All on 4 Dental Implants - Teeth In A Day

For several decades, dental implants have been used to replace missing teeth or to secure bridges, partials or full dentures. The traditional process of dental implants takes several steps and many months to complete and because of bone loss that occurs over time in some patients, not everyone is a good candidate for the traditional method of dental implants. In the past, bone graphs have been used in some cases to repair the bone and get it ready to be able to accept the implant, but with the development of the All-on-4™ technique of dental implants, almost everyone is a good candidate for implants, and bone graphing is seldom ever needed.

Developed over a decade ago by Dr. Paulo Malo, founder of the Malo Clinic in Lisbon, Portugal, this technique allows implanted teeth to be used even in patients who do not have enough bone for traditional methods because of bone deterioration from missing teeth or even from periodontal disease. The All-on-4™ process is faster and more cost-effective than traditional implant procedures and the implanted teeth (even dentures) become a permanent structure in the patient’s mouth.

For people who lose all of their teeth (and statistics show that by the age of seventy-four, twenty-six percent of adults do), traditional dentures or implant-supported dentures have been the only options. With the All-on-4™ technique, instead of dentures, patients receive a set of teeth that are permanently secured in their mouths and look, feel and function like natural teeth which means:

• They do not come out the mouth to be cleaned
• They don’t need to be removed at night
• They are brushed and cleaned like natural teeth
• Since they do not cover the roof of the mouth, they don’t impede the taste buds that reside there, resulting in the ability to better taste food and experience the hot and cold temperatures of food
• Biting and chewing are not a problem
• Since the titanium screws act as ‘tooth roots’ the jaw bone is stimulated which prevents bone deterioration

The All-on-4™ technique begins with 3D diagnostic imaging for evaluating the patient’s dental health and bone; then titanium implants are placed in the anterior of the patient’s jaw where bone density is usually higher. Four implants are then placed in the anterior part of the jaw and the back two implants are angled which provides stable support for a full denture, yet the part of the implant that appears above the bone is pointed upward which allows for the above bone parts of the implant to be placed naturally.

The benefits of the All-on-4™ technique:

• Can be used on patients who are lacking the bone structure for traditional implants
• More cost-effective than traditional implant methods
• Shorter recovery time than traditional implant procedures
• Teeth that are permanent and look, feel and function like natural teeth

 Losing teeth can be difficult to deal with because of the way that tooth loss impacts the way you look, feel, speak and eat. And in the past, not everyone could opt for implanted teeth or implant-supported bridges or dentures. Now, however, with the All-in-4™ technique, almost everyone can enjoy secure, permanent teeth for their entire life.

Kind regards,

Dr. Anasinski

A good implant candidate typically has the following:

• Is in good over-all health
• Their gums are healthy with no existing periodontal disease
• Their jawbone has enough density to hold the implant
• They are committed to good oral hygiene
• They get regular dental checkups

If you have all of these characteristics but are unsure of your bone density because you lost your tooth (or teeth) several years ago, implants may still be a viable option. In some cases, we may recommend bone grafting where an incision is made in your gum, a bone substitute product is inserted in the area that needs to be rebuilt, it is then covered with a special healing cover and your gum is sutured. After several months, the bone substitute product is absorbed and replaced with natural bone. When the healing process is complete, the implant procedure can be done.

A dental implant which replaces one tooth has three parts:

1. A titanium screw that is imbedded in your jawbone
2. An abutment which protrudes above the gum line to hold the artificial tooth
3. The crown which looks, feels and functions like a normal tooth

If dental implants are being used to secure a bridge, partial dentures or full dentures, these structures are secured to the abutment as well. Depending on the bridge or partial, more than one implant may be needed to secure the prosthesis and when a full denture is involved, four or more implants are usually required.

