All-on-4 Dental Implants in the Bay Area
Getting dentures can seem like the obvious solution to tooth loss and advanced gum disease. However, there are many drawbacks. Dentures can get tiring when they start moving around your mouth when you speak and chew. Fortunately, there is a better solution for replacement teeth! All-on-4 dental implants are permanently secured and won’t move or shift in your mouth. If you think you’re a good candidate for All-on-4 dental implants, call Bay Area OSM and book your appointment today!
What are the pros and cons of all-on-4 dental implants?
When considering the pros and cons of All-on-4 dental implants, it is necessary to compare them to the other available solution, which is traditional dentures.Traditional dentures are removable and are normally fixed to your gums using an adhesive. This can be very time consuming doing it every day.
Also, because the bond is temporary, sometimes the dentures will slip while you eat, drink, or even talk. They may also cause you to slur your words. On top of all of this, as your jaw changes shape over time, you will need to replace your dentures every few years. Now compare that to All-on-4 dental implants. Instead of being fixed with glue, they are attached securely to titanium implants. These function as artificial tooth roots that don’t move around in your mouth.
You never have to take them out, they are in your mouth permanently. And since your implants stimulate your jawbone, you won’t experience jawbone loss like traditional denture wearers.
There are many benefits of All-on-4 dental implants, including:
- Clean them like you would natural teeth
- Don’t slip
- Better speech
- Better chewing ability
- Stimulates your jaw so you won’t lose bone density
Some may view the higher initial cost or the need for surgery as a downside. However, the fact that you won’t need to pay to replace them and have further dental appointments as you do with dentures could mean that the downside is really an advantage. If you would like to know more about the benefits you could experience personally, then speak to the surgeons at Bay Area OSM.
Call our office or book an appointment online today!
What is the All-on-4 dental implant procedure?
There are only three steps involved in getting All-on-4 dental implants.
STEP 1
During your first appointment, your Bay Area OSM provider will extract any remaining teeth that may get in the way of your implants.
A CBCT scan is used so the surgeon can be able to see if you have any abnormalities that could impact the dental implant procedure.
STEP 2
After waiting a few weeks to allow for healing, your surgeon will implant small titanium screws into your jawbone that will act as artificial tooth roots.
For a full set of hybrid dentures, usually, four dental implants are needed. Each case is different, and your Bay Area OSM provider will provide you with details for your personal case.
Once implants are installed, you will need to wait three to six months while they fuse with your jawbone to provide the sturdy foundation for your hybrid dentures.
STEP 3
After the implants have finished fusing, your surgeon will then attach your new hybrid dentures, which have been created and modified to perfectly fit your mouth.
What is recovery time for All-on-4 dental implants
Recovery time will vary from person to person. Typically, you can expect to fully recover between 3 to 4 weeks. However, most patients are able to return to work after a couple days. This is much quicker than traditional dental implants because the titanium screw forms an immediate bond with the jawbone. This means you don’t have to wait for the dental implant to fuse with the jaw bone.
After the surgery, you will have gauze packs secured over the surgery site and you will be required to gently bite down on them. After 30 minutes, the bleeding should stop. If it doesn’t, then you will need to continue to replace them every 30 minutes at home until the bleeding stops. At home, you will need to avoid irritating the tender areas inside your mouth. You may brush your teeth gently with a soft toothbrush. However, avoid vigorous rinsing. If you wish to rinse your mouth, you can do so with salt water.
Mix a teaspoon of salt with an 8oz glass of warm water. Don’t spit out the solution, instead, let it flow out of the mouth. You should also stop smoking, as smoking will extend the healing process.
You may return to work after two days if you work in an office or have any other type of similar work that doesn’t require physical exertion. Be careful not to lift any heavy objects, avoid bending over and standing up too quickly.
You should also get plenty of rest and eat soft foods for 3-4 days.
HOW DO I CLEAN ALL-ON-4 DENTAL IMPLANTS?
The best thing about choosing this type of dental implant is the ease of care. To clean your All-on-4 dental implants, you only need to brush your teeth twice a day, just like you do with natural teeth.
It’s recommended that you use non-abrasive toothpaste to ensure the dentures look the best and last the longest. Be sure to brush the acrylic gum part of the dentures as well.
With proper care and regular surgeon visits, All-on-4 dental implants can last indefinitely.
Call Bay Area OSM today to make traditional dentures ancient history. Set up a consultation or book an appointment online today!
FAQs
HOW LONG DO ALL-ON-4 DENTAL IMPLANTS DENTURES LAST?
If you take good care of your All-on-4 dental implants, they should last a lifetime. This makes them a much more cost-effective option than traditional dentures, which usually have a lifespan of about 5 to 8 years.
HOW PAINFUL ARE ALL-ON-4 DENTAL IMPLANTS?
Your surgeon will provide the needed medication to make the fitting of All-on-4 dental implants as pain-free as possible.
You will receive a local anesthetic where the implants will be inserted so that you will be pain-free during the surgery.
If you worry about being anxious during the surgery, you can receive sedation, such as laughing gas. Sedation can put you in a twilight state.
Before your surgery, you will have an opportunity to explain your specific needs as a patient. The surgeons at Bay Area OSM will provide you a customized plan of medication for your comfort.
