All-on-4® dental implants replace all the teeth in your upper or lower arch—or both. If you’re missing your upper or lower teeth, four dental implants will keep your denture in place. Unlike dentures that can slip around, lift, or fall out, the All-on-4 system keeps your teeth stable so you can speak, eat, smile, and laugh—worry free.
How Does the All-on-4 System Work?
All-on-4 avoids the need for bone grafting because the two rear implants are angled to increase retention.
The All-on-4 system stabilizes a denture with dental implants—or small screws—embedded in your jawbone like tooth roots. You can expect the following steps:
- Dr. Thomas will make a small incision through your gums to insert each implant into your jawbone.
- He will place the two front implants vertically and angle the back implants to increase resistance to displacement and provide maximum support.
- You’ll receive temporary dentures the same day and leave our office with a new smile.
- During a healing period of three to four months, your jawbone and implants will fuse.
- Your permanent, natural-looking dentures will then be attached to the implants.
What Are the Advantages of All-on-4 Implants?
When you’re missing most or all your teeth, your jawbone will begin to shrink. Although standard implants require adequate bone to support implants, All-on-4 angled implants don’t require grafts if you have low bone volume.
As few as four implants will stabilize your dentures so you can eat and speak with ease and enjoy socializing without being self-conscious about dentures that lift, shift, or fall out.
A denture that rests on your gums puts pressure on them and accelerates jawbone shrinkage. But All-on-4 implants support the denture, stimulate the bone, and help prevent bone shrinkage and facial sagging.
What Can You Expect?
Before you receive dental implants, Dr. Thomas will review your medical and histories to ensure you’re a candidate for them.
- Thomas will take 3-D x-ray images to reveal your bone structure, facial cavities, and sinuses for precise implant placement.
- He will create a customized treatment plan and provide you with the cost.
- On the day of your procedure, he will place the four implants and attach temporary dentures to them. We use local anesthetic and dental sedation to ensure your comfort throughout the process.
- You’ll receive post-op instructions to follow for three to four days after surgery. The instructions will explain the signs and symptoms you can expect after implant surgery and what you can do at home to increase your comfort.
- Your diet will be restricted to soft foods while the implant sites heal.
- During a three- to four-month healing period, we will schedule checkup appointments for Dr. Thomas to ensure the implants and surrounding tissue are healthy.
- After your implants and jawbone fuse, you’ll receive permanent dentures.
What’s the All-on-4 Recovery Time?
- You’ll need to rest three to four days after implant surgery.
- Any discomfort will decrease over time.
- It takes three to four months for the implants and your jawbone to fuse and provide reliable support for your permanent dentures.
How Much Do All-on-4 Implants Cost?
Several factors affect the cost of All-on-4 implants. Some of them include:
- The complexity of your case
- Implant surgery
- Fitting the abutments, or connectors, to which dentures are attached
- The type of denture teeth you select
After a consultation, evaluation, and examination, Dr. Thomas will prepare a treatment plan and explain your options and their cost. We won’t pressure you to receive any treatment.
Ways All-on-4 can save you money
Dr. Thomas is a fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. He completes implant planning, placement, and restorations in his office. It saves you the cost of an additional visit to an oral surgeon for implant placement.
We don’t take shortcuts. They often result in numbness, tingling, pain, and implant failure. Dr. Thomas adheres to a process that avoids costly implant mistakes. He uses 3-D navigation technology to guide precise implant placement.
All-on-4 outlasts other forms of tooth replacement—like dentures or a dental bridge—that require maintenance or repairs and need to be replaced every five to ten years.
How Long Do They Last?
Dr. Thomas uses high-quality implant fixtures and processes so that they will last many years, maybe even a lifetime. If you take good care of your All-on-4 implants, you will maximize their lifespan.
Do your part:
- Adhere to your post-op instructions throughout the healing process.
- Be diligent about maintaining good oral hygiene. Keep your gums, dentures, and implant fixtures clean.
- Keep your dental hygiene appointments for thorough inspection and cleaning of your implants and prosthesis.
How to Clean All-on-4 Dental Implants
Post-op cleaning
For the first 48 hours after implant surgery, you will avoid rinsing your mouth or spitting to keep blood clots in place at the surgical sites. We’ll give you instructions on how to gradually start cleaning your mouth and the implants.
After the healing period
Only use an extra-soft toothbrush and non-abrasive denture paste on your denture teeth. Use a Waterpik® or another brand of a water flosser to rinse away debris beneath your denture and around the implant fixtures.
If you’re interested in uncompromising quality in All-on-4 dental implants, call us to schedule an appointment with Dr. Thomas or request an appointment online.