Are You a Good Candidate for All on 4?

Are You a Good Candidate for All on 4?

If you need replacement teeth, you may well be surprised how many options you have. As well as dentures and traditional implants, innovative procedures such as the All on 4 dental technique can give you renewed confidence in your smile. But how do you know whether you are a candidate for All on 4? 

What is Implant Dentistry?

Dental implants have been around for a long time, since the 1970s in fact. Implants are surgically placed in the jawbone to give a permanent anchor for replacement teeth. And, for those able to have them, they offer great relief from the embarrassment and discomfort of ill-fitting dentures. What’s more, by placing titanium screws into the jaw, the bone is encouraged to grow, which can restore facial aesthetics. The result is a fully functional set of teeth that enables patients to eat and speak as normal. 

However, while implant dentistry has long represented a superior treatment to restore the form, function, and health of our teeth, it has one serious limitation. While to support a full arch of teeth an implant isn’t needed for every individual tooth, up to ten may be required. The issue is that patients need enough jawbone density to support that volume of implants. Often that isn’t the case which means that either the treatment isn’t possible or extensive preparatory procedures are required. 

What is Bone Loss in Dentistry?

Bone loss around the teeth and in the jaw is a lot more common than many people realise. It can occur as a result of tooth loss and also as a result of severe gum disease. In fact, when caused by gum disease, as the bone shrinks, it can often lead to teeth becoming loose or moving around. When teeth are missing, the jaw isn’t stimulated to grow, and it loses density and shrinks. 

Bone density is really important when it comes to implant dentistry. When the jawbone loses density and becomes more porous, it often isn’t strong enough to support dental implants. And, when many are required, as is the case for full implants, this can prevent the procedure. Bone grafting can be used, replacing the missing bone with bone from another part of the body. However, this makes the procedure far more invasive, complex and lengthy. 

How Can All on 4 Help?

All on 4 dental implants solve the same issues as traditional dental implants, offering a superior option to dentures. However, as its name suggests, All on 4 can support a full set of replacement upper or lower teeth on just four implants. Two of these implants are placed at a strategic angle to optimise bone-to-implant ratio. This means that people with less jawbone density can be potential candidates without the need for preliminary procedures. The procedure is quicker, more efficient and less invasive than conventional implants, all while producing outstanding results. 

How to Find Out if All on 4 is For You

If you have missing or damaged teeth and think that you could be a candidate for All on 4 in Wollongong, ask yourself the following questions:

  • Do you have several missing teeth? All on 4 is a technique for securing a full-arch of replacement teeth rather than just a single tooth. 
  • Are you healthy? If you suffer from a serious illness or medical condition, it  might not be wise to put yourself through the risk of surgery. 
  • Do you smoke? As with traditional implants, smoking is not advised while recovering from surgery and can lead to implant failure.
  • Do you have active gum disease? Your mouth needs to be in a healthy condition to reduce the risk of infection from implant surgery. 
  • How much jawbone do you have? While bone density isn’t as much of an issue, you will still need to support four implants. 

Ultimately, if you’re an existing denture wearer or are about to get your first set of replacement teeth, All on 4 could be the best treatment for you. The only way to really know, of course, is to visit your Wollongong All on 4 dentist for a suitability assessment.