Losing multiple teeth or struggling with ill-fitting dentures can have a significant impact on your confidence, how you eat, and your overall quality of life. At Riverside Dental Spa, we understand these challenges, which is why we're proud to offer a revolutionary solution: All-on-4 dental implants. This innovative technique can restore your entire smile, providing a fixed, comfortable, and natural-looking set of teeth.
What are All-on-4 Dental Implants?
Dental implants are a long lasting, natural looking and feeling solution to missing teeth, where a prosthetic tooth is implanted into your jaw. The all on 4 dental implant technique is an innovative, highly efficient and effective way to replace a full arch of missing or failing teeth in your upper or lower jaw. Instead of needing an implant for every missing tooth, All on 4 uses just four strategically placed dental implants to support a complete set of fixed prosthetic teeth.
These four implants are typically made of titanium and are surgically inserted into your jawbone. Two implants are placed vertically in the front, and two are angled at the back. This clever angulation allows us to take advantage of the denser bone in the front of the jaw, often eliminating the need for bone grafting, a procedure that can be time-consuming and invasive.
The Benefits of Dental Implants
The popularity of all on 4 dental implants stems from their numerous advantages:
- Immediate results: In many cases, you can leave our dental practice with a temporary, fixed set of teeth on the very same day your implants are placed. This means you don't have to go without teeth during the healing period, allowing you to smile, eat, and speak with confidence almost immediately.
- A Permanent, fixed solution: Unlike traditional dentures that can slip, click, or require messy adhesives, All-on-4 implants are fixed securely in your jaw. They offer exceptional stability, allowing you to enjoy a wider variety of foods and speak clearly without worry.
- Improved chewing function: With fixed teeth, your biting and chewing force is significantly restored, enabling you to enjoy your favourite meals without discomfort.
- Enhanced aesthetics: Your new teeth will be custom-designed to look incredibly natural, blending seamlessly with your facial features and restoring a beautiful, confident smile.
- Preserves jawbone health: Dental implants stimulate the jawbone, preventing the bone loss that typically occurs after teeth are lost. This helps maintain your facial structure and prevents the "sunken" appearance often associated with missing teeth and traditional dentures.
- Reduced need for bone grafting: The strategic placement of the implants can often make bone grafting unnecessary, simplifying the treatment process and reducing overall recovery time.
- Cost-effective: While the initial investment may seem significant, all on 4 can be a more cost-effective long-term solution compared to replacing individual teeth or continually needing to adjust or replace traditional dentures. When looked after properly, implants can last for many years.
- Minimally invasive: With fewer implants needed, the procedure is generally less invasive than traditional full-mouth implant solutions.
The All-on-4 Procedure: What to Expect
Your journey to a new smile with all on 4 implants at Riverside Dental Spa typically involves these key steps:
- Initial consultation and planning: This first step involves a comprehensive examination of your oral health, including 3D scans and digital diagnostics. We'll discuss your specific needs, assess your suitability for the procedure, and develop a personalised treatment plan.
- Implant placement: On the day of your implant surgery, we will carefully place the four dental implants into your jawbone. Any necessary tooth extractions will also be performed during this appointment. You will be under local anaesthesia whilst the procedure is performed, so you will not feel any pain.
- Temporary prosthesis placement: Immediately after the implants are placed, a temporary set of fixed teeth will be attached to them. This means you can leave our practice with a functional and aesthetically pleasing smile.
- Healing time: Over the next few months (typically 3-6 months), the implants will gradually fuse with your jawbone through a process called osseointegration. This creates a strong, stable foundation for your permanent teeth. During this time, you'll need to follow a soft-food diet to ensure proper healing.
- Final prosthesis placement: Once the osseointegration is complete and your jawbone has fully healed, your custom-crafted, permanent bridge can be placed. This will be designed to perfectly match your desired aesthetics and provide optimal function.
Recovery and Aftercare
The initial recovery period after All-on-4 dental implant surgery usually involves some swelling and discomfort, which can be managed with over-the-counter pain medications and usually subsides within a few days to a week. Following the procedure, we provide patients with detailed aftercare instructions, including guidance on diet, oral hygiene, and managing any temporary symptoms.
While the implants integrate with your bone over several months, most patients can resume their normal activities quickly. It's essential to maintain excellent oral hygiene with daily brushing and flossing (using special tools as advised) and attend regular check-ups to ensure the long-term success of your implants.
Is All-on-4 Right for You?
All-on-4 dental implants are an excellent option for individuals who:
- Have multiple missing or severely damaged teeth.
- Wear full dentures and are looking for a more permanent and stable solution.
- Have been told they lack sufficient bone for traditional implants (due to the angled placement).
- Are seeking a quicker and often more cost-effective alternative to replacing each tooth individually.
The best way to determine if all on 4 implants are the right solution for your unique needs is to schedule a consultation with our experienced team at Riverside Dental Spa. We'll thoroughly assess your oral health, discuss your goals, and create a tailored treatment plan to help you achieve the healthy, beautiful smile you deserve.
Ready to transform your smile? Until the 31st July, we are offering free consultation on full arch dental implants - spaces are limited, so book your consultation today!
