All-on-4

The process of All-on-4 dental implants requires oral surgery. Therefore, there are a few things to consider:

• Find out if your insurance covers the procedure or if you must pay out-of-pocket

• Make sure that you understand the procedure and what is expected of you

• Make sure that you have someone that can take you home after the surgery, especially if you have sedation

• Make sure that your oral and overall health is good

• Understand your aftercare instructions

Since no two patients are exactly the same, this step will look different for everyone. As a general rule, dental implants have a 95% success rate. However, if you have any dental issues that are not addressed prior to implant placement, you may fall into that 5% failure category.

The most common prep procedures are extractions and gum disease treatment. These procedures may be surgical or non-surgical, depending on the complexity of the extraction and the severity of the gum disease. Other possible procedures include bone grafting and/or sinus lift.

Once all of these procedures have been completed, we will create an impression of your mouth. This will allow the lab to fabricate a custom denture. This typically takes a few weeks.

The next step is to place the four implants. Two of these are placed at the front and two in the back at a 45° angle. The reason the back implants are placed at an angle is to provide a more natural bite force. Most of our patients only need local anesthesia- but we do offer sedation dentistry for patients who need it. We do ask that you discuss this during your initial consultation so that we can include it in your treatment plan.

On the day of your surgery, you should:

• Have someone drive you home following surgery

• Take prescribed pain medications to keep the pain/discomfort under control

• Use a soft-bristled toothbrush

• Avoid foods/beverages that are too hot or cold

• Don’t rinse or spit

• Do not take aspirin

• Avoid exercising and/or lifting heavy objects

• Avoid touching the surgical site

• Do not smoke

• Do not drink alcohol

• Eat foods that are soft and cool

• Avoid hard/crunchy foods

• Use a cold compress to reduce swelling

• Use salt water or prescription mouthwash twice daily

• Continue to take it easy for at least 48 hours

• Avoid smoking

• Contact the clinic if you have any questions or concerns

If you carefully follow these post-op instructions, as well as those specifically given by the dentist, you will reduce your risk of complications and speed up healing.

When you are missing teeth, eating and speaking can be complicated. While conventional dentures can help, you’ll often have to deal with the dentures sliding around in your mouth and you will have to avoid certain foods.

When you first get your implants and prosthesis, you may struggle with eating and speaking, but once the implants have healed, you should have no trouble. If you have any specific questions or concerns, we will be happy to address them.

Dental implants are more like natural teeth than other tooth restoration options such as dentures or bridges. After all, they are inserted into your jawbone, which means they are like artificial tooth roots. Once they have healed, you care for them just like your natural teeth.

Simply brush twice daily and floss at least once. While artificial teeth will not decay like natural teeth, proper oral hygiene will keep your gums healthy and prevent implant failure.

There are a few complications associated with All-on-4 dental implants, but most are easy to overcome:

• Bulkiness: when you first get All-on-4, you may find the prosthesis to be bulky. However, with time, you should get used to it and this won’t be an issue.
• Breakage: if you’re not careful, you could break the prosthesis or the implants while you are healing. The best way to avoid this is to follow a soft food diet during healing.
• Infection: this can happen on the day of surgery or later on. The best way to avoid it is to choose a qualified oral surgeon and practice proper oral hygiene.