All-on-4 Dental Implants

At 38^th Street Dental, we want to provide the most convenient, effective, and efficient care possible. Therefore, we proudly offer the All-on-4® method of full arch restoration at our Austin, TX, practice. With this technique, your surgeon will place four small dental implant posts in your jaw. Then Dr. C. Mike Meek or Dr. David J. Tasch can attach a custom-designed denture at the same appointment. Like other types of implant-supported dentures, your All-on-4® restoration will never slip out of place. It will be permanently affixed to the implants to provide you with all the confidence in the world to laugh loudly, chew firmly, and enjoy life with a vibrant, lifelike smile. 

In contrast to traditional full arch treatments like dentures, All-on-4® helps preserve your jawbone and provide a fast solution for people with multiple broken or infected teeth. This is a full mouth solution that can be accomplished in one appointment. One appointment! 

How Do All-on-4® Dentures Work?

To provide All-on-4® dental implants, Dr. Meek or Dr. Tasch will refer you to a specialist surgeon. For your convenience, you will often visit the practitioner located right next door. The surgeon will position the implants in your jaw, working with x-rays and computerized tomography (CT) scans for precise results. All-on-4® implant posts are much smaller than traditional implants. Thus, they will involve less impact to the healthy parts of your jaw. In addition, your surgeon will place them at a slight angle. In this way, he or she can make the most of your remaining bone tissue.

Because All-on-4® involves less impact to your jaw, this method can often eliminate the need for preparatory bone grafting.

Once the implants are in place, Dr. Meek or Dr. Tasch will attach a full arch of teeth to the dental implants. Although temporary, it will still be extremely stable and natural-looking. While you are wearing the short-term prosthetic, that looks fantastic and doesn't come out or move, your jawbone will heal around the implants, a process that will take about four to six months. After you have fully recovered, we will then fabricate your final and more beautiful prosthesis and replace the first restoration placed the day of placement surgery. None of these appointments require any use of local anesthetic or dental drills that can make you uncomfortable or nervous. Made from the latest materials, your All-on-4® smile will also match the overall proportions and contours of your face because each one is custom fabricated to meet the desires of each patient. 

Are You a Candidate for All-on-4®?

To qualify for implants, you will need a certain amount of jawbone density. Unfortunately, tooth loss can lead to bone loss, which will compromise your candidacy for treatment. However, because All-on-4® involves less impact to your jaw, this method can often eliminate the need for preparatory bone grafting. Nevertheless, your dentist will need to take x-rays and digital scans to determine your candidacy for treatment. He will also consider your overall oral and physical health. 

Benefits of All-on-4® Dentures

Implant-supported dentures and dental implant hybrid dentures have important advantages for your health and dental function. First, they will be permanently fixed in your mouth and will never move around. Thus, you can enjoy a varied diet and clear speech. You will also feel more confident about smiling, eating, and talking in front of others. Second, implants are quite durable. When you maintain good oral health, they will typically last the rest of your life. Finally, they will improve your oral health by preventing bone loss. 

In addition to the benefits listed above, All-on-4® offers special advantages over traditional implant-supported dentures. To begin with, the treatment is more convenient. Because you will receive your new smile on the same day as your surgery, you will not have to wear a temporary removable prosthetic, and you will enjoy a more complete dental function during the healing process. Plus, All-on-4® often costs less than other types of implant-supported dentures because you will require fewer implant posts. Finally, you will often enjoy a faster healing time, thanks to the reduced impact to your jaw.

Contact Us to Schedule a Consultation

All-on-4® dental implants can improve your dental health and your overall quality of life. To find out if you are a candidate for All-on-4® treatment during a dental implants consultation, contact 38^th Street Dental today.