WHAT ARE “ALL-ON-4” DENTAL IMPLANTS?

Tooth loss is among the most severe symptoms of poor oral health. Missing teeth make it difficult to chew food properly, limiting dietary choices which can compromise nutritional intake. Gaps in the teeth can cause speech difficulties like slurring or the inability to pronounce certain sounds. The loss of each tooth often induces shifting and misalignment of surrounding teeth, while the underlying jawbone loses structural density in the absence of tooth roots. In addition to compromising oral health, tooth loss creates unsightly gaps that keep people from smiling and takes a toll on their self-confidence.

The dental experts at Southwest Florida’s Island Tower Dentistry know how debilitating tooth loss can be for their Marco Island-area patients. Fortunately, modern dentistry offers patients several options for replacing missing teeth and restoring smiles. Bridgework, dentures, and implants are all feasible options for restoring the functional health and aesthetic look of one’s smile.

Among these dental fixes, implants are the most permanent and effective treatment for replacing lost teeth. And with advanced training in implant dentistry, Dr. Jonathan Van Dyke and Dr. Ryan Whelen believe that “All-on-4” dental implants are among the most advanced implant technologies available. Let’s look closer at this innovative implant technology and how it can help restore your smile in Marco Island.

WHAT IS A DENTAL IMPLANT?

A dental implant is a small prosthetic device inserted into the jawbone to replace the root of a natural tooth. Properties in the implant’s titanium alloy encourage the bone to naturally fuse with it, ensuring the implant can support bite pressure for years and even decades. Once firmly affixed to the bone, each implant is capped with a dental crown that looks, feels, and functions like an original natural tooth.

With one of the highest success ratios—plus 90%—of any implanted surgical device, dental implants provide patients with the most permanent tooth loss replacement and offer other benefits over removable dentures and bridgework. Because they are fixed, implants are better at transferring chewing force to the jawbone than dentures and dental bridges. They also maintain the density and shape of the underlying jawbone, which, unlike the other options, cannot prevent incremental jawbone degradation. Overall, implants provide patients with the most realistic and natural feeling replacements for their missing teeth.

WHAT MAKES ALL-ON-4 DENTAL IMPLANTS SPECIAL?

All-on-4 dental implants are an innovative implant solution for patients missing most of the teeth on their lower and/or upper arches or those who want to upgrade their removable dentures. While most implant technologies utilize one implant for each missing tooth, All-on-4 dental implants provide complete arch replacement to restore an entire row of teeth using only four strategically positioned dental implants. Instead of supporting individual crowns, the All-on-4 implants are secured and topped by a custom-made prosthetic arch with 10 to 14 teeth replicating the function, appearance, and feel of the patient’s natural teeth and gums.

THE BENEFITS OF ALL-ON-4 DENTAL IMPLANTS

All-on-4 dental implants provide patients several advantages over other prosthetics used for full-arch restoration, including:

• The unique placement of each of the four implants ensures secure anchoring to the jawbone and a stable foundation for the prosthetic arch and teeth.
• The angled placement of the two rear implants optimizes the use of existing bone structures, which often eliminates the need for bone grafting that may be needed for individual implants.
• With only four implants needed per arch, All-on-4 is more cost-effective than crowning multiple implants for each missing tooth.
• The procedure can be performed in one day, and patients can leave the dental office with a temporary arch that serves their oral needs while the implants fuse to the jawbone and the permanent arch is custom-made.
• With proper care, All-on-4 dental implants should last decades.

ARE YOU A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR ALL-ON-4 IMPLANTS IN MARCO ISLAND?

If you suffer from significant tooth loss on the upper and/or lower arches and want a more permanent, natural-looking replacement option offered by dentures, you may be a prime candidate for All-on-4 dental implants. Other factors that may make you a good All-on-4 implant candidate include:

• You’ve struggled with loose or uncomfortable dentures.
• You don’t have quite enough jawbone density for traditional implants (but may for All-on-4).
• You’re in good physical health without certain pre-existing medical conditions like uncontrolled diabetes or autoimmune disorders.
• You’re looking for the best natural-looking and long-term replacement for lost teeth.

DISCUSS YOUR IMPLANT OPTIONS WITH MARCO ISLAND DENTISTS

With extensive experience restoring the smiles of their Southwest Florida-area patients with dental implants and other prosthetics, Island Tower Dentistry’s Dr. Van Dyke and Dr. Whelen can help you determine whether All-on-4 dental implants can help meet your teeth replacement needs. For the best in functional and cosmetic dental work in the Marco Island, Florida, area, contact us today at 239-394-1004 for a consultation.