If you enjoy the convenience of dentures but want your restorations to be a little more secure, you’ll have plenty to love when you choose All-on-4 dental implants! These permanent prosthetics combine the reliability of traditional dentures with the security of just four strategically placed dental implants. Here’s what you can expect from this life-changing treatment, and how to maintain your stunning new smile for a lifetime!
How is All-on-4 Different Than Other Tooth Replacement Options?
All-on-4 combines a durable, lifelike denture with the permanent hold of durable dental implants. It works by surgically attaching four posts into the jawbone, where they fuse in place via a process known as osseointegration.
Unlike with traditional dentures, All-on-4 prosthetics stay permanently attached and don’t need to be removed for cleaning or soaking. In fact, you can care for your restoration just like you would your real teeth: by brushing and flossing it right in your mouth.
Because it’s attached to your jaw, your All-on-4 denture won’t slip or shift when you eat or speak, nor will it cause those painful denture sores that are so common with removable prosthetics. Their stability will even improve your biteforce, allowing you to once again enjoy a diet of crunchy and tough foods that may have been too difficult to break down with traditional dentures or missing teeth.
Finally, All-on-4 lasts much longer than traditional prosthetics. While the posts themselves should last a lifetime with proper care, the denture may only need minor adjustments or replacements every few decades, as opposed to every five to seven years with removable ones!
What Can I Expect After All-on-4 Surgery?
The dental implant surgery process is easier than most patients realize. The procedure itself should be completely painless, because your dentist will fully numb your jaw before beginning.
Following surgery, you’ll likely experience some swelling, bleeding, and discomfort for about three days, followed by another week or so of gradual improvement. However, most patients find this period to be easily manageable with prescription or OTC pain relievers, as well as with using cold compresses and eating a softer diet. Finally, by the two-week marker, you should be feeling great and ready to eat tougher and more dense foods.
Next comes the osseointegration period, where your dental implants permanently fuse with the jawbone. This time is essential for the success of your smile. Once complete (usually in about three to six months) you’ll return to your dentist for your abutments, which are the pieces that will connect your dental implants to your denture. Once you’ve recovered from that (in about two weeks) you’ll come back one last time to have your denture placed, and you’ll be ready to start using your new teeth!
Although All-on-4 dentures will feel slightly different from traditional dentures, most patients adjust quickly and within a few short weeks report that their prosthetic feels completely natural.
How Can I Maintain My New Smile?
Once you’ve had your All-on-4 denture placed, you’ll want to do your best to protect it. Be sure to avoid using it for anything other than what it was designed for: i.e., not tearing open packaging, biting fingernails, or chewing on pen caps. Furthermore, be sure to brush your false teeth (and any remaining real ones!) twice a day, and floss them daily, and don’t stop visiting your dentist every six months for your preventive checkups and cleanings, even if you have no remaining natural teeth.
Finally, be sure to avoid bad oral habits like smoking, vaping, or using tobacco, as these can increase your risk of dental implant failure. By practicing these steps, your odds for success will remain high, and your newly restored smile could very well last you the rest of your life!
Remember, All-on-4 is a safe, effective way to restore your healthy, beautiful smile with the durability of traditional dentures and the permanent hold of dental implants. To find out more about this treatment and to see if your smile qualifies, schedule a consultation with your dentist today!
About Our Practice
At Heart of Texas Smiles General & Cosmetic Dentistry, we’re proud to offer smile-saving solutions like All-on-4. This dynamic treatment combines the convenience of dentures with the secure, permanent hold of just four strategically placed dental implants. If you’d like to learn more about All-on-4, including whether you’ll be a good candidate, schedule a consultation with us today by visiting our website or calling 254-848-0240.