All-on-4 Dental Implants Gilbert
The Fast Track to a Complete Smile
Dental implants are designed to replace the roots of lost teeth. That might make you wonder if you need an implant for each individual missing tooth! Not necessarily. In fact, thanks to the innovative All-on-4 treatment, our team may be able to rebuild a full arch of teeth with as few as four implants. Plus, this service is designed for efficiency, so it can put you on the fast track to a complete smile! Continue reading below to learn more, or get in touch with Desert Springs Dental to request a consultation for All-on-4 dental implants in Gilbert.
How Do All-on-4 Dental Implants Work?
During the All-on-4 procedure, we often remove any remaining teeth, place the dental implants, and provide a provisional (temporary) denture — all in the same appointment! That is why this treatment is sometimes called Teeth in a Day.
The expedited nature of All-on-4 is due partially to the strategic placement of the implants. Two go toward the front of the jaw, and two go toward the back. This utilizes areas of the jaw that are naturally strong and thick, so the implants are able to support prosthetic teeth right away, often without any need for a bone graft.
Am I a Candidate for All-on-4 Dental Implants?
Is All-on-4 treatment right for you? It might be if:
- You have lost all or most of your teeth throughout one of your dental arches OR your remaining natural teeth are in poor condition.
- Your jawbone is healthy enough to support dental implants.
- You are in fair overall and oral health.
- You have good habits that will support the long-term success of your new teeth.
During your consultation, we can let you know if All-on-4 may be a good fit for your situation. If it is not right for you at this time, it may become an option after preliminary care, such as gum disease treatment.
Benefits of All-on-4 Dental Implants
All-on-4 dental implant treatment offers some outstanding benefits:
- An All-on-4 denture is permanently fixed to the implants that support it. Therefore, you can treat it almost exactly like natural teeth.
- Dental implants are designed to last a lifetime. The restorations on top of them are also meant to last for many years.
- Jawbone health. Dental implants stimulate the jawbone and can prevent it from deteriorating.
- A strong bite. Dental implants can provide a bite force that allows you to eat almost any food.
- We take great care to design All-on-4 dentures so they look as natural as possible.
All-on-4 vs. Traditional Dental Implants
Some key differences between All-on-4 and traditional dental implants include:
- Treatment process. Traditional implants often take two or more surgeries, whereas All-on-4 usually requires just one.
- Number of implants used. Full-arch replacement with traditional implants may require 6 or more posts per arch. Since All-on-4 requires fewer implants, it is less invasive overall.
- In some cases, traditional implants can provide greater strength and stability than All-on-4.
- All-on-4 is exclusively for full-arch replacement, while traditional implants can replace any number of missing teeth.
Our team will be happy to help you compare the pros and cons of all your tooth replacement options.
Frequently Asked Questions about All-on-4
Are All-on-4 dental implants covered by insurance?
While certain elements of your treatment for All-on-4 dental implants in Gilbert may be covered by dental insurance, this will depend on your individual policy. In most cases, this treatment is not covered completely, but there are always exceptions, and often there are specific portions of treatment that do receive some coverage. This is usually a portion of the total of the denture itself, but again, it varies from plan to plan. If you’d like help verifying your coverage, don’t hesitate to let us know and we’ll be happy to assist you.
In addition to welcoming many popular dental insurance plans, Desert Springs Dental is also pleased to accept payment plans through several third-party lenders that can break up the cost of your treatment into multiple, low or no interest monthly payments. To learn more about these programs, contact us today.
What foods can you eat after getting All-on-4?
With All-on-4 dental implants in Gilbert, many of the dietary restrictions you may have grown accustomed to with dentures or missing teeth are completely eliminated. In fact, your dental implants can often have as strong as, if not stronger biteforce than your real teeth! However, when you first get them, it’s important to take it slow and eat a soft, non-abrasive diet while your mouth heals. You should also drink plenty of water.
Ideal meal options for post-op success include scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, hummus, avocadoes, bananas, soups, oatmeal and cream of wheat, bananas, and soft proteins like fish. Please refer to the aftercare instructions for more ideas.
Once your implants have successfully fused with your jawbones via the process of osseointegration, you can expand your diet to tougher foods like chicken, steak, and crackers or pretzels, but be careful eating anything too hard like nuts and popcorn, as these could accidentally break your denture(s)!
Do All-on-4 dental implants take a long time to heal?
Because All-on-4 dental implants in Gilbert only need four dental implants to support a full denture, they are considered minimally invasive, meaning your healing will happen much faster and more comfortably than with traditional implant dentures. In many cases, your treatment can even be completed with minimal sedation.
Following your dental implant surgery, your incision sites will need about two weeks to completely heal. Rest assured that you will be provided with complete aftercare instructions to help you mitigate any discomfort and promote a successful recovery.
During this time, your dental implants will also be fusing with your jawbone via a process called osseointegration. This can take up to six months to complete but could be longer or shorter depending on your individual health and how well you adhere to the aftercare instructions. Once finished, you can then expect your dental implants to remain in place for a lifetime with proper care!
Are All-on-4 dental implants removable?
Unlike traditional dentures or snap-on implant dentures, All-on-4 dental implants in Gilbert aren’t removable, except by a qualified dental professional. That’s because these durable, lifelike restorations are designed to permanently fuse with your jawbone via a process known as osseointegration. This ensures that they remain secure and stable so you can enjoy a full diet without restriction.
One of the best things about All-on-4 dentures is that because they can’t be removed, they won’t slip, slide, or fall out at embarrassing moments. They also allow you to clean them like you would with your real teeth, and you won’t need to take them out to soak them overnight, either!
