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What are all-on-four dental implants?

Remember the days when having dentures involved the use of dental adhesives, overnight soaking of the teeth in a jar, and horror stories about bites of food gone terribly wrong?

Remember the days when having dentures involved the use of dental adhesives, overnight soaking of the teeth in a jar, and horror stories about bites of food gone terribly wrong?

Thanks to the advent of dental implants, those days are rapidly disappearing. An implant takes the form of a small titanium screw that is placed in the jawbone. A prosthetic tooth is attached to the screw, and it is left there permanently, functioning as a regular tooth root.

Although the advent of single tooth implants has revolutionized the world of dental rehabilitation, it is not the most cost-effective method of replacing an entire mouth full of teeth. With one screw per tooth, the procedure is lengthy and expensive, not to mention uncomfortable.

That is where all-on-four dental implants come in. Instead of a screw for each tooth, the dentist strategically places at least four screws in the upper jaw and at least four in the lower jaw. A row, or arch, of prosthetic teeth, can then be attached to these screws.

Am I a good candidate for all-on-four dental implants?

If you have lost one or two teeth, single implants are still your best option. The all-on-four dental implants might be the ideal solution for you if you have lost all or most of your teeth, generally as a result of extensive dental decay, gum disease or severe wear and trauma.

In some cases, this procedure might be an appropriate measure if several teeth have been lost in the same part of the jaw. This can happen, for instance, if the jaw experienced an impact during an accident.

How does the procedure work?

All dental implant procedures, whether a single tooth or all-on-four dental implants, should start with thorough planning and preparation. Well before your implant placement appointment has been scheduled, you should have had a …Click here to read the full article

How long does it take to recover?

The overall recovery time for all-on-four dental implants is about seven days. During this time, it is important for you to … Click here to read full article