All-on-4 Restoration

What are All-on-4 “One Day” Dental Implants?

You may have seen ads offering a full set of teeth implants for your upper or lower jaw completed in one office visit. The internet and airwaves are teeming with “Teeth in a Day” ads, although most people don’t understand what this involves. 

The All-on-4 procedure offers an optimal dental restoration solution if you’re missing most of your upper or lower teeth. This is because it provides a full set of teeth affixed to four implant posts inserted in one treatment session. This means you go home with a full arch of functioning artificial teeth the same day as your procedure (that’s why they’re called “teeth in a day”).

To be clear, once the implant posts have been placed into your jaw, a bridge of temporary artificial teeth is snapped onto the implants. You’ll wear the temporary new teeth for 8 to 12 weeks. This allows your gums to fully heal and lets you get used to wearing the prosthesis. After your healing is complete, you will return to have a permanent set of acrylic or ceramic teeth affixed to the implant posts that are now fused to your jawbone. 

How do All-on-4 dental implants work?

The All-on-4 implant system involves the strategic placement of four implant posts. The two posterior posts are placed precisely within the densest part of the jawbone for maximum strength, thus side-stepping the need for a bone graft. Once in place, the implants anchor a full set of teeth.

This makes the implant placement procedure simpler, quicker, and more comfortable than that required for traditional individual implants. Traditional full arch implant procedures require complex bone grafting procedures to build up the jaw before receiving the implants. This would result in longer healing periods.

Because the All-on-4 implant posts are specially designed to tolerate immediate loading, the dentist can attach temporary crowns right after inserting the implants. This allows you to chew your favorite foods from day one.
 
By contrast, a traditional implant can take up to six months to heal before the bone bonds adequately with it and the final crowns can be applied.

Six advantages of All-on-4 versus individual dental implants

For someone who needs a majority of their upper or lower teeth replaced or even a full-mouth restoration, the All-on-4 procedure offers some distinct advantages, including:

1. Time-saving

After just one visit, you go home with a fully functioning set of temporary teeth. After two visits, you are fitted with your permanent restorations. That means less time in the dentist’s chair and a quicker path to permanent teeth.

3. Fewer procedures

The All-on-4 dental implant treatment inserts implant posts on day one. Thus, you avoid the painful bone grafting surgery often needed before traditional dental implants can be performed, which requires long recovery times.

4. Lower cost

The All-on-4 approach is much more cost-effective than having multiple, individual dental implant procedures.

5. Prevents future bone loss and preserves your facial structure

Implants replace the roots of your teeth and fuse with your jawbone; this prevents future bone loss that causes your cheeks to collapse, giving you a prematurely aged appearance.

6. A well-functioning mouth

With the support of denture implants, your bite strength will be 80 to 90 percent that of natural teeth. So you can eat everything you love without hesitation or the annoying slipping of removable dentures.

What happens during an All-on-4 surgical procedure?

The All-on-4 technique replaces your upper and lower teeth in three simple steps:

All-on-4, Step 1:

During your initial consultation with your surgeon, our fully digitized state-of-the-art workflow incorporates 3D scans of the jaws (CT Scans) and oral cavity/teeth (intraoral scans) to formulate a treatment plan. This is critical for planning your dental implant procedure.

Your doctor will ask how you want your final teeth to appear. Often, patients will bring pictures from when they were younger to use as a guide for fabricating their permanent set of teeth. With cosmetic dentistry, you can have the appearance of young, healthy teeth again!

Your surgery will be explained in detail, and you will be encouraged to ask questions about what to expect.

All-on-4, Step 3:

About six months later, after your implants have bonded with your jawbone, you will follow up with us. Once fully healed, the final set of teeth that have been custom-designed are permanently attached to your implant posts, providing comfort, function, and esthetics. And now you have a comfortable and well-functioning smile!

Is the All-on-4 procedure painful?

Although you will likely be sore following this procedure, most patients say their discomfort is well managed with pain medications and cold compresses.

We encourage our patients to rest and limit themselves to pureed foods or liquids on the day of their surgery. They should wait until the following day to eat solid food. Some patients are even able to return to work the next day.

Am I a candidate for All-on-4 dental implants?

Not everyone is ideally suited for dental implants. That’s why it’s important to talk with us to determine whether you’re a good candidate.

An ideal dental implant patient will:

• Have good oral health and overall physical health
• Have adequate bone density in the jaw to support implants 
• Be willing to follow good oral hygiene habits and checkups to maintain their implants 
• Not smoke
• Not consume excessive alcohol
• Be free of autoimmune or chronic diseases
• Not suffer from severe bruxism (tooth grinding or clenching), which can cause premature deterioration of artificial teeth

How much do All-on-4 dental implants cost?

Because every mouth poses a different challenge, it’s difficult to say how much same-day dental implants will cost. This depends on how many missing teeth need replaced, the number and type of implants used, how many extractions you’ll need, and the complexity of your surgery.

Schedule a consultation with our dental surgeons to discuss your candidacy for All-on-4 implants and potential cost.

Is there any risk associated with All-on-4 implants?

Just as with any surgery, oral surgery involves risk and the possibility of complications, however low that may be. As with other dental implant restoration procedures, there exists the risk of implant failure (meaning that your bone does not bond with the implant), implant movement, infection, and pain.  

These risks are greatly reduced with meticulous surgical planning, good candidate selection, and, most importantly, a highly trained and experienced oral surgeon. While we can’t promise that your recovery will be 100 percent pain-free, most of our patients do quite well with pain medications, ice compresses, and rest. 

Why trust MD Periodontics for your All-on-4 restoration?

The doctors at MD Perio offer over 20 years of expertise in periodontal care and implantology in a state-of-the-art facility using the latest technology designed to improve your outcomes and comfort.

At MD Perio, you will experience a gentle approach to periodontal care because we believe you should never have to sacrifice your oral health out of fear of going to the dentist.

To schedule a consultation, click here or call us at (310) 859-9449. Your smile will thank you! 

We are easily accessible to patients throughout Southern California and the Los Angeles area. Our Beverly Hills office is near West Los Angeles, Culver City, West Hollywood, Downtown Los Angeles, Marina del Rey, Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Sherman Oaks, and Encino.