The team here at Brown & Baran Family Dentistry offers the people of Wilmington some of the finest dental care services available. Offering great cosmetic and restorative care allows us to improve the appearance of patient’s smiles as well as their dental health and general wellness.
For example, great results can be achieved through implant dentistry. Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that support bridges and dentures for patients who are missing teeth. This means they can smile with confidence and bite and chew as they did in the past. New advances in implant dentistry have resulted in All-on-4® treatment, which we want to discuss in more detail in this blog post.
What is All-on-4®?
All-on-4® is a process of using just four dental implants to support a full denture. This means that patients can have a stable dental appliance in place using just four dental implants that are strategically placed along the dental ridge.
The All-on-4® process is quick and stable, restoring the aesthetics of smiles quickly as well as restoring overall dental function of a patient’s teeth.
Who is a good candidate for All-on-4®?
The best candidates for All-on-4® are people who are missing all of the teeth along the dental ridge or most of their teeth. They should have sufficient jawbone structure and gum tissue in place in order to support the dental implants that are placed. Patients should have realistic expectations about the nature of treatment and be committed to proper care/oral hygiene as well as their full denture.
The Advantages of All-on-4® Treatment
There are many compelling advantages to undergoing All-on-4® treatment:
- All-on-4® is fast, allowing patients to potentially get a full set of teeth in just a visit or two
- All-on-4® is effective, restoring a patient’s ability to bite and chew without any worry of their full denture slipping out of place
- All-on-4® is good for dental health, preventing issues with bone loss and gum recession thanks to the placement of the dental implants
- All-on-4® means natural-looking results, allowing patients to carry themselves with confidence
The All-on-4® Procedure
The All-on-4® procedure generally involves the following steps.
First, any of the patient’s remaining teeth along the dental ridge will be extracted. This makes way for the full denture. A careful scan and x-ray is performed in order to determine the ideal placement of the dental implants for the patient. The oral surgery is performed, carefully considering the placement of the implants in order to optimize stability of the denture. Once the placement of the implants is done, a denture can be snapped into place.
Alternatives to All-on-4®
If a patient is a poor candidate for All-on-4® treatment, traditional implant dentistry options can be considered involving dental bridges and/or a partial denture. Bone grafting surgery and gum augmentation can also be considered when patients require additional tissue in order to support the dental implant.
All risks and benefits of All-on-4® as well as alternative treatments can be discussed in greater detail during your consultation.
Contact Brown & Baran Family Dentistry
For more information about All-on-4® and how it can help you have a full and beautiful smile, be sure to contact our cosmetic and restorative dentistry center today. At Brown & Baran Family Dentistry, we will discuss all of your treatment options with you in full detail so you can bite, chew, and smile with absolute confidence.
