4 Things to Know About All-on-4 Dental Implants | Burns Dentistry
4 Things to Know About All-on-4 Dental Implants
For those suffering from multiple missing teeth, at Burns Dentistry in Sun City All-on-4 dental implants can be an attractive option. All-on-4® offers patients a brand new smile that looks real, without having to mess with pastes or dentures. This full-arch implant solution uses just four posts, instead of a patchwork of crowns and bridges, making it both less impactful and less expensive than previous generations of full-arch replacement.
If you have been considering taking care of your missing teeth, but are unfamiliar with All-on-4 dental implants, here are four key pieces of information you need to know to determine if this life-changing treatment method might work for you.
1. All-on-4® refers to a brand, not just a treatment
All-on-4® is a branded treatment trademarked by Nobel Biocare, a company that began in Sweden with the discovery of the very first osseointegrated (metal fused with bone) dental implants back in the mid-20th century.
With All-on-4®, a full arch of fixed dentures (either porcelain dental veneers or acrylic) can be attached to the jawbone using four titanium posts as placement. These posts are usually split with two near the middle of the mouth, and two posted at an angle towards the rear of the mouth.
The generic name for the procedure is full-arch fixed-post dental implants (not nearly as catchy!).
At Burns Dentistry in Sun City Nobel Biocare All-on-4® procedure is offered. Our Sun City dentists have been successfully trained and certified as All-on-4® clinicians to provide the highest levels of quality and safety for our Sun City All-on-4® patients.
2. You can still have teeth and be a candidate for All-on-4®
One of the most common misconceptions about All-on-4® Dental Implants is the idea that only people who are fully edentulous (have no teeth) are candidates for the procedure. This is not the case! Because each set of dentures is custom made around the patient’s specific smile, it is possible to preserve existing teeth by creating a mold around them. In fact, because All-on-4® dentures have a different bite sensitivity threshold than normal teeth, being able to preserve your existing teeth can help make the implant more comfortable long term.
At Burns Dentistry, we feature a state of the art in-house dental lab, to do just that. Having an onsite lab ensures that our All-on-4® Sun City patients can have the best possible fit for their new teeth without having to make as many trips to the office.
3. All-on-4® Dental Implants Will Make a Difference Both Inside and Out
Most of the time, when people who have lost teeth think about getting replacements, they think about the things that will change inside the mouth: the different feel, the changes to speech, the additional foods they can eat, and the confidence they will have – to smile in public without anxiety over their teeth.
As we lose teeth, our faces begin to show the signs of the loss – even when our mouths are closed. The area around the lips becomes sunken in and the lips tend to pucker slightly without the ability to rest on a full mouth of teeth. Facial sagging can cause permanent changes to the skin, resulting in the appearance of early aging. Patients should realize that having a smile restoration procedure like All-on-4® will improve these facial contours quite in addition to a restored smile.
4. There Are More Options Than All-on-4®
All-on-4® may be the buzziest of the full fixed-arch dental implant procedures out there, but it is not the only one offered to our Sun City teeth replacement patients.
In addition to All-on-4®, Burns Dentistry offers TeethXpress® – another branded procedure that uses between four and six dental implants to support a fixed bridge, depending on your particular situation. TeethXpress® is completed in a single sitting, with no need for multiple appointments, and our onsite lab makes sure you get the best fit possible.
Teeth in a Day is another Nobel Biocare branded procedure that offers same day implantation for patients who want same-day full-arch implants. The difference between Teeth in a Day and All-on-4® is that Teeth in a Day is not limited to full arch replacement.
This mix of procedures gives clinicians at Burns Dentistry the ability to quickly and effectively replace your missing teeth and reconstruct your smile with a smile restoration plan customized to your unique needs. Depending on your procedure, you might even be able to start eating soft foods with your new teeth the very same day!
