All-on-4: Options for Restoring Your Smile

For patients with systemic tooth loss, dental implants for single tooth replacement are not an ideal smile restoration option. Fortunately, however, when a series of dental implants are embedded throughout the jaw, they can adequately support a full denture. The method of securing dentures to dental implants, also called All-on-4, provides the benefits of dental implants while also increasing the function of dentures. Patients with All-on-4 implant supported dentures enjoy comfortable oral function as well as an aesthetically pleasing restoration of their smiles.

What is All-on-4?

All-on-4 involves strategically placing small dental implants throughout the jawbone to hold an arch of prosthetic teeth. Since each implant is placed in a very precise location, they can hold and support a full denture. This means that a patient’s prosthetic teeth will not move or slide during oral function so that one can eat a full, balanced diet that even includes hard to chew foods. All-on-4 makes for very stable anchors or pillars for replacement teeth, which are custom made from very lifelike materials.

Is All-on-4 superior to traditional dentures?

For patients who are candidates for All-on-4, dentures supported by dental implants are ideal. This is because conventional dentures simply rest on top of the gums and rely on the curvature of the jaw to stay in place. Since bone atrophy is incredibly common among edentulous patients, dentures will begin to fit poorly over time. Dental implants keep the jaw stimulated and therefore reduce the risk of progressive bone atrophy. In addition to supporting healthy bone mass, dental implants will improve dentures’ ability to serve as functional replacement teeth while also lending a natural appearance to one’s smile.

What should I do if I’m interested in All-on-4?

If implant-supported dentures intrigue you, we recommend scheduling a tooth replacement consultation with our oral surgeon. At your appointment, we will perform an examination and ask questions about your medical and dental history to determine if this tooth replacement method is right for you.

Call Central Oklahoma Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Associates today to reserve your consultation.