What to Expect From Start to Finish: All-on-4® Dental Implants

The American Academy of Implant Dentistry understands the need for stability in dental restorations. Removable dentures do not have the stability that you need for dental functions. That is why you should consider All-on-4® dental implants. Here are the details to know what to expect.

Examination and Consultation

This type of restoration will need extensive consultation and examination. Your dentist will need a detailed image of your dental health. You will need to tell your dentist about your past medical history. Ordering 3D scans and X-rays after performing a physical oral examination can determine the hidden issues that need correction. They can point out the areas where the dentist will place the implants. 

The dentist will then talk to you about your dental health goals. There will be proper guidance on the possible outcome of the All-on-4 treatment. It is important for you to know what will happen during the treatment. This will allow you to make informed decisions about what you will go through.

Patient Preparation

It is your dentist’s priority to see if you are eligible for the treatment. If you are, your dentist will tell you the details of the All-on-4 procedure. This dental restoration will need commitment. If you decide to go through with it, your dentist will set a schedule for your treatment. 

Your dentist will make different measurements so that your implants and implant-supported bridges can fit the right way. Your dental replacements must go well with the shape of your mouth. If there is an area of your jaw that could block the All-on-4 prosthesis, your dentist will need to perform a ridge reduction procedure. This will give your dental restoration more room. This will ensure a natural feel and look when the treatment is over. 

Getting your bite impressions for the bottom and top jaws is important. This will create a custom-fit mold that will help see if the size and fit of the All-on-4 components are true. From these molds, the dental lab will create your custom-fit components. You will then receive your implant surgery schedule. This will give you enough time to prepare for it. 

The Implant Surgery

Your patient will provide you with the right sedation dentistry technique before the implant surgery. Once the sedation and anesthesia take effect, your dentist will mark the areas where the implants will go. The right measurements will tell the dentist the proper distances between implants. Then, the dentist will start the implant surgery. Removing remnants of lost teeth and damaged tissue will be necessary. 

The dentist will cut through the gum tissue. This will expose the jawbone for the ridge reduction procedure. The dentist will need to remove a small part of the jawbone, allowing enough room for the implants and the bridges. Drilling pilot holes will come next. The dentist will place these holes in strategic areas to bring the most stability and strength. Stitching the gum tissue over the implants will close the area and encourage healing, which will take at least three to four months.

Final Steps

The dentist will teach you proper post-surgical care. You will need pain relievers to manage the discomfort. Maintaining a clean mouth is necessary. Seeing your dentist for regular dental checks and cleaning will help ensure your dental health. 

Avoiding firm foods is ideal for the implant sites to heal. This will allow the implants to merge with the jawbone and gum tissue. Once there is complete recovery, you can return to your normal diet. Your dentist may encourage you to eat raw nuts, vegetables, and fruits. You can then go back to the clinic for your implant-supported dentures. Enjoying your new teeth will be possible at this stage. 

All-on-4 dental implants can help you regain your dental and general health. At Today’s Family Dental, we always help our patients get the highest quality of dental care possible. Feel free to drop by our clinics in Tampa and Lutz, Florida, for an in-person consultation. Please call us at 813-212-8700 to set an appointment or ask about our All-on-4 dental implant packages.