All-on-4 dental implants in Winchester, VA

Tooth loss is more common than people realize! According to studies by the American College of Prosthodontists, at least 40 million Americans in different age groups are missing all of their teeth! This only gets worse as we age, with at least 30% of all adults aged 65-74 having complete tooth loss.
If you have a lot of missing or damaged teeth, all-on-4 dental implants may be the best way for you to turn back the clock on your oral health. If you’re wondering whether this procedure is right for you, contact Tolley Dental today to book a consultation!

What Are All-On-4 Dental Implants?

With all-on-4 dental implants, “all” of your teeth will be supported with “4” dental implants – replacing upper and lower tooth arches. This is a permanent prosthetic which can only be removed by your dentist. This procedure is recommended for those who are missing all or most of their natural teeth.

The Pros And Cons Of Getting All-On-4 Dental Implants

Here are the advantages and disadvantages to consider before undergoing all-on-4 dental implant placement.
Pros

• This procedure can be completed in just one day, so you can start chewing and speaking with a full set of teeth after just one surgery.
• Because this procedure needs fewer implants, it’s also much more affordable than traditional dental implants.
• You’ll need a much shorter recovery time compared to individual tooth implants.
• Implant placement is securely set deep within your jawbone, so there’s no risk of shifting.

Cons

• Like all dental implant procedures, the healing process can take some time.
• This procedure needs a lot of healthy bone to perform.
• The implants can’t be placed in the molar area, which is where bite force is greatest.
• This procedure will require the extraction of all teeth, so any remaining teeth need to be removed even if they’re still healthy.

What Are The Steps Of the All-on-4 Procedure?

Here’s what to expect every step of the way:

Preliminary Consultation
This is the stage where our dentists will perform a check-up. To ensure a successful surgery, our dentist will ask if you smoke and if you’re taking any medication. Our staff will also schedule any necessary tooth extractions.

Initial Procedures
Depending on our dentist’s findings during the consultation, this is the time when tooth extractions are performed. Any gum disease you have will also be treated since it can prevent successful dental implantation or cause more infections.
Dental impressions will also be taken to prepare a complete set of dentures. These will be installed as soon as the dental rods are implanted.

Surgery And Fitting
You’ll be placed under local anesthesia before we start performing the surgery. Two dental implants will be mounted in the front of your mouth, and another two will be implanted in the back at a 45° angle. This securely sets the dental arches and won’t require bone grafting.

Prosthesis Fitting
Depending on your mouth’s condition after implant placement, your dentures can be fitted on the same day. Otherwise, our dentist will give you a temporary denture to take home and use. In that case, prosthesis fitting will be done three to six months after you’ve healed from your surgery.

Post-Procedure Recovery
Many patients fully heal within three to six months from the procedure. During recovery, you will be advised to avoid exercise and other strenuous activities for three to four days. Our dentists will remind you to eat only soft foods for at least three months.
You can bite down on gauze to control post-surgery bleeding, but prepare saltwater rinses if you experience bleeding for longer than 24 hours.

Alternatives To All-On-4 Dental Implants

If you’re not a candidate for this option, there are other procedures to help restore your smile. Here are some alternative procedures we can undertake to give you a full set of teeth.
Removable dentures: If you still have many healthy teeth, you could get removable partial or complete dentures. These are held in place with remaining adjacent teeth and metal attachments. This option is less stable than fixed dentures, so eating and speaking won’t be as easy.
Tooth-supported fixed bridge: In this procedure, the teeth on either side of the gap will be crowned to serve as anchors for a replacement tooth. However, crowning requires healthy supporting teeth to be ground down, which can increase the chances of infection. This method will also require more dental care and maintenance.
Complete individual implants: This method will replace all your teeth with individually implanted ones. They’re more comfortable and natural-looking than all-on-4 implants, but they will take more time to heal and are very expensive.

Visit Tolley Dental For A Brand-New Smile!

Damaged and broken teeth can make it difficult to speak, or smile with confidence. Fortunately, all-on-4 dental implants are the perfect solution to restoring a full set of teeth.
Schedule an appointment with Tolley Dental! Our expert dental team will help you decide if you’re a good candidate for the procedure.