All-on-4 Dental Implants for Missing Teeth
Losing most or all of your teeth can have a significant impact on your everyday life. In addition to leaving some patients feeling self-conscious about their appearance, extensive tooth loss can make it more difficult to chew certain foods, affect speech, and change the overall appearance and function of your smile. Tooth loss can also contribute to changes in the jawbone and surrounding oral structures over time.
If you are missing most or all of the teeth in an upper or lower arch, All-on-4 dental implants may provide an effective solution for restoring your smile. This treatment uses four strategically positioned dental implants to support a full arch of replacement teeth, creating a stable alternative to traditional removable dentures.
Unlike conventional dentures that rest on the gums and may rely on suction or adhesive for additional stability, All-on-4 replacement teeth are secured to dental implants anchored in the jawbone. This provides greater stability when speaking and eating while creating a natural-looking restoration designed to closely resemble the appearance and function of natural teeth.
As a Greenville native and fourth-generation dentist, Dr. Preston Hamrick is proud to continue his family’s tradition of serving the community. He takes the time to build personal relationships with his patients, understand their individual needs and goals, and recommend treatment options tailored to their oral health.
Read on to learn more about All-on-4 dental implants, or call Heritage Dentistry today at 864.292.5125 to schedule a consultation or learn more about our dental services, including extractions and root canal therapy.
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Benefits of All-on-4 Dental Implants
All-on-4 dental implants are a popular option for individuals who are missing a tooth or teeth. There are several reasons why All-on-4 dental implants are so popular, which include the following:
- Provides the same type of stability and support as a natural tooth/tooth
- Anchored directly to your jawbone, just like natural teeth
- Long-lasting solution provided proper self-care is taken
- Restored ability to eat all kinds of food
- Improved ability to enunciate and speak without impedance
- Stimulates your jawbone like your natural tooth would, which prevents loss of jawbone
- Will not shift like traditional dentures
- Maintains the strength and shape of your jaw
- Adjustments are not necessary, which will save you time and money
- Alleviates stresses to the jaw that cause pain and/or limited mobility
- Restores the natural look and feel of your full smile
Healing Process and Maintenance
The healing process following placement of All-on-4 dental implants generally takes 1-2 weeks. It is common to experience mild bleeding, swelling, and bruising around the implant site for the first 1-3 days following your procedure. Swelling and discomfort can be managed with over-the-counter medicine or prescribed painkillers and ice therapy, placing the ice on the area for 10-minute intervals. To help ensure a fast recovery time and avoid complications, be very gentle when cleaning around the treatment area and follow a soft food diet. On average, the pain and discomfort should subside after about 3-7 days, though you may still have lingering symptoms such as stiff jaw muscles or a sore throat.
Once you have completed the healing process and your permanent restoration has been placed, you will not need to modify your oral health care routine. So long as you brush and floss your teeth twice daily, eat a healthy diet, and lead a generally healthy lifestyle, your implants will last you for many years to come. We also encourage our clients to schedule regular dental cleanings at least every six months to ensure the health and sustained brightness of your smile. In addition to giving your teeth a professional cleaning, these visits are also an opportunity for Dr. Preston Hamrick to evaluate your overall oral health, as he looks for any indications of gum disease or any other underlying issue that may require treatment, and to monitor the health of your implants.
All-on-4 Dental Implant Process
When considering All-on-4 dental implants, it is important to understand that the process of getting All-on-4 dental implants is just that: a process, one that will require multiple appointments stretched out over several months, or even up to one year.
This process begins with an initial consultation with Dr. Hamrick, who will conduct a thorough oral examination to determine whether All-on-4 dental implants are a viable treatment option for you. In certain cases, individuals may have lost too much jawbone to support an implant or have an underlying medical condition that affects their ability to build bone mass and heal, in which case alternative treatment options or procedural modifications may need to be pursued.
If All-on-4 dental implants are a good fit for your needs, X-rays and images will be taken of your mouth, which will be used to create your personalized dental implant treatment plan and timeline. This treatment plan may include the extraction of any remaining teeth, which will also require a healing period for the gums and jaw.
Once you are ready for placement of All-on-4 dental implants, Dr. Hamrick will first clean your mouth, then numb the area to reduce or eliminate discomfort. Dental sedation will also be available to ensure you remain comfortable throughout the procedure. Next, Dr. Hamrick will install four dental implants in the upper or lower arch of your teeth. Once in place, a temporary set of dentures is placed, which will be worn during the osseointegration process.
Before we can place the permanent crown, you will first need to wait for the post to fully fuse with your jawbone, which can take anywhere from 4-6 months. Follow-up appointments will be scheduled during this healing period so Dr. Hamrick can monitor your progress. Your customized restoration will also be crafted during this period.
Once the posts are fused, you will return for your final visit, when your restoration is permanently attached to the implants. Once attached, you can begin to enjoy having a bright, full smile right away!
Cost of All-on-4 Dental Implants
The total cost of treatment will depend on whether additional procedures such as tooth extraction, bone grafting, or treatment of periodontal disease are necessary prior to placement of your implants and the number of appointments needed.
For patients with dental insurance, the total cost of All-on-4 dental implants will depend on whether the procedure is covered under your plan, and if so, how much is covered. Our staff is happy to review your coverage to determine whether your plan does cover the procedure and ensure you maximize your benefits and have minimal out-of-pocket expenses.
If you are a patient at our practice and do not have dental insurance, consider joining our membership club. Because we value your loyalty, we have launched this club to help save you money on treatment and simplify payments for preventative care. We offer three levels of membership: child, adult, and perio membership. Professional dental cleanings, doctor exams, necessary X-rays, and a 5% discount on all other treatment (some exclusions apply) are included in all membership packages.
You can sign up today and start saving money on treatment online or call us at (864) 292-5125.
For your convenience, we accept all forms of credit and debit cards, including Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express.
Fall in Love with Your Smile Again
At Heritage Dentistry in Greenville, South Carolina, we are committed to providing exceptional, relationship-based dental care tailored to your individual needs. With a comprehensive range of treatment options, our goal is to help you maintain optimal oral health while giving you a smile you can feel confident about.
To schedule an appointment for All-on-4 dental implants treatment, or learn more about our dental services, contact our Greenville dental team today at (684) 292-5125.
Learn More About Our Services
- All on 4 Dental Implants
- Bone Grafting
- Children's Dentistry
- Cosmetic Dentistry
- Dental Bonding
- Dental Bridge
- Dental Cleanings
- Dental Crowns
- Dental Exams
- Dental Fillings
- Dental Implants
- Dentist
- Dentures
- Family Dentistry
- Full Mouth Dental Implants
- Gum Contouring
- Gum Grafting
- Implant Supported Dentures
- Invisalign
- Periodontal Therapy
- Porcelain Veneers
- Root Canals
- Scale and Root Planing
- Sedation Dentistry
- Teeth Whitening
- Tooth Extractions