Tag: All-On- 4

All-On-4 vs. Dentures

Fifty years ago, if you lost the majority of your teeth, dentures were the only solution. Dentures have their benefits, but they aren’t always the right treatment solution. Thanks to modern dentistry, our patients today have options for full arch and full mouth tooth replacement and restoration. Dental implants, including the popular All-On-4 treatment that provides full arch restoration using four or more dental implants, provide an alternative to dentures. 

Which option should you consider for your full arch restoration? Both dentures and All-On-4 treatment offer patients valuable benefits. Come in for a consultation with our oral surgeons to discuss your options. 

Why You Should Consider Arch Restoration if Needed

No tooth stands alone. Every tooth in your mouth is part of a team, working together with the other teeth, bone, and soft tissues to provide function and beauty to your smile. When one tooth is missing, the entire balance of the mouth is thrown off. Teeth may shift. Bite patterns change. Supportive bones deteriorate. If one missing tooth is problematic, imagine the effect that many missing or damaged teeth can have on your smile. 

Missing teeth are a drain on confidence, and many of our patients with tooth loss refuse to smile. Chewing becomes more difficult, leading to poor dietary choices and declining nutrition. Oral hygiene is more challenging with many missing or damaged teeth, compounding the problem, and leading to future tooth loss and damage. 

You can’t prevent damage that has already been done, but you can stop the process and repair your smile. Replacing missing or damaged teeth using dentures or dental implants can improve the function and aesthetics of your mouth. If you have missing teeth, call our office and schedule a consultation to explore your options. 

Dentures vs. All-On-4

Two of our primary options for full arch tooth replacement are dentures and All-On-4 restorations. Both have benefits that will be discussed in-depth during your consultation. 

What Are Dentures?

Dentures are prosthetic dental devices that replace missing teeth. Full and partial dentures are available, replacing some or all of the teeth on a dental arch. They feature a flesh-colored acrylic base that fits over the gums, usually attached with a denture paste.  Dentures are removed each night for cleaning. 

The benefits of dentures include:

  • No need for oral surgery
  • Cost effective
  • Long lasting

Dentures have downsides too. They must be placed and removed each day. They may not be as stable as an implant, causing challenges when consuming some types of foods, including hard, sticky, and chewy foods. 

What Is All-On-4?

All-On-4 is a marketing term used to describe full arch restoration using four or more dental implants. Basically, a small number of dental implants are used to support a full arch of composite, replacement teeth. As every dental implant case is different, we find the terminology of All-On-4 deceptive and confusing, and usually call the treatment Full Arch Dental Rehabilitation.

This treatment uses fewer implants to reduce the cost and surgical time of a full arch restoration while providing patients with many of the benefits of dental implants. Unlike dentures, dental implants function like natural teeth. They are permanent and non-removable and do not require special cleaning or care. Dental implants are cared for like natural teeth. 

The benefits of All-On-4 include:

  • Brush, floss, and care for your teeth like a natural smile
  • Eat all foods, including hard or chewy foods, with confidence
  • Permanent and non-removable
  • More stable than dentures

We find the All-On-4 process is superior to dentures for many patients, and often recommend this treatment. Our oral surgeons can help you decide which tooth replacement solution is best for you. 

Missing teeth? Restore your smile at Hill Country Oral Surgery, a top provider of dental implants in Austin, TX. Call our office at 512-327-7233 to schedule a consultation with one of our highly trained and experienced oral surgeons.

All-on-4 vs. Dentures

All-on-4 is a surgical procedure where dental implants are placed to support an entire arch of teeth, and a permanent, non-removable restoration is fixed to the implants. Full dentures are removable teeth that are secured with dental paste. Read our infographic below to learn about the differences between the two options.

If you’re interested in all-on-4 or dentures, contact us today.

Five Benefits of the All-On-4 Treatment Method

Advances in dental implant materials and technology now allows us to replace an entire arch of teeth with much fewer implants. In the past, we would have to place more implants to reconstruct a single jaw, which means it would be more expensive. The All-on-4 treatment is not only more cost effective, but has many other benefits as well!

Five Benefits to the All-On-4 Treatment method include:

  • Replacement teeth are permanent. No adhesives necessary!
  • With the specialized implant design, bone grafting may not be necessary.
  • Your restored smile will look, feel, and function naturally.
  • Only 4 implants are needed to restore an entire arch, upper, or lower.
  • You can eat all of your favorite foods without fear of displacing prosthetics.

Schedule your consultation today!

Can I really have “Teeth in a Day”?

You may have heard about Teeth in a Day and thought: could it really be possible? We can’t blame you for being skeptical, but it’s true: today’s technology makes it possible to undergo the restoration of a full set of teeth within a single day. The secret behind this remarkable procedure? The latest in dental implant technology.

How Is It Possible?

Before, more dental implants were needed to reconstruct a single jaw. However, new dental materials available today allow the restoration of an entire arch of teeth using fewer implants. During the Teeth in a Day procedure, multiple titanium dental implants are implanted to support an entire arch of teeth, and then a set of prosthetic teeth are fixed to the implants. Usually, a procedure called All-On- 4 is performed for Teeth in a Day. All-On- 4 uses a minimum of 4 dental implants to support the whole arch of teeth. However, the number of dental implants needed will still vary in the case of each patient.

Teeth in a Day Procedure

After your consultation and a CT scan, our highly-skilled and well-experienced experts will create a template from your teeth to serve as a temporary implant guide for your surgery.

The Teeth in a Day procedure is performed by a team consisting of a surgeon, a restorative dentist, and sometimes a prosthodontist (a dentist that specializes in complex dental restorations). They will work together to assess the best dental template that is will work best for aesthetics and function.

A follow up checkup will be required the next day to assess the performance of the temporary teeth for chewing, biting, and aesthetics.

If the temporary teeth deliver a beautiful, natural, and a comfortable smile, and also gives you the freedom and confidence to laugh and eat the food you want, it will be worn for 4-6 months until the final bridge is made.

Get an Instantly More Beautiful You

The All-On- 4 procedure doesn’t just result in a confident and beautiful smile, it can also make you look younger.

Missing teeth can cause the underlying bone to deteriorate. Loss of bone can lead to your cheeks appearing sunken, making you look older than you are. The new set of beautiful replacement teeth will support your cheeks once again.

Teeth in a Day Could Be the Procedure for You!

You can have a new set of teeth that is more comfortable and efficient than dentures. Get a whole new smile within just a day. Find out if the Teeth in a Day procedure is the treatment for your needs by contacting Hill Country Oral Surgery.