What Are All-on-4 Dental Implants?
All-on-4 dental implants, or immediate dental implants, is a term for a specific implant procedure that uses at least four locations to replace your top or bottom teeth completely. While other methods use six to eight dental implants, All-on-4 dental implants employs a special technique for angling the implants so that they can support all of the new teeth.
Am I a Candidate for All-on-4 Dental Implants?
All-on-4 dental implants can restore your smile in one procedure, replacing some patients’ teeth in a day. But not all patients are suited for immediate dental implants, so your specific situation and potential alternatives will be discussed at your consultation. Before deciding on a treatment, one of the oral surgeons at SF Oral Surgery will give you a comprehensive examination and determine the condition of your teeth. Similar to regular dental implants, the All-on-4 treatment concept is ideal for San Francisco patients who:
Require multiple dental implants.
Want to replace several teeth at once.
Replace their dentures with an option that closely resembles their natural teeth.
Repair damaged or decayed teeth by placing All-on-4 dental implants.
Tooth Replacement Options
Patients with many loose or missing teeth—or teeth that are damaged or diseased—in their upper arch, lower arch, or entire mouth can choose to replace one or both arches of teeth using the All-on-4 teeth-replacement option. The result is a lasting replacement that looks and feels like your natural teeth. All-on-4 dental implants can even allow you to walk out with a brand-new set of teeth after just one procedure.
This revolutionary treatment offers patients upper arch replacement, lower arch replacement, or full mouth restoration by providing a new set of permanent teeth in as little as one day. By using as few as 4 dental implants per arch, our doctors can anchor an entire set of permanent, natural-looking teeth that will compliment your appearance perfectly and allow you to get back to enjoying life like you did when your natural teeth were healthy and strong. All-on-4 dental implants are the perfect choice for patients who do not qualify for traditional dental implants because this solution requires less jawbone tissue for placement, as the implants are placed at an angle, making them a more viable option for more patients.
Video: Watch Dr. Chan explain the advantages of All-on-4 Dental Implants over other tooth replacement options.
Who Is Qualified to Place All-on-4 Dental Implants?
Although some dentists may imply that they are qualified to place All-on-4 dental implants, they have not received the same training as an oral surgeon. Without the extra years of training, your dentist will not have the experience and complete understanding of complex anatomy that an oral surgeon has. In most cases, your dentist has likely taken only one weekend course without the benefit of working with any real patients.
Kind and Compassionate
Is All-on-4 Treatment as Strong as Traditional Dental Implants?
The logic for traditional dental implants is to replace the roots of your teeth so that a crown or denture can be attached securely. All-on-4 dental implants are based on the same principle, but the strategic placement of four dental implants allows you to:
- Regain the ability to chew and eat the food you love.
- Walk away with a new set of teeth on the same day.
- Restore your natural smile.
- Care for the All-on-4 teeth like your natural teeth.
Unlike other types of dental implants, the All-on-4 treatment concept may only require one recovery period rather than several different procedures required for traditional dental implants.
Video: Watch Dr. Yang explain the differences between All-on-4 dental implants and traditional dental implants.
What Will Happen During My Procedure?
To coordinate immediate dental implant treatment, you will need to receive impressions from a dentist to fit your new teeth simultaneously with your implants. Then, on the day of your All-on-4 procedure, you will need to set aside approximately 2.5 hours for each arch that is placed. In some cases, you may need to come in for a follow-up procedure to place the second arch.
SF Oral Surgery uses IV anesthesia to make San Francisco patients feel more comfortable and relaxed throughout their procedure. Dr. Chan, Dr. Rittenbach, and Dr. Yang are all specially trained in the safe and comfortable administration of anesthetics. Once your anesthesia has taken effect, your oral surgeon will:
- Place at least four dental implants at specific angles in the bone.
- Affix an abutment to connect your new set of teeth.
- Restore your natural teeth with a new set of teeth.
Patient Results
How Long Will It Take to Recover?
The purpose of All-on-4 dental implants is to reduce the recovery time normally associated with dental implants while keeping all the benefits. Immediate dental implants will take a total of six to eight months to heal completely, but you will be able to eat normally within a few weeks after the procedure. Until then, SF Oral Surgery recommends a soft diet of nutritious foods such as soup, yogurt, pasta, and rice.
To schedule your All-on-4 treatment concept consultation, contact our San Francisco office at (415) 776-6710.
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