A few decades ago, there were very limited options when it came to getting a tooth replacement. Back before dental technology began advancing at a more rapid rate, replacement teeth were unsightly and uncomfortable, but they still outweighed the other possibility of a toothless smile.
Today, dental technology has boomed and includes everything from laser treatments to invisible aligners, and now all on 4 dental implants, which many people seeking dental care from Central Texas Periodontics hope to attain.
What is All On 4 Dental?
All on 4 refers to a surgical and precision prosthodontics procedure for complete restoration of the edentulous (toothless) client, or for patients with severely broken off teeth, decayed teeth, or damaged teeth due to gum disease, in which all dental implants support all teeth.
It involves the placement of four implants in the posterior maxilla, whereby bone density is higher, to restore an edentulous or dentate maxilla and mandible with a fixed prosthesis.
The four implants sustain a set prosthesis containing 10 to 14 teeth, positioned immediately after surgery, usually within 24 hours.
This all on 4 dental implants strategy had been used by a number of other physicians across the world at the time.
Is All On 4 A Modern Technique?
All on 4 isn’t exactly a modern treatment procedure, but rather one that has developed over time and includes various features.
The all on 4 treatment concept is a tooth-replacement technique that uses a bridge or denture to provide a permanent, screw-retained, same-day substitution for the entire upper and/or lower set of teeth. The benefit to the person needing the tooth replacement is that it is a quick procedure that doesn’t require many days of surgery.
Patients with severe tooth loss or decay, as well as those that have bone loss in the jaw region that prohibits them from having conventionally focused (vertical) dental implants, should consider this treatment.
Tooth loss is often followed by jaw bone loss, posing the issue of jaw bone reconstruction, which necessitates bone grafting.
The All-on-4 technique takes advantage of the thick bone that exists in the front of the jaws, as well as the fact that the two posterior implants are positioned on an angle to circumvent the sinus crevices throughout the upper jaw and the nerve channel in the lower jaw. A detailed review of the cheekbones required for successful implementation. A cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) inspection is the best way to test the bone. The procedure involves placing at least four implants in the jaw.
The rear implants are generally angled from the occlusion at a 30 to 45-degree angle (biting plane). In the upper jaw (maxilla), the implant is located in front of the maxillary sinus, and in the lower jaw, it is placed in front of the mental nerve (mandible).
The implant’s head appears in the next premolar position, roughly. This allows for the posterior cantilevering of a molar tooth, culminating in a denture or bridge of approximately twelve teeth.
The procedure is technical but quick, which is why many are seeking advice from their dental provider to see if they are eligible for the very sought-after dental procedure.