All-on-4 replaces a missing smile with a prosthetic arch that is secured by just four dental implants. The outer two implants are angled underneath the gum line to provide support for the rear section of the denture.
Because the procedure entails only four dental implants, the oral surgeon can place those implants in just a few hours. The patient is fitted with a prosthetic on the same day as the surgery, although patients may return to the office after they have healed completely to get a stronger, permanent denture.
However, patients shouldn’t expect to get their new smiles on the day of their initial consultation. The All-on-4 placement surgery is the culmination of a treatment planning process that does take several weeks. During this time, the oral surgeon works to plot the details of the implant placement as well as the design of the denture that the implants will support. Nonetheless, the overall treatment timeline is still brief.
Because the procedure entails only four dental implants, the oral surgeon can place those implants in just a few hours.
A relatively speedy treatment timeframe isn’t the only benefit that comes along with All-on-4 implants. When a denture is supported by dental implants, patients gain a number of advantages over conventional dentures.
Because the jawbone is capable of forming a bond with the titanium implant, All-on-4 implants act like artificial tooth roots. They stabilize the jaw in the same way a natural tooth’s root does, and the connection between the jaw and the denture reduces the likelihood that the denture will slide out of place. All-on-4 implants also enhance chewing function in comparison to a standard denture.
If you’ve lost all of your teeth, you shouldn’t have to wait for months to sport a natural looking smile again. With All-on-4 dental implants, you don’t have to. Schedule a consultation with an oral surgeon at Central Oklahoma Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates to discuss this treatment option.