A Short, Easy-To-Understand Guide To The All-on-4 Implant Procedure

So you’ve decided it’s time to do something about those diseased and/or missing teeth. And All on 4 dental implants seem to be an appealing option.

All on 4 appeals to many with a lot of missing teeth because it uses only 4 implants (as opposed to 6 or more with traditional implants) to support an entire bridge of teeth. Because it uses fewer implants, the costs for All on 4 is generally lower than it would be with traditional implants.

But how exactly does it work? What can you expect the All on 4 implant procedure to be like? Below, we’ve put together a short, easy to understand guide to take you through the process. So let’s dive in…

A Visit To the Dentist

As you might expect, the first step in the process is a trip to the dentist’s office. This first visit will often involve you getting a 3D CT scan, x-rays and a “hands-on” examination of your mouth by the dentist.

This gives the dentist a chance to assess the health of your teeth, gums and jaw bone. The dentist will be looking for bone loss or other health problems to help assess whether or not All on 4 implants would be a good option for you or not.

If all looks good and the dentist thinks All on 4 implants are a good option, the information your dentists gets from you during this first visit will help them come up with a successful treatment plan for you.

If you are going to get All on 4 implants then the dentist will probably take impressions (or molds) of your mouth while you’re there. These will be used by lab techs to make the dental bridge that will end up being attached to your 4 implants.

A Visit To Get the Implants Implanted

Then comes the big day when you get your implants, well, implanted. The first step here is to get your mouth ready for the procedure. In some cases, you may need to have some teeth pulled first. Or perhaps there’s infected tissue in the jaw or gums that will need to be removed.

After all the prep work is done, the dentist will then embed the implants in your gums. (And since we’re talking about All on 4 here, there will be 4 implants embedded. This is a surgical procedure. Anesthesia will almost certainly be involved. And, when the dentist is done, you will need stitches at the implant sites.

Lastly a temporary bridge (ie. temporary replacement teeth) is attached to the implants. The dentist will adjust it for the best fit and then, once you’re feeling up to it, you’ll get to go home.

All-on-4 Post-Procedure Care

Right after the procedure your mouth is going to be a bit sensitive. So you may need to take some pain medications, antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. You may also be better off sticking with soft foods for at least a few days after surgery (your dentist will advise you on the specifics).

At this point it’s all about the healing process. You’ll need time for the gums and jaw to heal. During this time your implants will eventually fuse with your jawbone. You’ll need to visit your dentist every so often during this healing period so she can make sure all looks good and there are no complications.

About 3-6 months after the implant surgery, your jawbone and implants will fuse. When that happens, it’s time for you to get your permanent set of replacement teeth.