All-on-4 implant procedure, performed at Arizona Center for Laser Dentistry, is the result of significant advancements in dental technology and technique. This procedure allows us to restore an entire arch of missing teeth in a single appointment.
What are All-on-4 Implants
This advanced technique was developed to quickly replace a full arch of teeth without or with minimal bone grafting. It is an alternative to removable dentures and provides more support than previous methods. Just as the name implies, only four implant posts are needed to support the entire arch of teeth. Other more conventional methods typically require an average of 8 implants for fixed implant bridges and dentures. Not only is placing fewer implants more cost effective it allows for less healing time.
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How All-on-4 Implants Work
This procedure uses what is called “tilted implants.” Four posts are placed strategically at 45-degree angles where the most bone is present. There are a couple reasons it is done this way. First, it increases strength and stability of the implants. Secondly, it avoids damaging major structures such as the sinus cavity around the upper jaw and the nerve canal in the lower jaw. Because the implants are tilted, they add strength to anchor onto the jawbone, improving support. We also use longer dental implants so that the need for bone grafting is reduced. Bone grafting is when the jawbone is added to with more bone to provide a better base for implants.
Arizona Center for Laser Dentistry uses the best surgical guide software approach for placement to achieve best possible results. Once the implants have been placed, we create a custom fixed bridge to support the replacement teeth.
All-on-4 Success rate
All-on-4 has been clinically been proven to have a very high success rate when using the best implants and implant materials. Clinical studies have shown 98% percent overall implant success after 3 years for all-on-4 procedure. None of the 36 patients wearing all on 4 arch supported teeth had a prosthesis failure after 3 years. Journal of Oral Implantology reported even better results with 99.6% implant success rates when using the best implants.
All-on-4 Benefits
◾More cost-effective than full-set implants: fewer implants and only a single procedure
◾More comfortable and convenient than dentures
◾Minimally invasive
◾Fast – the procedure of extracting teeth, placing implants, and placing crowns done in a single visit
◾Greatly reduces the need for bone grafting
◾Natural looking
◾Long lasting (if cared for properly)
What’s the difference between “Teeth-in-a-day” and “All-on-4”
All-on-4 procedures are one of the several options of “immediate load” (“teeth in a day”) procedure when 4 implants are placed per arch. Depending on your dental needs, we may place more than 4 implants per arch but you will still walk out with new functioning teeth right after your procedure.
Why choose Arizona Center for Laser Dentistry for “All-on-4”
Our team of Oral surgeons, laboratory technicians and Drs. DiVito have specialized training in all-on-4 procedure for years. Our philosophy may be different from many other offices: we simply never cut corners, even if it means more time and more work. We don’t do any dental lab work on premises, apart from minor adjustments, and send our dental lab work to only the best qualified All-on-4 prosthetic laboratory with who we’ve had a multi-year partnership. We’re using only NobelBiocare implants, co-inventors of all-on-4 procedure. Finally, we absolutely stand by the results of our work – we will work tirelessly until you’re satisfied with the results.
You can read further about “Teeth-in-A-Day” which may answer additional questions about how you can get new fully functioning teeth in a single day.
How much does All-on-4 cost?
In general, its is difficult to determine the exact price without seeing the patient for a clinical exam and taking 3D CT scans that are included in our treatment estimate quote. There are some parameters which apply to any case. All-on-4 is more cost effective than a more “old school” conventional procedure of placing a larger number of implants and having a patient wear a denture until the implants heal. If you do both upper and lower arches (the full mouth) at the same time, the cost may be lower per arch because you only need to pay anesthesiologist once. The price you are quoted will include surgery fees, Xray and CT scans, implant parts and dental lab work. And three months of follow up as needed.
The procedure is made up of two phases.
The first phase is the surgery of removing teeth, placing implants, and installing a temporary acrylic implant bridge so that the patient leaves with their smile immediately after surgery. The second phase is 4-6 months later, once implant and gums are fully healed. In the second phase, a permanent implant bridge is fabricated to reflect changes in bone and gums. It can also allow for slight changes in color shape and size that the patient may request before the final is made. This final bridge can is fabricated with a combination of Zirconium or acrylic teeth and titanium milled for strength
To give you an estimate, I recommend patients come to the Arizona Center for Laser Dentistry office for a free consultation where I can provide with a detailed treatment plan spelling out all costs and steps. We very rarely deviate from the treatment plan costs so I can assure that we will not ask you to pay more mid-treatment.
Please keep in consideration that most places just quote you a fee for the first part (tooth removal, implant placement, and the temporary bridge placed at surgery) and leave out the need for the permanent bridge once bone and gums heal. That is why their price might look different in the beginning – always insist on a full treatment plan for the full course of the treatment.
The All-on-4 treatment concept was developed to provide edentulous patients with an efficient and effective restoration using only four implants to support an immediately loaded full-arch prosthesis.
Stability even in minimum bone volume
By tilting the two posterior implants, longer implants can be used in minimum bone volume, increasing bone-to-implant contact and reducing the need for vertical bone augmentation. The tilted posterior implants can be anchored in better quality anterior bone, reducing cantilevers and thus improving support of the prosthesis.
Good clinical results
Biomechanical measurements show that tilted implants, when part of prosthetic support, do not have a negative effect on the load distribution. The tilting of implants has been used in clinical practice for over a decade and has shown good results.
Prosthetic flexibility
All-on-4 treatments can be planned and performed using the NobelGuide treatment concept, ensuring accurate diagnostics, planning and implant placement. The NobelGuide Software allows for detailed diagnostics such as identification of available bone, virtual implant placement according to the anatomical situation and prosthetic needs, and ordering of an individualized surgical template. NobelGuide supports minimally invasive flapless techniques as well as surgical access through mini-flaps and full flaps, while the surgical template ensures guided and therefore exact implant placement.
Get immediate results
Experience a dramatic improvement in chewing ability, teeth stability and overall comfort right away.
All-on-4® is a registered trademark of Nobel Biocare Services AG.