Tooth loss is a serious concern affecting millions of Americans annually, especially in adults over the age of 45. Gum disease is the main cause of tooth loss, affecting almost half of all American adults. Approximately 90% of edentulous adults opt for dentures, but that procedure is certainly not for everyone. Moreover, there are far more people who aren’t completely toothless but still want and need solid, dependable, and even permanent solutions for their tooth loss concerns. Your Moorestown Dentist can help you decide if All-on-4 Dental Implants are the right course of action. But what are those and how do they work?
All-on-4 Dental Implants Are Not Dentures
Whether semi-permanent or removable, dentures are prosthetic teeth that are affixed via a bridge-like structure to bare gums. In most cases, they can either be unsnapped or completely removed for cleaning and overnight soaking. Dentures are aesthetic solutions that help restore levels of dental functionality, but they have limits and repair or replacement issues are plentiful. All-on-4 Dental Implants are permanently implanted so there are no concerns regarding the common denture flapping or slippage embarrassment.
All-on-4 Dental Implants Are Built Into a Bridge
Most dental implant treatments are two-part procedures involving the implantation of the abutment (root) and the creation of the crown (prosthetic tooth). Each abutment is inserted individually and then the crown is screwed into place to look and function as a permanent replacement for the missing tooth. Singular implants are fine when only one or a couple of teeth need to be replaced. But the procedure time, financial cost and healing time can become excessive when multiple teeth are involved.
All-on-4 Dental Implants begin as traditional implants with the surgical implantation of the necessary abutments. However, the prosthetic teeth themselves are crafted into a bridge. All-on-four uses just four abutments, so an entire arch can be connected via the new bridge. That saves time, money, and unnecessary discomfort and worry for every eligible patient. All-on-four can, in fact, be the perfect solution to those who have several missing teeth but aren’t completely edentulous.
All-on-4 Dental Implants Offer Material Options
Dental procedures stay consistent from decade-to-decade, but dental materials are continuously changing, evolving, and improving. Most individual dental implants use a mixture of safe, durable, and effective dental-grade materials, including zirconium and titanium. All-on-four Dental Implants, however, offer options to better suit the overall needs of those going through the procedure. Two current options involve zirconia porcelain or a lightweight acrylic material for the prosthetic construction. Both can result in stunning smiles, but there are some things to consider.
Zirconia-based dental implants are for those with enough bone density to easily support the new replacement teeth. Zirconium implants have high success rates and have been reported as lasting well over a decade. However, the hard material can wear the opposite arch of teeth if they’re still original. Acrylic, on the other hand, is a lightweight and somewhat less durable material. Acrylic implants are especially beneficial for those with lower bone density or patients in need of more facial support. Your Moorestown Dentist can easily help you decide what type of All-on-4 Dental Implants are right for you.
