Table of Content
- What are all-on-4 dental implants?
- Is all-on-4 teeth the same as a denture?
- How do you make all-on-four teeth?
- What are the benefits of all-on-four dental implants?
- Am I a candidate for all-on-4 treatment?
- What is the process for all-on-four treatment?
- What is the cost for all-on-four teeth?
- All-on-4 dental implants in Orange County.
What are all-on-4 dental implants?
Patient with no teeth before treatment with all-on-four teeth.
- Patient with no teeth before treatment with all-on-four teeth.
All-on-four dental implant is a prosthetic fixed, non-removable tooth that anchors onto four or more dental implants. Each all-on-four consists of an implant-retained porcelain or zirconia bridge permanently anchored onto individual dental implants. With all-on-four, you can replace every single tooth in the upper and/or lower jaw with permanent, fixed, non-removable teeth.
Is all-on-4 the same as a denture?
Not even close! Do not confuse all-on-four implants with dentures or overdentures as they are completely different treatments. All-on-four implants are far superior to dentures and more comparable to natural teeth. Here are the ways in which all-on-four implants differ from dentures:
Fixed Teeth Replacement
All-on-four teeth are fixed in your mouth and non-removable. This means that you can not remove the teeth from your mouth the same way you can remove dentures.
Higher Quality Teeth
All-on-four teeth are made from high-quality, natural-looking porcelain or zirconia
All-on-four teeth are made from high-quality, natural-looking material. The material of choice is usually either porcelain or zirconia ceramic. The all-on-four teeth replace all of your missing teeth and gum tissue within each arch. The teeth feel and function like natural teeth. In contrast, denture teeth are typically made from acrylic. Arcylic teeth wear out after several years of use, becoming flat, and losing their chewing efficiency.
Superior Chewing
With all-on-4 teeth, you have nearly 100% chewing capability. This means you can finally eat that lobster and steak you've been dying to have! The same can not be said of denture teeth. Dentures are not very effective at chewing and many denture wearers find themselves avoiding hard food objects. This is because dentures offer about 25 to 40% chewing efficiency as compared to natural teeth or all-on-four dental implants.
Long-term Jawbone & Facial Muscle Preservation
All-on-four teeth offer a few added bonus benefits. First, the implants help preserve your jawbone structure. Additionally, the fixed bridge holds your facial muscles in place. This prevents them from collapsing and reduces wrinkling. Ultimately, all-on-four teeth make you look and feel much younger as compared to denture teeth. They give you more confidence and better speech. On the opposite hand, wearing dentures causes your jawbone to shrink at an accelerated rate. Dentures do very little to prevent your facial muscles from collapsing.
How do you make all-on-four teeth?
All-on-four teeth are made from porcelain or zirconia that are attached to four or more individual dental implants
All-on-four treatment is very complex and takes a long time. First, there needs to be no more tooth left in the mouth, or at least the arch that is being treated. Then, there needs to be sufficient jawbone for the placement of implants. Luckily, almost everyone has enough jawbone for the placement of four implants. Your dentist will place these implants in the areas with the highest quality bone. This is typically in the front where your chin and nose are located. This bypasses the need for extensive bone graft procedures since the back region usually lacks sufficient jawbone. Once the implants have healed, your dentist will fabricate the permanent teeth. The bridge is screwed onto the dental implants and is permanently locked in place.
What are the benefits of all-on-four dental implants?
There are countless benefits to all-on-four teeth over traditional full dentures
All-on-four dental implants is a relatively affordable alternative to full mouth dental implant therapy. The end results of all-on-four treatment is close to having your original teeth back. There are countless benefits to all-on-4 teeth over traditional full dentures, as well as full mouth implants. Here are some of the reasons why so many toothless folks choose to replace their missing teeth with all-on-four dental implants:
Excellent Results
All-on-four treatment offers fixed, permanent teeth. Your teeth will stay in the mouth at all times as if they were your original teeth. The porcelain and zirconia material used for all-on-four teeth provide for excellent chewing ability, comfortable speech, and superb aesthetic. You can speak and eat as if you had your own teeth back. Plus, getting dental implants helps preserve your valuable jawbone and facial muscles. Since dental implants absorb the bulk of your bite stress, this significantly reduces the stress applied to the jawbone. By preserving your jawbone, you look younger and maintain a fuller, happier facial profile.
Minimal Maintenance
In order to receive all-on-four treatment, your dentist has to remove all of your remaining natural teeth within the respective arch. This means that you no longer have to worry about developing annoying cavities or needing deep cleanings. No more gum disease and no developing tooth infections! In fact, maintaining all-on-four teeth is as simple as a daily cleaning and an annual checkup for routine maintenance.
Expedited Process
All-on-four treatment has been simplified to make the process easy and straightforward. All-on-four treatment usually takes several months to complete. In fact, there are offices that are equipped to perform the entire treatment in two to three days for those who qualify. This is pretty quick, especially when compared with full mouth dental implant treatment which typically takes upwards of a year to complete treatment.
