What are all-on-4 dental implants?

Though it may seem too good to be true, due to technological advances, it may be possible for only four dental implants to replace all the teeth on the top or bottom jaw. Tooth loss is very common as people age. It is estimated that more than 35 million people in America have lost all of their upper and/or lower teeth. While dentures may often be used to replace these lost teeth, in many cases, people find full-mouth dental implant restoration a more comfortable and hassle-free approach to replacing missing teeth. In cases where all the teeth are replaced using only four dental implants, or screws, this is known as an “all-on-4” dental implant procedure.

To replace a tooth, dentists use dental implants. These are small screws, made of titanium, that are installed in the jawbone and replace the root of a missing tooth. To insert these screws, or implants, a minor surgical procedure is required. Once the implant has been installed, the dentist will attach a crown, which looks realistic and functions just like a real tooth. The newark all-on-4 dental implant allows dentists to use only 4 carefully placed implants to replace an entire row of teeth. Instead of attaching individual teeth to individual implants, dentists can attach an entire row of teeth to an arch, usually made of titanium, which is then installed on the implant screws. Implants are also made of titanium, which fuses to bone and can function as a part of living bone. This means that the dental implant will eventually become part of the jawbone itself, providing an enduring foundation for your new teeth. In many cases, when people lose their teeth, this is accompanied by deterioration of the jawbone. Your dentist may use a CT scan to determine the strength and density of your jawbone. All-on-4 dental implants are placed in dense portions of the jawbone, usually with two implants toward the front of the mouth and two more toward the rear. If bone toward the rear of the mouth has begun to degrade, implants are placed at a carefully measured angle, which provides better support for the arch that is to be mounted on the implant and which allows the patient’s bite to maintain its integrity. Once the implants have fused to the bone, this may reduce or eliminate future jawbone loss, helping to maintain both your facial structure and your oral health, and providing you with an entirely new smile often in just one day. While it takes some time for the titanium screws to fully fuse to the bone in which they’re placed, dentists will install a temporary all-on-4 arch while this bone fusion occurs; once the bones have adequately fused to the implants, dentists will permanently install your new arch.

Some patients choose to have their new, replacement teeth made of acrylic or composite. While durable, acrylic and composite can look slightly artificial and may be prone to breaking or deterioration. Other patients choose porcelain all-on-4 implants. These porcelain implants may be made with a single arch containing a row of 10-14 teeth, or they may be made with individual teeth affixed to the titanium arch. Cost varies, based on material and procedure. Porcelain costs more than acrylic or composite, and having individual porcelain teeth crafted costs more than having a whole row made in one piece. There are benefits and drawbacks to each, however. Porcelain tends to be more durable than acrylic or composite, and porcelain teeth are more likely to resemble your original teeth. Additionally, if you choose to have individual porcelain teeth built onto an arch, the cost may be higher, but, in the case of damage, like chipped teeth, your dentist can repair individual teeth instead of having to repair or replace the entire arch. Talk to your dentist about what type of all-on-4 dental implants may be right for you.

More on All on Four Dental Implants : All on Four Dental Implant Reviews