What is All on Four Dental Implants?

There are currently 40 million Americans who are missing all of their top and/or bottom teeth. Patients with missing multiple teeth will eventually need to pursue oral intervention to prevent additional issues from developing, such as being at an increased risk of developing infection as well as jawbone deterioration. Patients who wear dentures or do not address the issue of missing teeth will also begin to appear older than they are because of this deterioration.

Marin County All-on-4 Dental implants are a fast and effective method for replacing missing teeth or dentures. Unlike traditional dental implants, which can require having up to eight or more implants placed to support an arch, All-on-Four only requires four implants to support the arch. All-on-4 is equally effective for patients who are missing teeth in either the upper or lower jaw.

All-on-4 has become a popular treatment option for a variety of reasons, including the following:

• Permanent solution
• Much faster than traditional implants
• Does not require daily removal, unlike dentures
• No adhesives required
• Comfortable natural feel
• Preserves your ability to bite with increased force, taste food, and experience the sensations of different temperatures of food
• Prevents deterioration of jawbone
• Restores facial features

The All-on-4 Process

The All-on-4 process begins with an initial consultation with your dentist to determine if All-on-4 is right for you. If it is determined that All-on-4 is a good fit, your dentist will create a treatment plan designed for your unique needs, which will be used by your oral surgeon to ensure you procedure is maximally effective. Once the treatment plan is in place, you will schedule surgery for the implantation. Prior to surgery, you will be sedated, generally with an IV drip. Once properly sedated, your dentist will place four titanium implants into each jaw, which will be the foundation for the bridge. Once these implants are in place, a fixed set of temporary teeth are added.

Once the surgery is complete, you will be given aftercare instructions, which are detailed below. You will also schedule a follow up appointment within the next few months to ensure that your teeth are fitting properly. Patients will have typically fully healed and the implants will have completed fusing to the natural bone by four to six months.

Aftercare for All-on-4

Immediately following your procedure, you will need to follow recovery guidelines. It will be important to rest and avoid strenuous activity for the first 72 hours after surgery. Patients who are given anesthesia should also arrange for someone to drive them home. During the recovery process, it is also important to avoid touching the surgical sites or pulling on your cheeks or lips. It is also important to follow the administration directions of prescribed medication.

Patients recovering from the All-on-4 implant procedure should plan on following a soft food diet for at least three months. Finally, the most important thing you can do to facilitate the healing process and ensure that your procedure is successful is to continue practicing good daily oral hygiene habits such brushing, flossing, and rinsing.

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