Reclaim a healthy, beautiful, and functional smile for a lifetime.

You’ve likely heard that dental implants are the best tooth replacement out there, and for many people, they are! Implants are the only tooth replacement option that replaces the roots of missing teeth as well as the chewing surfaces. This allows them to look, feel, and function like natural teeth—they’re the closest modern dentistry can get you to regaining your missing teeth.

They’re also incredibly versatile because they can be fitted with a range of different tooth restorations, allowing them to replace a single missing tooth with a crown, rebuild your smile using implant-supported dentures, or anything in between.

If you’re missing most or all of your teeth and have begun looking into implant options, you may have come across All-on-4 or “all-on-four” implants. All-on-4 implants are a slightly different way of doing implant-supported dentures that makes the treatment accessible to people who may not be able to get traditional implant-supported dentures. They could be the key to you experiencing the transformative power of implants, allowing you to reclaim your smile.

But what are All-on-4 implants, what sets them apart from other implant options, and how do you know if they’re right for you? To help you answer these questions and more, we’ve put together a guide on All-on-4 implants.

What are All-on-4 Implants?

All-on-4 implants are a specialized type of implant-supported denture that restores a full arch of teeth using just four dental implants. Implants are a restorative dentistry treatment that consists of titanium metal rods that are embedded directly into your jaw bone and then fitted with a tooth restoration. With All-on-4 implants, these four implants are all placed toward the front of your upper or lower jaw, where the bone density is higher.

Despite these differences, All-on-4 implants have a lot in common with other implant-supported dentures, sharing many of the same advantages. Just like with other implant-supported dentures, the tooth restorations that All-on-4 implants are secured with are designed just for you.

You’ll be able to work with your dentist to choose the size, shape, and shade of your new teeth, giving you a smile that looks completely natural and is uniquely yours. All-on-4 implants also retain much of the stability and natural feel of traditional implant-supported dentures, allowing them to rebuild your confidence in your smile’s functionality, health, and appearance.

How are All-on-4 implants different from other implant options?

While All-on-4 implants function just like traditional implant-supported dentures and have the same benefits for the long-term health, function, and appearance of your smile, they do have several distinct differences. Many of these differences make implant-supported dentures more accessible to a wider range of people.

1. All-on-4 implants restore your smile with fewer implants.

Traditional implant-supported dentures typically use six or more implants to support your dentures, with the number varying based on each person’s unique treatment needs, but All-on-4 implants are designed specifically to be able to restore your smile with just four implants.

2. They require less healthy bone tissue.

The placement of All-on-4 implants at the front of your jaw, where the bone density is high, is very purposeful. There are advantages to spreading implants out across your jaw when possible, but the careful placement of All-on-4 implants allows them to require less healthy bone density across your jaw to be placed in it. This means that even if you’ve already lost a lot of bone density and don’t qualify for traditional implant-supported dentures, All-on-4 implants could still be an option for you!

3. They only take a single day to receive.

When you decide to get an implant, the process typically takes a few procedures over the course of several months. All-on-4 implants, however, can be completed in a single day with just one procedure. This streamlines the process, eliminates a lot of the waiting periods, and best of all, allows you to walk into our office for your procedure and leave with your completed, brand-new smile!

4. They have a faster recovery time.

Since All-on-4 involves only a single procedure and places fewer implants, the recovery process is much faster. Plus, you only need to go through that healing process once! It’s a major plus for many people, especially if making time for procedures and recovery feels like playing Jenga with your schedule.

5. They tend to cost less.

A couple of these factors, such as fewer procedures and the placement of fewer implants, have an additional benefit when it comes to cost. They tend to make All-on-4 implants a little less expensive than other implant-supported dentures. This is another factor that makes them a little more accessible to more people.

What’s the procedure for All-on-4 Implants like?

When you choose to get All-on-4 implants, you’ll work with an oral surgeon to ensure that you get the best possible results. This oral surgeon will carefully plan your procedure, examining your jaws to ensure that your implants are placed in the ideal spots and at the best angle to give you results that look and feel natural. Once your mouth has been numbed or you have undergone sedation, your oral surgeon will remove any remaining teeth.

They’ll then make a small incision where the implants will be placed and perform a “ridge reduction.” This involves removing some bone where your implants will be placed to ensure that your completed restoration looks and feels natural. If you’re getting All-on-4 on both arches of your mouth, a ridge reduction will be done on both your upper and lower ridge; otherwise, it will only be one on the ridge that’s receiving implants.

After this, your oral surgeon will carefully insert the implants rods (simulating your tooth’s roots) into the small ridge reductions, place a few stitches, and attach the abutments to your implant rods. Abutments are the metal pieces that your dentures will attach to, and they’re the final step before you receive your implant-supported dentures.

This is where Millennium Dental comes in!

We handle the restorative and aesthetic aspects of your treatment, designing and completing your dentures. We ensure that your dentures look beautifully natural and that they fit comfortably, ensuring they feel just as natural as they look. Your implant-supported dentures will be secured on your new implants. After a few checks to ensure that your bite lines up properly, you’re done and free to enjoy your new smile!

Who’s a good candidate for All-on-4 Implants?

A good candidate for All-on-4 implants is generally someone who has lost all or most of their teeth along at least one arch of their mouth, but who already has too much bone loss in other areas of their jaws to be a candidate for traditional implant-supported dentures. You do still need a good amount of bone density in the area where your implants will be placed, but since this area tends to have a higher bone density, it’s much more likely that you’ll have enough bone here.

This means that most people are good candidates for All-on-4 implants!

However, implants in general might not be an ideal treatment for you if you have health issues that slow your healing process or make you prone to infections. Everyone’s different, so consulting with your doctor and dentist can help you determine if implants are right for you.

If you’re not sure which treatment option is right for you, don’t be afraid to ask Dr. Harrison! She’ll be happy to answer any of your questions, explain all of your options, and help you understand which option is best for your unique treatment needs and wants.

Give All-on-4 implants a try!

All-on-4 implants make it possible for a wider range of people to get implants than ever before. This allows you access to the many unique benefits that only implants can provide, giving you a new smile that looks, feels, and functions completely naturally while protecting your long-term oral health—and that will continue to do so for a lifetime with proper care!

If you’d like to learn more from a dentist in Plano, TX, about All-on-4 implants or what advanced technology will be used during your treatment process at Millennium Dental to give you the best long-term results possible, feel free to schedule a consultation with Dr. Harrison at any time.