All-on-4® vs. Traditional Dental Implants
When treating tooth loss, the team at the Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry Center have many options. Traditional dental implants can support crowns, dentures, and bridges, while All-on-4® treatment can anchor a full denture in place quickly and easily. When visiting our Los Algodones, Mexico practice, we can discuss which option might be better for your needs.
Dr. Jose Valenzuela, Jr. and his team would like to consider the basic differences between dental implants and All-on-4® so you have a good understanding of how each can help you.
How Traditional Dental Implants Work
Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that are surgically embedded into the jawbone and gum tissue. When in place, a dental implant is able to support a dental crown, a dental bridge, or a denture.
The Dental Implants Procedure
The dental implants procedure requires oral surgery to properly anchor in the artificial tooth roots. Once the dental implant is in place, a months-long process known as osseointegration must occur. This involves the fusion of the dental implant with the bone tissue, allow it to achieve levels of stability comparable to natural tooth roots. The entire process of osseointegration can take several months to complete.
If a patient does not have sufficient bone density or gum density, which is common following long-term tooth loss, additional procedures may be required. Bone grafting and gum augmentation surgery may need to be performed to build up the amount of tissue in place. This will increase the overall treatment time and cost of the procedure, but it will make non-candidates for dental implants viable implant dentistry candidates.
How All-on-4® Works
With traditional dental implants, six or more implant posts are usually used to support a full denture. With All-on-4®, a full denture can be supported with just four dental implants. Two of these implants are slanted at a diagonal to improve the overall stability.
The All-on-4® Procedure
During All-on-4® treatment, an oral surgery is performed in order to insert the implant posts along the dental arch. The whole surgery takes only 2-3 hours, and a denture can be placed on the same day as the surgery, giving patients an immediately restored smile.
Patients who have suffered minor bone loss can still undergo All-on-4® treatment thanks to the implant placement and the stability afforded. This can vary from patient to patient, which is why the consultation process is essential.
When Traditional Dental Implants Are More Ideal
Traditional dental implants are usually more ideal when patients are missing a few teeth or a single tooth. In these cases, a full denture is not necessary, meaning All-on-4® treatment would not be called for. Many patients who get one or two dental implants to support dental appliances are very pleased with the final results.
When All-on-4® Is More Ideal
All-on-4® is more ideal when patients are missing most or all of their teeth and have generally good gum density and bone density in place. In such cases, the same-day surgery and denture treatment tends to be ideal for many patients, who are quite satisfied by the convenience of the procedure and the process.
Learn More About Treating Tooth Loss
To learn more about treating tooth loss and improving your dental health, be sure to contact an experienced cosmetic and restorative dentist. The entire team at the Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry Center is here to help. You can reach our office by phone at (866) 471-3548.
