All-on-4 Dental Implants in New Jersey

When a complete arch of teeth is missing, or when few natural teeth remain, All-on-4 is one option for their replacement. The technique can require as few as four dental implants to hold a non-removable teeth bridge in position. Sometimes, we use more dental implants for increased strength and stability, but the overall technique remains the same. If you are considering All-on-4 Dental Implants, visit our implant dentists in Bergen County, Essex County, Morris County, and Middlesex County to learn more about revolutionary full arch replacement solutions.

What are All-on-4 Dental Implants?

All-on-4 dental implants are a type of dental implant that uses four implants to support a replacement arch of teeth. This is in contrast to conventional implant procedures, which may require anywhere from six to ten single dental implants.

How All-on-4 Dental Implants Work

All-on-4 dental implants are placed towards the front of the jawbone. Two implants are placed vertically, right in the front of the jawbone, and are flanked by the two remaining dental implants. However, these implants are tilted backward at an angle instead of being inserted vertically.

Angling these implants allows dentists to use longer dental implant screws than normal, increasing the amount of bone in contact with these implants and providing greater strength and stability. Placing all four dental implants toward the front of the jaw is preferable as the jawbone is naturally thicker and stronger here and more able to support the implants without additional procedures like bone grafting.

All-on-4 dental implants are a viable option for patients who are missing all or most of their teeth. They offer a number of benefits over conventional implant procedures, including fewer implants, less invasive surgery, and a more affordable price.

Who Can Choose All-on-4?

Treatment can be useful for anyone missing a complete arch of teeth and who does not wish to have a removable denture. It can help people who recently lost teeth or whose natural teeth are failing, as well as those who lost teeth years ago and have found it increasingly difficult to wear a conventional denture that rests on the gums.

Because of how the implants are situated, the need for bone grafting is greatly reduced or eliminated, so treatment is ideal for anyone unable or unsuitable for bone grafting or who does not wish to have the oral surgery required for a bone graft.

Using just four dental implants increases the affordability of treatment, especially when no bone grafting is needed. It can be a good treatment to investigate, particularly if you previously thought dental implants were too expensive.

A set of teeth that remain firmly in place can significantly increase biting and chewing strength. When you can bite and chew food more confidently and firmly, it increases food choices. The ability to eat a wider range of foods helps to ensure meals are more enjoyable. With the right food choices, overall nutrition can improve. When well nourished, your body can fight disease and infection more easily.

All-on-Four can be suitable for people with medical conditions like well-controlled diabetes or osteoporosis. If you were previously told you were unsuitable for conventional dental implant treatment, All on Four may provide a suitable solution so you can receive implant teeth that look and feel good and are strong and stable.

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of All on Four?

Advantages

• Affordability. Treatment is more affordable due to the relatively few implants needed when compared to traditional implant treatment.
• Less Need for Bone Grafting. Because the implants are situated toward the front of the mouth, where the bone is stronger, there is little or no need for bone grafting.
• Easy to Look After. The dental implants are easy to keep clean, especially as they are situated toward the front of the mouth and are easier to access.
• Faster Treatment. Treatment is fairly quick to complete, and patients can receive teeth relatively soon after surgery, although these may be temporary during healing.
• Can Help People With Significant Jawbone Loss. All-on-Four can help people with significant bone loss and who lost teeth years ago and may be less suitable for other implant treatments.

Disadvantages

• Not everyone can have implant treatment or might be unsuitable for this procedure. This is true for all implant treatments and is why a thorough evaluation is important.
• Some might initially find the final restoration slightly bulky since it must also restore some gum tissue.

We can manage expectations and discuss exactly what to expect when you receive your restoration and show you examples of how it will look so you can make an informed treatment choice, providing the results you desire.

What are the Alternatives to All on Four?

Several alternatives are available, including a traditional denture, single dental implants, a conventional dental implant bridge, or mini dental implants.

Traditional Denture. The most straightforward treatment is an ordinary full denture resting on the gums. However, full dentures can be uncomfortable and unstable and provide minimal biting strength. They can also accelerate jawbone loss by pressing down directly on the gums.

Replacing Teeth Individually with Implants. You could look at replacing every tooth with a dental implant, but this would be costly, especially when replacing a complete arch of teeth, and there might be inadequate room to restore each tooth with an implant.

Dental Bridge. A conventional dental implant bridge can restore a complete arch of teeth using multiple dental implants inserted into the jawbone at regular intervals. The treatment provides teeth that are strong and durable, but bone grafting may be needed, especially if teeth were lost due to disease or have been missing for years, so there is significant bone resorption. Using multiple dental implants and having a bone graft can increase the overall cost of treatment.

Mini Dental Implants. Mini dental implants are used to secure loose dentures and are minimally invasive since they are inserted directly through the gums. Their smaller size could help avoid the need for bone grafts. However, they are best used in specific situations and are not right for everyone.

What is the Process for All-on-Four?

• Consultation. The process for All-on-Four will require a full consultation with our implant dentist. We must review your medical history and complete a dental examination to ensure you are suitable for treatment. At this stage, we can provide an estimate of the overall costs. The final price depends on the number of implants required and the materials used to make your new arch of teeth.
• Diagnostics. If you wish to continue, we can complete diagnostic tests, including digital dental x-rays and a cone beam CT scan, and we might take dental impressions of your mouth and digital photographs. These diagnostic tests allow us to quantify the bone available for implant placement to identify the optimal location of each dental implant. It also ensures we avoid important structures during implant placement, including nerves, sinus cavities, and blood vessels.
• Treatment Planning. Every implant treatment at Riverside Oral Surgery is planned meticulously, step by step, and we can manipulate the digital images and your CT scan to create the best treatment plan. The planning process also considers your final restoration, so we ensure it looks good and feels as close to natural teeth as possible and that your new teeth function correctly. The aim is to ensure you have teeth that make it easy to bite and chew food comfortably while restoring your appearance and providing excellent aesthetics.
• Implant Surgery. Once your treatment plan is ready, we create a computer-generated surgical stent. This template fits over your jaws during surgery, guiding our implant dentist so we can replicate your treatment plan precisely. The technique ensures that every implant is placed at the right angulation and depth and that we can complete treatment more quickly using only minimal incisions. As only a few dental implants are needed, healing afterward should be relatively quick with minimal discomfort. We provide extensive instructions on after-care and are always available to answer any questions or discuss any concerns during this period.
• Fitting Your Teeth. A temporary set of teeth is fabricated before surgery and can be fitted soon afterward. The prosthesis helps splint or hold your new implants together, preventing movement while they heal with your jawbone.

Once your dental implants are fused with your jawbone, which can take three to six months, we can make and fit your permanent teeth.

An Affordable Implant Solution for Complete Tooth Loss

All-on-4 is an affordable option for anyone who would love to have a new set of teeth that are non-removable but who may have significant bone loss, making them less suitable for conventional dental implant treatment. The procedure provides predictable results and teeth that look good and function optimally.

Any dental implant treatment requires good after-care to avoid infection and possible implant failure. It includes an excellent daily routine and professional dental checkups and hygiene appointments to help ensure the results remain problem-free for years or for life.

If you have questions about All-on-4 dental implants, to learn more, or to schedule a consultation with the implant specialist at Riverside Oral Surgery, call our center at (551) 287-2322 or visit any of our New Jersey locations.