Teeth loss is most often a result of poor oral hygiene, gum diseases, dental decay, and trauma. Teeth loss has a significant impact on the overall quality of your life. It impairs chewing, affects the way you speak, and compromises aesthetics leading to premature aging. All these can be factors for self-consciousness and decreased self-esteem. Therefore, it becomes imperative to get teeth replaced with an appropriate teeth replacement option.
Until now, the only option available to people who have lost all their teeth was dentures. However, thanks to the growth and advances in dental sciences, we can also replace all missing teeth in a much more efficient and reliable manner using All-on-4 technology.
What is All-on-4?
All-on-4 is an advanced dental implant placement technique that uses just four implants, each in the upper and lower jaw. These four implants on either jaw act as a foundation and a support mechanism for placing a unique and customized set of fixed teeth. These will look just like dentures, but the prosthesis will have additional fixation points, allowing it to sit firmly on top of the dental implants. This newer method of restoring a complete arch adds stability and predictability.
The benefits of getting all-on-4
1) Teeth in a day
Living with missing teeth can be a harrowing experience, and usual teeth replacement solutions take a long time to complete treatment. All-on-4 utilizes advanced technology, making it possible for you to have a beautiful and permanent smile in just a day. Within 24 hours, your dental implants will be placed, followed by the placement of a permanent implant-supported bridge/denture. There is no waiting period for their usage.
2) Improved appearance
When you lose teeth, the bone undergoes the process of resorption and loses its height and width. A disturbance in the facial skeleton changes the way the soft tissues and skin wrap around the face. This leads to facial sagging, the lips turn inside and wrinkling becomes more prominent giving you an aged appearance. Dental implants stop the process of bone loss and prevent this from happening. Moreover, the implant-supported denture provides support to the lips. This contributes to a fuller face, decreases the appearance of wrinkles, and overall gives you a younger-looking face.
3) Improved chewing and digestion
Missing teeth compromises chewing and limits the variety of food you can eat. Moreover, it also compromises chewing. Tradition dentures only provide a half-hearted measure as they come with a lot of dietary restrictions. All-on-4 in Phoenix, AZ, is a fixed teeth replacement alternative that provides added stability, ensuring you can eat whatever you want whenever you want without worry.
4) Better speech
Losing teeth can lead to a speech impediment like a lisp. You will experience that your words have started to slip and it becomes difficult for others to understand what you are saying. The bulky nature of traditional dentures also changes the way you sound. All-on-4 restores your complete arch, which will improve your speech and ensure you don’t develop any speech impediments and continue to sound crystal clear.
5) Long-lasting smile
Good oral hygiene practices will ensure your dental implants last long, 20+ years or more. The prosthesis made is robust, stable, and exceptionally comfortable. There is no scope for its dislodgement while eating or speaking, which means no discomfort or embarrassment. You can smile or laugh your heart out because your all-on-4 will never leave you and won't disappoint.
6) Improved quality of life
With improved chewing, better nutrition, clear speech, and a glistening smile, you are bound to have an improved overall life experience. In addition, maintaining your all-on-4 is easy, which contributes to better oral and overall health. You longer need to worry about your appearance, which will improve your personal, social and professional life, giving you that confidence boost you need. A healthy, complete smile is a gateway to a healthier body and a happy mind.
Am I a good candidate for all-on-4?
All-on-4 is a brilliant teeth replacement alternative for people who have most or all their teeth and are seeking a more reliable and permanent teeth replacement solution.
A good candidate for an all-on-4 should have enough healthy bone left for the placement of implants. If not, additional procedures such as bone grafting may be recommended.
In addition, any active oral infection will also be a contraindication for all-on-4. In such cases, your oral and maxillofacial surgeon in Phoenix, AZ, will treat the infection and then follow up with dental implant placement.
Broadly, any patient who is systemically healthy enough to recover from dental implant surgery can opt for an all-on-4 dental implant solution. Uncontrolled diabetes, chronic smokers, and other immunocompromised states prove to be a contraindication for all-on-4 as it slows healing and lengthens recovery.
How long does all-on-4 last?
All-on-4 implants have stood the test of time and have proven their efficacy and longevity. Data shows that All-on-4 can easily last for 20 years and even longer with proper oral hygiene and the right care. The dental implants by themselves may never need to be replaced. However, the overlying prosthesis, that is the denture, will experience daily wear and tear and may have to be replaced with newer ones in 7-10 years or even more.
Why is all-on-4 better than dentures?
Traditional dentures are removable, tend to slip out during eating and talking, and come with many dietary restrictions. Traditional dentures cannot restore full chewing capability, interfere with speech due to their bulky natures, and can be uncomfortable overall. In addition, dentures do not prevent bone loss.
All-on-4, on the other hand, is permanent, restores complete chewing, and its unique structure does not interfere with speech. Dental implants also prevent further bone loss and ensure you have a healthy smile that will last your lifetime. All-on-4 will improve your aesthetics and the overall quality of your life seamlessly and efficiently. These are strong, durable, and last a long time compared to traditional dentures, which have to be replaced once in 2-3 years.
Is the all-on-4 procedure worth the money?
All-on-4 implants tend to be expensive as they require higher advancements and are extremely technique sensitive. This higher cost can prevent people from getting the treatment they deserve.
However, all-on-4 lasts a long time and proves to be a permanent one-time solution which makes it a one-time investment. Their towering benefits over traditional dentures make them absolutely worth the money you spend on them.
At Phoenix Oral & Facial Surgery, we accept dental insurance and have a variety of payment plans to aid you in getting the smile you desire at a price that will be comfortable for you. If you have any more questions or wish to schedule a dental implant consultation, please reach out to us. Our team of excellent facial surgeons is here to assist you in your journey to an everlasting healthy smile.
