What is an All-On-Four Dental Implant

An implant-supported denture is a dental prosthesis that works to replace all of the teeth on one or both arches using dental implants to hold the denture in place instead of denture adhesive. They are very natural looking and are much more secure and supportive than traditional dentures. An implant-supported denture is usually fixed in place and can only be removed by a dentist. A traditional denture can become ill-fitting over time because the jaw bone can begin to deteriorate and change facial structure. All on 4 dental implants richmond virginia can actually help stimulate bone growth and prevent changes to the jawbone.

When all of your teeth need to be replaced, it can cause a bit of anxiety but technology advances in the dental field enable patients to have a beautiful smile in which they can feel confident! Not everyone is a candidate for dental implants but those who are can greatly benefit from the advantages of an implant-supported denture.

What is an all-on-four denture?

An all-on-4 implant-supported denture utilizes four dental implants that are surgically placed directly into the jawbone by an oral surgeon or periodontist. The implants act as the root of the tooth and help secure the denture input. This type of denture is very beneficial to the overall health of the patient and is considerably more secure than traditional dentures.

For patients who can endure implant placement surgery, four to eight titanium implants are placed and allowed to heal for about six months. If the patient does not have enough bone structure, the doctor may need to perform a bone or gum graft, or perhaps even both before the implants can be placed. During the six months of healing time the implants will integrate with the jawbone and help ensure maximum stability for the denture. Once the implants are fully integrated, the permanent denture can be placed onto the implants.

After your implant surgery, your dentist will place a temporary denture to protect the area while it heals and allow you to become a custom to your new teeth! The temporary denture may require adjustments every once in a while as the implants heal and swelling subsides. Your permanent denture will be made to fit perfectly once everything is healed and I may only require a couple of adjustments to get it right! While you heal, it is important to be careful eating and it is best to stick to soft foods and to cut everything up into bite sized pieces.

Is an all-on-4 implant-supported denture right for me?

Your dentist and oral surgeon can help determine if this type of denture will be right for you. It does require the patient to be in relatively good overall health and able to endure extensive oral surgery and healing time. If you require a bone and/or gum graft, your healing time will be a bit longer. During your consultation, it is important to disclose all of your personal and dietary habits to your doctors.

All-on-4 dentures are quite costly so be sure to discuss payment requirements and ask about financial arrangements. Some offices offer in-house financing or may use a third-party financing company that can help ease your out-of-pocket costs.

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