If you are missing a full arch of teeth, you do not need to replace every single tooth with a dental implant. However, by incorporating a few dental implants into your treatment plan, you can get all of the benefits you want from implant dentistry via the All-On-Four procedure.
All-On-Four allows our dentists to maximize the effectiveness of your dental restoration. Instead of replacing your full arch of teeth using just external dentures, All-On-Four allows us to firmly secure a full set of prosthetic teeth into your smile for increased chewing and speaking functionality.
All-On-Four Dental Implants in Hanover, MD
You can replace a full arch of teeth with just four strategically placed dental implants. This process is known as the All-On-Four procedure. Only four dental implants are placed on your top or bottom teeth during this procedure. The dental implants are anchors for your dentures, holding them securely. Once your implants are fully healed, your set of custom prosthetic teeth will be permanently attached to them.
Dental implants take anywhere from three to six months to fully heal. We will not place your final restoration until the implants have fully fused with your jawbone. In the meantime, we will provide you with a temporary set of teeth to be worn until your permanent restoration is prepared.
Following your surgical procedure, one of our experienced dental implant specialists will review the All-On-Four aftercare recommendations to ensure that you are informed on how to care for your smile during this transitional phase.
All-On Four Vs. Traditional Dentures
All-On-Four dental implants provide patients with a restoration secured directly into their jaw. This allows dental restoration to look, feel, and function like natural teeth. Traditional dentures have no internal support and rely only on suctioning to your soft tissues to hold themselves in place. Often, you have to use denture adhesive to make sure they stay in your mouth. Traditional dentures might slip or shift because they aren’t secure in your mouth.
Dental implants are the only restoration that replace your tooth root. When you lose teeth, the jawbone in this area slowly starts to deteriorate. With traditional dentures, the fit is changing based off the amount of deterioration. Dentures need to be relined, readjusted, or completely replaced multiple times throughout your lifetime. With All-On-Four, you don’t have to worry about this. The implants used for the procedure stop your jawbone from deteriorating further.
All-On-Four FAQs
How long do All-On-Four implants last?
All-On-Four implant restorations can last for over two decades if cared for properly. The restoration itself will not stain or deteriorate over time. The implant posts are durable titanium and will last well beyond 20 years.
How long does it take to get used to All-On-Four dental implants?
Getting used to your dental implants may take a month or two. This will also depend on the patient and how healthy their mouth was before the procedure. If you had dentures before, getting used to your new All-On-Four restoration will take less time.
What can’t you eat with All-On-Four dental implants?
Avoid hard and chewy foods for the first few months of getting an All-On-Four dental implant restoration. Hard food can cause pain and discomfort during the healing process. Chewy foods will pull on your implant dentures, causing gum pain. You can return to a normal diet after the jaw bone is completely healed around the surgically implanted posts.
How long does All-on-4 take to heal?
The jaw bone can take three to six months to heal after the dentist places dental implants. The implants act as a replacement for missing teeth once they have fully fused with the jawbone.
How painful are All-on-4 dental implants?
All-on-4 implants are less painful than patients expect, according to most of them. You can choose between local anesthesia and IV sedation.
Does food get stuck under all-on-4 implants?
Like natural teeth, All-on-4 dental implants can withstand most diets without breaking down. You won’t have limits on the foods you can eat. All-on-4 dental implants allow you to eat and drink whatever you like after you have them.