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The Benefits and Risks of All-on-4 Dental Implants
11 Sep 2020
All-on-4 Dental Implants: A Comprehensive Overview
All-on-4 dental implants are restorative dental interventions substituting the teeth missing of a single arch of the jaw. This technology has been available for a long period, during which many patients have benefited hugely from dental implants with most wonderful results.
All on 4 Dental Implants Advantages
Cost effective Process
The All-on-4 dental implant technique requires fewer implants, hence making it a far more affordable option. The technique is straightforward and speedy; a full dental bridge can be fitted within one day. It will not require, in most cases, the complex bone grafting or sinus lifts that may make the other dental replacement procedures yet more costly.
Bone Preservation
Dental implants conserve the bone in the jaw. If teeth are extracted and not replaced, over time the jawbone shrinks. Dentures can cause an increase in bone loss because of the pressure they exert on the gums and the bone beneath the gums.
Improved Comfort and Restored Confidence
Following the insertion of All-on-4 implants, the prosthetic restoration is primarily sustained by the implants rather than the surrounding gingival tissue. This approach mitigates the discomfort associated with sore areas that can arise from dentures frictionally contacting the gums. Furthermore, individuals will no longer experience the social stigma of ill-fitting dentures or depend on denture adhesives for stabilisation.
Improved diet and love for food
Implants permit one to enjoy all types of foods, including hard and crunchy ones; dentures limit the kind of food one can take. The dental implants also tend to have a high durability rate, withstanding resultant forces from mastication; thus, they can allow for healthier varieties of diet and increase one's biting strength.
Improved Appearance
Loss of teeth and corresponding jawbones can have a great impact on facial structure, often making you appear much older than you are. The All-on-4 implants support the cheeks and lips, restoring the vertical dimension between the upper and lower jaws for an improved appearance.
Quick and Effective
The All-on-4 dental implant is a convenient treatment, usually done in a single session; hence, it has been popularly termed "same-day teeth" or "smile in a day."
Possible Risks with All-on-4 Dental Implants
While All-on-4 implants have a general success rate of about 95%, like any surgical procedure, there are some risks associated with them.
Rejection
Rarely, upon implantation, the body may immediately reject the implant. There are also post-operative complications such as swelling, bruising, or pain, but these conditions can easily be treated using pain killers for a short duration of one or two days.
Several factors can increase the risk of long-term complications, including:
- Bruxism (teeth grinding) History of periodontitis, or gum disease
- Smoking
- Bone diseases or medications like oral or intravenous bisphosphonates
Systemic conditions would include uncontrolled Type II diabetes.
Long-term complications can be avoided by regular dental check-ups and avoiding tobacco, which will also keep your implants and gums healthy. Periimplantitis The other common complication is peri-implantitis, which usually develops when bacteria enter the gum either during or after surgery because of poor oral hygiene. Your dental hygienist will clean around the implant using special tools that remove plaque and food particles. The risk of infection is lowered by three-monthly follow-ups and professional cleaning.
Deterioration and Degradation: The implants can be subjected to wear and tear over time, or chipping of the bridge-retaining screw. Your dentist can advise the use of a bite guard to minimize the pressure on the fixed dental bridge.
Neurological Injury or Sinusoidal Complications Though extremely rare, nerve injury and sinus complications are possible; however, an experienced dentist will be able to pay more attention to detail to minimize these.
All-on-4 is a very technical procedure, and the skill of your dentist will play a major role in how your treatment turns out. An All-on-4 dental implant procedure requires the touch of an extremely experienced dentist. At the Cosmetic Dentistry Clinic, we specialise in caring for All-on-4 dental implants. Call us at 020 7183 0755 to book an appointment today and have a perfect smile after only a few hours.
