A few years ago, I realized that I was thinking about dental care all wrong. Instead of listening carefully to my dentist and making the necessary changes, I assumed that he was ultimately responsible for making sure that my teeth stayed healthy. Unfortunately, I developed a few serious cavities because I failed to properly brush and floss my teeth, and I knew that it was my fault. I decided to start taking notes at my dental checkups and carefully abiding by the dentist's orders. The difference was almost miraculous. This blog is all about working with your dentist to improve your result.
Siiri Puro
All-on-four dental implants offer a way for patients to replace a full arch of teeth without using a traditional denture. Here is some information about the device and how it works.
How Do All-on-four Dental Implants Work?
An all-on-four system includes four titanium implants that are strategically placed at various sites along the palate. Each implant is a small screw that is inserted into the jawbone to provide support for the appliance.
The implants are often placed during a single session. Nevertheless, the resulting wounds have to heal for the devices to become stable in the bone. After the wounds from the placements have healed, a complete arch of replacement teeth is connected to the implants.
Are There Advantages to an All-on-four Device?
There are advantages to using an all-on-four system instead of a removable denture. Here are a few of them:
Stability
The all-on-four device remains securely in position, connected to the implant base. On the contrary, a denture can move about in the mouth, making it more difficult to chew in a normal manner. Sometimes denture wearers even have trouble speaking without the appliance shifting in an uncomfortable manner.
Jawbone stimulation
Because the implants are seated in the bone of the jaw, they can still transfer the bite pressure that is incurred by the appliance. Thus, the jawbone still receives enough stimulation to maintain its health and thickness. The stimulation incites the production of new bone cells to prevent the bone from atrophying.
No removal for cleaning
The permanence of the device allows patients to treat their replacement teeth in a similar manner to the way that they would treat normal teeth. They can brush the appliance with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Still, traditional toothpaste may not be advised because of its abrasive texture.
Can You Transition From Dentures to an All-on-four System?
People who currently wear dentures can transition to all-on-four dental implants. However, if the jawbone has atrophied significantly due to the lack of stimulation, a bone graft may be necessary before the installation of the system.
What Materials Are Used to Create the Replacement Teeth of an All-on-four Device?
All-on-four dental implants may use false teeth that are made of acrylic or porcelain. The acrylic option is more economical. However, porcelain is more durable, and the material is difficult to discern from natural tooth enamel.
If you are interested in receiving all-on-four dental implants, schedule a consultation with a dentist in your local area.