All-on-4^® Secure Dentures

Missing teeth can make a mess of your self-esteem and leave you hesitant to smile. Fortunately, restorative dental techniques like All-on-4 — sometimes known as “All-on-X” — can address the issue of a toothless smile with beautiful and lasting results. If you’re bothered by uncomfortable or ill-fitting dentures, Tam Dental Group can help you find another option that better suits your lifestyle.

• What Is All-on-4?
• All-on-4 Candidates
• All-on-4 Benefits
• All-on-4 Process
• All-on-4 Recovery
• All-on-4 Results
• All-on-4 Cost
• All-on-4 Alternatives
• All-on-4 Complements

What Is All-on-4^®?

All-on-4 is a type of implant denture that uses four dental implants to secure a denture appliance to the upper or lower arch. In some cases, this treatment is referred to as All-on-X depending on how many implants are required to stabilize the denture. If six dental implants are used, as may sometimes be the case, the treatment is called All-on-6. The number of implants you need will depend on the amount of jawbone structure you have and other anatomical considerations.

Is All-on-4^® a Good Choice for Me?

All-on-4 or All-on-X may be a suitable option for patients who are not great candidates for a full set of dental implants due to insufficient bone density. This is because All-on-4 uses fewer implants. During your initial consultation, we will take a look at your oral structures and overall health to determine if this approach or another offers the best possible outcome. Your comfort, safety, and results are our highest priorities, and we will work with you from start to finish in restoring your smile.

All-on-4^® vs. Regular Implant Dentures

Compared to regular implant-supported dentures, All-on-4 offers a more specialized technique designed to minimize the number of dental implants necessary to keep a denture stable. As a result, All-on-4 can be particularly ideal for patients who don’t have enough bone volume for regular implant dentures, or a mouth full of dental implants. This increases accessibility for Auckland patients to obtain a more secure, stable alternative to dentures for replacing entire rows of missing teeth. All-on-4 is also a fixed (non-removable) solution designed for the immediate placement of a prosthesis, which is why this teeth replacement option is commonly known as “same-day teeth.” While the initial prosthesis placed is temporary until your final denture is fabricated, the ability to restore functionality right away is among the key benefits of All-on-4.

When fewer implants are placed, this can also typically accelerate the healing process after implant surgery. That said, patients often experience a shorter period of downtime when compared to cases in which more than four dental implants are utilized.

What Are the Pros and Cons of All-on-4^®?

Many of the benefits of dental implants are shared with All-on-4 implant dentures, but each person will ultimately have to decide for themselves which technique is right for them. Some of the advantages and drawbacks of All-on-4 include:

• Secure, non-slip fit
• More maintenance than a full set of dental implants; less than traditional removable dentures
• No messy adhesives needed
• Natural-looking results
• Some jawbone preservation (more than dentures; less than a full set of implants)
• More affordable than a full set of implants; more expensive than dentures

How Does All-on-4^® Work?

Implant dentures work a lot like dental implants. The implant posts are placed into the jawbone (don’t worry, you shouldn’t feel any discomfort during this process and will commonly be fully sedated) and topped by an abutment that sits above the gumline. The two techniques differ from there. In All-on-4 (or All-on-X), the abutments (four to six of them) snap onto a denture appliance that holds your full smile in place. The denture is designed to look as natural and organic as possible so that others will never realize you have anything other than an authentic smile. The other option involves a Prosthetic Implant Bridge, essentially a titanium or zirconia-framed full arch bridge that is then fixed or screwed to your implants. This option will only be able to be removed by your treating dentist.

How Long Do All-on-4^® Results Last?

The results of All-on-4 are designed to last as long as your natural teeth — some patients even enjoy their new smile for a lifetime! With good dental hygiene, this implant denture technique can renew your smile, restore proper biting function, strengthen the bone structure, and minimize jawbone loss for the long-term. Your custom denture is affixed to the jawbone with dental implants, allowing your new smile to last well into the future. However, just as tooth decay harms the health of your natural teeth, bacteria buildup can also reduce the integrity and lifespan of your implants. Dr Tam and our dental team can provide you with information on how to preserve your All-on-4 results in person, but in general we recommend:

• Taking good care of your teeth with consistent brushing, flossing, and rinsing
• Staying on top of your dental examinations and appointments with a regular dental hygienist
• Wearing a night guard while asleep if you tend to clench or grind your teeth at night

How Much Does All-on-4^® Cost?

All-on-4 typically costs less than a full set of dental implants, but your unique needs and goals influence the total price for your treatment plan. We will review the pros vs. cons and cost vs. benefit ratio as well as expenses associated with your customized treatment program in detail at your first  two appointments. If you have any questions, we want the best for you, so please don’t hesitate to voice them. We’re here to help you smile confidently again.

Are There Alternatives to All-on-4^®?

Yes! There are many solutions to replace missing teeth at our Auckland practice and the best technique for you depends on how many teeth require replacement, whether you’re willing to undergo oral surgery, and your unique dental needs:

• Fixed or removable dentures: While they don’t offer the security of implant-anchored dentures, removable dentures offer an effective and fairly predictable treatment for individuals with missing teeth. These restorations can restore your full smile and ability to bite, but do not prevent bone loss in the same way as implant dentures.
• Dental bridges: A dental bridge is similar to a partial denture and can replace multiple consecutive missing teeth in the upper or lower dental arch. Rather than being anchored by implants, bridges can fill gaps in the mouth using dental crowns. That said, dental bridges cannot address jawbone loss or stimulate new bone growth.
• Implant-supported bridges: For patients who only need to replace part of their dental arch and who would like a more stable restoration than bridges, our team can secure an implant-supported bridge to the underlying bone for a more natural look and feel in your restoration. Plus, an implant bridge can stimulate bone regeneration in the area of tooth loss.

It’s important to discuss your goals and what you hope to accomplish with your dentist so our team can recommend an effective treatment for your concerns, preferences, and lifestyle. Dr Tam would be happy to develop a custom treatment plan to help you achieve the results you desire.

Complements to All-on-4^®

In many cases, missing teeth are not the only concern negatively affecting a patient’s smile and oral health. If your tooth loss is accompanied by widespread decay, damage to surrounding teeth, crookedness and crowding, or other functional issues, a more comprehensive treatment plan designed to address multiple dental concerns may be recommended. Often, full mouth reconstruction can serve as an effective solution.

Full mouth reconstruction is a customized, multidisciplinary treatment plan aimed to restore the health, function, and aesthetics of the entire mouth. By combining All-on-4 with full mouth reconstruction, your dental team can create a more streamlined treatment plan. Every treatment is carefully sequenced to provide the best possible results as efficiently and comfortably as possible. While the services included are determined on an individual basis, rehabilitating the entire smile usually involves a combination of restorative dentistry (crowns, bridges, implants), periodontics, and orthodontics or occlusal adjustments in conjunction with All-on-4 implant dentures. Commonly, All-on-4 may be performed as a part of full mouth reconstruction when patients are missing all of their teeth in one dental arch but still have remaining teeth in the adjunctive dental arch.

Ultimately, All-on-4 replaces teeth while full mouth reconstruction rebuilds your whole smile. Together, these treatments can give you confident, comfortable, and natural-looking results that last.

Would you like to hear more? Talk to our dental team and schedule a consultation to learn about how All-on-4 works and whether it can work for you.