Replacing missing teeth used to mean only restoring those parts of the smile visible above the gum line. Unfortunately, this lead to minimal stability for the replacement teeth and did not provide the proper stimulation to promote the retention of jawbone density and gum tissue volume. Dental implants have dramatically changed the standard in care for tooth replacement. These implant posts positioned below the gum line mimic the lost tooth roots, creating optimal stability for the replacement tooth and providing the necessary stimulation to maintain jawbone density and gum tissue volume. Unfortunately, many patients who experience advanced tooth loss do not have enough supportive bone and soft tissue to support the dental implants necessary to anchor a denture. That’s where the innovative All-on-4 procedure comes in. This implant supported denture placement method uses the naturally denser portions of the jaw to support an entire denture without the need for more invasive preparatory procedures like bone and soft tissue grafting. Contact Exceptional Dentistry of Shepherdsville to find out more or schedule a consultation appointment with our skilled dentist and experienced team.
All-on-4 is an innovative implant supported denture method. Rather than placing dental implants along the jawline, All-on-4 strategically positions implant posts to make use of the naturally denser parts of the jawbone at the front of the mouth to provide support for the entire denture. Two implants are placed vertically in the jaw to support the front of the denture, and two are placed diagonally to support the back of the denture and implant into the front of the mouth.
Any patient who is missing one or both full rows of teeth should consider the All-on-4 procedure. Ideal candidates for All-on-4 include those who:
All-on-4 treatment is a surgical procedure, so you will need to discuss this treatment with your physician to ensure you are healthy enough to safely undergo the procedure. Once we’re sure you’re a good candidate for the procedure, the treatment itself is actually fairly conservative. We make small incisions in the gum line. Then, the implant post is positioned into the jawbone. A protective cap is attached to the implant post to allow the implant to fuse with the gum and jawbone but prevent the soft tissue from closing over the implant site. Once the implants are fused with your supportive structure, a permanent denture is attached to the implants using abutment pieces.
Patients who move forward with All-on-4 implant supported denture treatment can expect a variety of benefits, including: