All-on-4® is one of the innovative ways you can replace your missing teeth. It is an excellent solution for anyone who has lost most of their real teeth, and it involves using dental implants to hold a special set of dentures in place.
Patients who opt for All-on-4® get four implants installed on each dental arch. These implants are used to hold dentures in place, giving the patient a more stable set of artificial teeth than traditional dentures. The implants stimulate the patient's jaw whenever they bite down on something, preventing bone tissue loss.
A local or general anesthetic is typically administered at the start of the treatment. This helps to keep the patient comfortable and pain-free as the dentist goes to work. The dentist will prepare the patient's mouth for All-on-4® by removing any remaining teeth on the dental arc that is being worked on. The dentist will also remove any infected tissues they find prior to the treatment.
The dentist will also evaluate the patient to ensure they have enough bone tissues to securely hold the implants in place. Not having enough bone tissue does not automatically disqualify the patient. It only means they might need bone grafts prior to getting All-on-4®. The patient will need to be fully recovered from the bone grafts before the dentist can install the implants. It can take up to three months to recover from bone grafts.
The dentist will then insert the implants into the patient's jaw. Most patients get two implants at the back of their mouth and two in front. This spreads bite forces evenly between the implants. Once the implants are installed, the dentist will close up any incisions. A temporary set of dentures will be attached to the implants and the patient will be sent home to recover. It can take up to six months for the implants to fuse with the bone tissue surrounding them. Permanent sets of dentures are attached to the implants once osseointegration is complete.
The recovery time for All-on-4® is about the same as that of traditional implants. The installation is not complete until the implants bond with the bone tissues holding them in place. This generally takes around six months.
Here are some simple things patients can do to speed up the recovery process:
All-on-4® is arguably the best solution for people who have lost most of their teeth. Call us or visit our Chester clinic to learn more about the process.
Request an appointment here: https://thechesterfielddentist.com/ or call Chesterfield Dentist at (804) 412-0867 for an appointment in our Chester office.
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