While you may take your smile for granted for most of your life, the sad truth is that tooth loss is all too common; in fact, over 35 million Americans have lost all their upper or lower teeth. In cases like this, continuing to live a full, high-quality life depends on choosing the right kind of tooth replacement. All-on-4 dental implants in Bellingham might seem like a perfect solution once you’ve learned about them, but it’s important to see how they stack up next to your other options first. Read on to learn more about All-on-4 and its pros and cons compared to other restorations.

What are All-on-4 Implants?

All-on-4 implants work a little differently than traditional implants. A full row of teeth are placed on – as the name suggests – four dental implants. However, the implants near the back of the mouth are inserted at an angle so that they’re supported by the natural density near the front of the jawbone. Because of this, All-on-4 patients can usually avoid the need for bone grafting, and their implants are often stable enough to support dentures immediately after placement.

All-on-4 VS Traditional Dentures

Compared to dentures that rest directly on the gums, All-on-4 is much more stable and prevents your false teeth from slipping while eating and laughing. Also, All-on-4 implant dentures will improve your chewing power by about 70%, meaning you can comfortably enjoy a wider variety of foods; with regular dentures, while you’ll be able to eat most things, certain meals (such as steak and corn on the cob) might be more challenging.

All-on-4 VS Implant Dentures

Dentures can be supported by traditional implants instead of ones placed by the All-on-4 technique. Both kinds of implant-retained dentures will provide strong, stable smiles, and they’ll help stimulate the jawbone to stop it from breaking down (which happens when teeth are lost). However, traditional implants need time to join with the bone before they can support dentures, meaning you’ll likely have to go a few months without teeth. With All-on-4, you can receive temporary dentures right away.

All-on-4 VS Dental Bridges

A dental bridge is comprised of a pair of crowns that holds a false tooth between them; this type of restoration can be supported by two implants. While they’re usually used to replace a few teeth in a row, about four bridges can replace an entire arch of teeth. Compared to All-on-4, this option requires more dental implants, and the false teeth usually can’t be placed right away.

Not everyone is a candidate for All-on-4, so take the time to ask your dentist in Bellingham about all the available options; they’ll help you make a choice that will ultimately have you smiling again.

About the Author

Dr. Moreno has practiced dentistry in Bellingham since October in 1995, and before he entered private practice he served five years in the Army Dental Corp. His close attention to details helps him give his patients the best recommendations for tooth replacement, whether it’s All-on-4 or another kind of restoration. To schedule an appointment at his practice, Moreno & Young Dental, visit his website or call (360) 676-0642.