Somewhat Reasonable Price
By no means are all-on-four teeth inexpensive. Prices start from $15,000 per arch and can go up to $100,000 for a full upper and lower case. This is a significant investment for almost all people. However, you must consider the fact that you're getting the equivalent of twelve to fourteen dental implants per arch with all-on-four treatment. This ends up being significantly less expensive than full mouth dental implant treatment which is the alternative way to receive fixed teeth. The younger you are, the more it makes sense to invest in all-on-four teeth. Having to struggle with dentures and redoing your false teeth for 20, 30, or 40 years is a very costly and time-consuming process. Why not invest the time and money to get something that will last forever? And one that gives you the full pleasure of eating and smiling without any hesitations?
Am I a candidate for all-on-4 treatment?
All-on-four technology was developed to avoid extensive bone augmentation techniques
Almost everyone is a candidate for all-on-four teeth. This is because the all-on-four technology was developed to avoid extensive bone augmentation techniques. During all-on-four treatment, your dentist will place four or more implant screws in the anterior chin and nose region. These areas have the highest quality of jaw bone and are almost always a candidate for dental implant placement. As a result, most people qualify for all-on-four implant treatment without the need for an extensive bone graft or augmentation surgery.
What is the process for all-on-four treatment?
There are two basic steps involved in all-on-four treatment. The first step is placing the dental implants and the next one is fabricating the permanent teeth. Here is a bit more information about each step involved:
All-on-Four Implant Surgery
Most all-on-four cases are performed using just four dental implants. Occasionally, a 5th and 6th implant is added if deemed necessary. The implant screws are placed at the same time during a single surgery. Additionally, if there are broken teeth, loose teeth, or sharp bony edges, these are usually addressed during the same surgery. Afterward, you have to wait between 2 to 6 months for the implants to integrate with the bone. At this time you may require an additional surgery, known as second-stage surgery, to expose the implants. Other times the implants are left exposed and there is no need for additional surgery. Now that the implants are healed and exposed, you are ready to fabricate the final teeth.
All-on-Four Teeth Fabrication
Making a beautiful set of teeth attached to a few implants is a step-by-step process. This usually takes several visits, although some offices have an in-house lab to expedite the process. Your dentist will use measurements and mockups to make sure that your bite is correct and that you like your new teeth. They will choose a tooth color and have you look at it and approve it. You may have to see your dentist as little as two times or as many as a dozen times until the teeth fit are perfected. Once the all-on-teeth is completed, your teeth are screwed onto the implants. These teeth remain in your mouth permanently as if you had your original natural teeth back!
What is the cost for all-on-four teeth?
As you'd imagine, all-on-four teeth is quite an expensive treatment. After all, a single dental implant costs somewhere between $2,500 to $5,000+ so imagine how much 12 or 14 implant teeth would cost? It turns out, all-on-four teeth are a bit of a bargain when compared to full mouth dental implants. Whereas full mouth dental implants typically cost $30,0000 to $50,000 per arch, all-on-four teeth cost between $15,000 to $35,000 per arch. Here are some of the reasons why all-on-four teeth cost less than full mouth dental implants:
No Need for Extensive Bone Augmentation Surgery
Most all-on-four treatments are performed without the need for major bone grafting. On the other hand, almost all full mouth dental implant treatments require extensive bone augmentation. We're not talking about a simple bone graft either, we're talking about lateral wall sinus grafts, autogenous bone grafts, and gum tissue grafts to build up the missing bone and gum tissue. These procedures add significantly to your cost and treatment times as they are all very difficult procedures.
Fewer Implants Required
Full mouth implants require between 6 to 12 implant posts per arch
The all-on-four technique was developed to only require four dental implant posts for the majority of cases. On the other hand, full mouth implants requires an average of 6 to 12 implant posts per arch. Of course, more implant posts also mean more expense, which is why full mouth implants typically cost double that of all-on-4 teeth.
Shorter Treatment Times
All-on-four treatment is typically completed in 3 to 9 months. In contrast, full mouth dental implants typically take at least one year, usually longer, to complete treatment. Full mouth dental implants require a significant healing period for the bone graft to take. This usually adds an extra year to the treatment times. Additionally, making individual crowns and bridges is very technically demanding. The process takes much longer than fabricating a one piece all-on-four procelain or zirconia bridge. These factors all add up, accounting for why full mouth implants cost so much more than all-on-four implant teeth.
All-on-4 dental implants in Orange County, CA
During your consultation, we present all of your treatment options and discuss alternative treatments
Call us today to learn more about all-on-four teeth or full mouth dental implants. Dr. Jazayeri is an expert in all-on-four teeth and has successfully restored more than 200 cases. Schedule your complimentary implant consultation by calling (949)481-2540 or book your appointment online. Dr. Jazayeri will evaluate your jawbone using CT scans to determine if you’re a good candidate for all-on-four implant treatment. We will present all of your treatment options and discuss alternative treatments. We will gladly review treatment costs and present you with flexible financing options if interested. So don't wait any longer, book your consultation with us today to see how easy it is to get your dream smile back. Fill out the form below if you have any more questions or would like us to contact you for a consultation:
To learn more about other implant related treatments, click on the links below: