. But, All-on-4 protects the bone. Plus, patients with bone loss rarely need grafting because only four implants are required, and the dentist can reach the solid bone at a 45° angle.
In rare cases, patients with bone loss may receive a minor graft along the All-on-4 implant procedure. When more severe bone grafting is needed, the surgeon will take a small section of bone from another area of the body or use a different bone-like material to strengthen the jaw. Grafts take time to heal, and the patient must wait several months before the jaw is strong enough for the titanium screw.
All-on-4® Recovery
The dentist will provide you with aftercare instructions to ensure healing. Follow the food restrictions for a few months after the procedure to avoid disturbing the implants. Patients must also avoid smoking, heavy lifting, and extreme exercise for a few weeks.
Patients can speak normally and enjoy food and beverages after a brief period of tenderness. After the soreness subsides, you can chew with your natural teeth.
Cost of All-on-4®
Don’t be overwhelmed by the cost of implants or dentures. If you are experiencing tooth loss and looking for a solution, All-on-4® dental implants are affordable, quick, and address complications caused by tooth loss, including a weakened jawbone.
The All-on-4® permanent solution gives patients a more affordable and accessible option for regaining a complete smile after losing all upper or lower teeth. We also offer financing options through respected lenders like Healthcare Financing Solutions and Care Credit.
Learn More About All-on-4®
If you are experiencing tooth loss and want to learn more about All-on-4®, call 713-960-9623 or visit Uptown Dentistry to schedule a consultation with Dr. Robert Velasco, DDS or Dr. Camilla Barrilleaux, DDS. The understanding and compassionate staff at Uptown Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry in Houston, TX, are ready to assist you.