All-on-4 Dental Implants – Plano, TX
Fully Restoring Flawless Smiles
Following the loss of a full row of teeth, we know our patients have already heard enough bad news. The Legacy Trails Dental of Plano team is here to help you fill in the space in your mouth with All-on-4 dental implants. You can enjoy a full grin again thanks to personalized dentures supported by just four strategically placed dental implant posts. If you’re interested in using the innovative All-on-4 procedure to revitalize your smile, reach out to us today to schedule a consultation.
How Do All-On-4 Implants Work?
With traditional dental implant surgery, up to eight posts are required to support a full denture. However, the All-on-4 procedure only requires half that number. This is because of the way that the posts are placed. The posts near the back of the mouth are inserted diagonally so that they can take advantage of the bone tissue near the front of your jaw. As a result, your implants will provide your denture with the strength and stability it needs to function like your natural teeth.
Am I a Candidate for All-On-4 Implants?
You might want to consider getting All-on-4 implants if you’re missing most or all of the teeth in your upper or lower jaw. As with any implant procedure, your mouth needs to be free of gum disease, which is a leading cause of implant failure. Even if you are currently suffering from gum disease, you might still be eligible for All-on-4 once it has been properly treated.
All-on-4 can be an especially good option for patients who have suffered from bone loss. The procedure takes advantage of the areas of the mouth where bone density is naturally higher. As a result, you can have dental implants placed while minimizing the need for bone grafts.
Benefits of All-On-4 Implants
Some of the benefits of All-on-4 implants that make them the best choice for many patients include:
- Conservative implant placement: Because the densest parts of the jaw are utilized to support the denture, you will not need invasive preparatory procedures like bone or soft tissue grafting, making All-on-4 a more conservative alternative to traditional dental implants.
- Long-lasting results: Once in place, your All-on-4 denture will last for decades with proper care. That’s compared to a traditional denture that will need to be repaired or replaced every seven to ten years on average.
- Easy to care for: You can brush your All-on-4 denture just like you would your healthy, natural smile. To improve your oral hygiene routine, you can use antimicrobial oral rinse and an air or water flosser to limit plaque buildup between the denture and gums./li>
All-On-4 VS. Traditional Implants
There are many reasons why patients who have suffered extensive tooth loss might want to consider All-on-4 instead of traditional implants. For one thing, it typically requires fewer implant posts, which means less surgery and a lower cost. It can also eliminate the need for bone grafting and other preparatory procedures that could potentially add months to the treatment timeline. And in many cases, All-on-4 makes it possible to place a temporary denture on the same day as your implant surgery; with traditional dental implants, you usually need to wait to receive new teeth.
All-on-4 Dental Implants FAQs
What Foods Can You Eat After Getting All-on-4 Dental Implants?
While your mouth is healing from the All-on-4 procedure, you will need to avoid eating anything hard or crunchy for a while. Plan on sticking to a diet of soft foods, such as mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, and yogurt.
Once your mouth has fully recovered and the final prosthesis has been placed, you will be able to return to a normal diet. Thanks to the stability and chewing power of your dental implants in Plano, you will once again be able to enjoy all of your favorite foods. That being said, you should still exercise caution when it comes to hard or crunchy foods; biting down on them could damage your prosthesis.
How Long Does the Full All-on-4 Treatment Process Take?
You can typically expect the All-on-4 process to take around four to six months. Much of this time will be spent waiting for the dental implants to form a lasting bond with the jawbone through a process called osseointegration. The exact timeline for osseointegration can vary from case to case; it largely depends on the patient’s natural healing abilities. Once osseointegration is complete, we will be able to place the final prosthesis, thereby putting the finishing touches on your new smile.
Are All-on-4 Dental Implants Covered by Insurance?
Not all dental insurance plans are exactly the same. Before you commit to any sort of dental treatment, you should review your benefits to confirm what is and isn’t covered. If there’s anything you’re unsure about, you can always reach out to your insurance company to ask for clarification.
When it comes to All-on-4, many insurance companies will not pay for the dental implants. However, they may still be willing to partially cover the cost of your prosthesis.
Are All-on-4 Dental Implants Safe?
Around 94% of All-on-4 cases remain successful even 10 years after the initial surgery. This illustrates that the procedure is very safe and reliable, especially when it’s handled by an experienced dental expert. At our practice, we utilize the latest technology to plan the All-on-4 procedure down to the last detail; this minimizes the chances of complications occurring and helps ensure that your dental implants will be placed in precisely the right spots in your mouth.
Who Isn’t a Good Candidate for All-on-4 Dental Implants?
While All-on-4 can be an excellent option for many patients who have lost most or all of their teeth, the treatment may not be the best choice for some individuals. For instance, if you are unable to refrain from smoking for a certain period of time before or after having dental implants placed, All-on-4 may not be recommended in your case.
To determine whether you’re a viable candidate for All-on-4, our team will need to capture X-rays of your jaw and perform a comprehensive examination of your mouth. We will also need to review your oral and medical health histories.