All-on-4 Frequently Asked Questions
What are All-on-4 Implants?
The All-on-4 implants is the treatment that aims to rehabilitate completely edentulous teeth in one or both jaws. It is suitable for people without teeth and the great advantage is for those who have a bone deficit in the jaws. Four implants are placed, the sides slightly inclined, and hybrid or ceramic prostheses are fixed to them. The All-on-4 dental implants technique is known worldwide. Developed in Portugal by Prof. Paulo Malo, they were considered an innovative surgical procedure. It achieved great notoriety in the community of dentists because it was a new concept, effective in replacing missing teeth in patients with edentulous jaws. It is currently considered a new standard in fixed oral rehabilitation and is practiced by countless dentists on different continents with very high success rates.
What is the main difference between the All-On-4 and dentures?
* All-on-4 is fixed, and dentures are removed for cleaning. Patients cannot take it off after meals or during the night.
* While dentures wobble and you find it difficult to chew food, All-on-4 allows you to chew naturally as well as enjoy your favorite food.
* While the prostheses are supported on the gums and therefore hurt or cause small wounds, All- on-4 is fixed on the implants and if it is well adapted it rarely causes wounds or inflammation.
* Bone loss decreases. With dentures, the bone progressively decreases, and they become misfit.
* The All-on-4 has no palate or roof of the mouth and therefore has much more taste and is able to taste food better.
How does All-on-4 treatment work?
The first step is to carry out an evaluation with an Implantologist, who will request diagnostic tests and thus define whether the treatment is the most appropriate. In the diagnosis, CT scans, filming and photographs are performed. After the diagnosis, impressions are taken and the patient will be able to see the predictability of the result – that is, how your smile will look.
To fix the implants, surgery is performed, and after a short recovery time, the prosthesis can now be placed. Therefore, the patient can already leave with the prosthesis installed on the same day.
After the surgical process, the osseointegration period takes place, which can take up to 6 months. This is an important phase for adapting the implant pins to the arch bone.It is important to maintain care so that this process occurs successfully, and the implant stabilizes completely.
What care will I need after the procedure?
It is essential to maintain care after the procedure for a good recovery and adaptation of the implant, so maintain oral hygiene, such as brushing, flossing, and making frequent visits to your dentist.
Who will perform this procedure?
It is worth consulting the implantologist or dental surgeon, as they are the recommended professional to perform this specific treatment, in addition to other types of dental implants.
How long does the All-On-4 implant last?
It is estimated a durability of 10 to 15 years for this implant. It is important to emphasize that care greatly influences this time, in addition to the physiological particularities of each patient. With good oral hygiene care and frequent visits to the dentist, the implant will last longer.