To begin the implant process, an incision is made in your gum tissue to expose the bone where the implant will be placed, and a small hole is drilled into your bone at the place where the screw will be inserted. This procedure is done in our office with local anesthetic. Once the hole is drilled, it is carefully widened to the appropriate size for holding the implant screw. The screw is then placed into your jawbone and over time, the bone will grow into the grooves of the screw. An abutment which pokes up through the gum tissue is placed at the time that the screw is implanted and a temporary tooth that will allow you to eat and chew normally will be placed on the abutment.

When the titanium screw has been placed in your bone, a process called osseointegration begins where the implant actually becomes a part of your jawbone. This process can take from three to six months depending on your individual health and bone quality and density. When your bone and gum tissue are healed and the osseointegration has taken place, the temporary tooth will be replaced by a permanent ceramic crown that will last for your lifetime.

If you are replacing one tooth, the crown will be secured onto the abutment and will look, feel and function just like a normal tooth. If implants are being used to secure bridges, partials or dentures, the framework for the dental prosthesis will be designed with attachments that will fit securely onto the implant. Full and partial dentures that are implant-supported can be easily removed for cleaning.

While there is some discomfort as your jawbone heals, implant surgery in the process, is not painful. And the long-term benefits are many: good oral health, comfort, improved appearance, the integrity of your facial structure is not compromised from missing teeth and implanted teeth or implant-supported bridges, partials or dentures look, feel and function like natural teeth.

For many people, dentures—either partial or full—are a reality. In fact, statistics show that by the age of seventy-four, 26% of adults have lost all of their permanent teeth. While traditional dentures take the place of natural teeth, they typically do not function like permanent teeth…often slipping, making clicking sounds and not giving firm, secure biting abilities. Therefore, a lot of people with dentures no longer eat many of the foods they used to enjoy, and they become self-conscious and constantly aware of the fact that they have dentures.

With modern dental technology, we now have the tools to be able to support full or partial dentures with dental implants that attach the prosthesis firmly to the jawbone allowing the denture to look, feel and function just like natural teeth. The implant, which is a titanium screw that is placed into the jawbone, acts like a tooth root and in a process call osseointegration, becomes a part of the bone, creating a firm foundation for the denture. Once the implant is in the jawbone, it acts just like a natural tooth root and keeps the gums and bone stimulated, thus eliminating the gum and bone loss that happens with traditional dentures.

Dental implants can be used to firmly attach existing dentures or they can be created in the process of getting dentures for the first time. Depending on the process the dentist uses, dental implants can be done in a procedure that takes several months or with a method that can be accomplished all in one day. After a thorough examination, we are able to determine which process will be the best choice for the patient. Although healthy gums and a strong jawbone are prerequisites for successful implant-supported dentures, patients whose gums and jawbones are not currently substantial enough for dental implants can have procedures done to increase their periodontal health and their bone density.

The benefits of implant-supported dentures are many… they:

• Prevent boss loss and gum recession that can happen with traditional dentures;
• Eliminate the pain often associated with ill-fitting dentures;
• Create a stable, secure fitting denture;
• Maintain the integrity of the facial structure;
• Can improve a patient’s smile to one that is natural-looking;
• Restore much of the stability that comes with natural teeth;
• Can improve speech that is sometimes impaired by traditional dentures;
• Eliminate the need for dental adhesives, which can be nasty to deal with;
• Restore natural biting and chewing abilities;
• Can restore self-confidence for smiling, talking and eating; and
• May provide the chance to have an open upper palate which returns the ability of the taste buds that are located in that area of the mouth.

Depending on the type of implant-supported dentures that we recommend for each individual patient, some dentures can be permanently secured in the patient’s mouth giving them the structural stability of natural teeth. In other cases, implant-supported dentures can be easily removed for cleaning.

With good oral hygiene habits, implant-supported dentures will maintain their stability and appearance, and because the implants keep the gum tissues and jawbone stimulated and healthy, implant-supported dentures do not need to be realigned the way conventional dentures do. Implants help provide stable, secure dentures for a very long time.