If you want to get the most comprehensive benefits when replacing your missing teeth, you should consider dental implants. These fixtures rely on titanium anchors fusing with the jawbone to firmly support your prosthetic teeth. If you seek a replacement for an entire arch of lost teeth, you could benefit from an All-on-Four dental implant.
This type of implant uses four anchors, as its name suggests, to sustain a full arch of dental prosthetics. But you may wonder how this treatment differs from other forms of implant dentistry. Read on to learn more about All-on-Four implants and how they compare to other tooth replacement solutions.
How Do All-on-Fours Differ from Other Dental Implants?
Your dentist can provide a variety of kinds of dental implants depending on your unique dental needs. For instance, implants can replace one, several, or an entire arch of missing teeth. And All-on-Four implants will serve the latter purpose.
Implant-supported dentures can also replace full arches of teeth, and they will use as many anchors as needed to sustain the dental prosthetic. Sometimes this may mean up to ten posts in the jaw. All-on-Fours will only use four anchors that are strategically placed for maximum support.
This often results in a shorter recovery time than other implant options. You can save money as well due to fewer follow-up appointments to complete your treatment than other dental implants may require. Consult with your dentist to learn if you qualify for this type of tooth replacement.
Why Consider All-on-Four Implants for Tooth Replacement?
Dental implants can provide more restorative advantages than other tooth replacement treatments. They can replace one or an entire arch of missing teeth to suit your unique oral health goals. And you can receive All-on-Four implants on the top, bottom, or both arches of your mouth if needed.
Tooth replacement in general can help you restore the look, function, and health of your smile. But implants can give you a more stable and long-lasting solution. The anchors of the implants fuse with the jawbone, providing a foundation for prosthetic teeth that can last a lifetime.
You will not have to worry about the appliances slipping out of place either like you would with removable tooth replacements. Also, dental implants replace teeth below the gumline, preserving the jaw’s health and structure, which removable dentures cannot do.
Am I Eligible to Receive an All-on-Four Implant?
Though the benefits seem evident, not every dental patient can qualify for implant dentistry. Your dentist will evaluate your jawbone structure to ensure you have enough stability there to support the anchors of the fixtures. If not, then fusion between the implants and the bone will not happen successfully.
With All-on-Four implants, you have a higher likelihood of being eligible for the treatment. This fixture uses fewer anchors than an implant-supported denture might. And the specific placement of these anchors targets bulkier and stronger parts of the jaw.
This way, you have a greater chance of retaining enough jawbone structure to receive dental implants. Your dentist will check your jaw health with x-ray imaging before pursuing this treatment.