For those who are missing one or many teeth and have been subjected to either a partial or full denture for a significant part of their adult life, there may be an option available you have not heard about yet. Though dentures can be effective in giving back a smile, ill-fitting or loose plates can make it uncomfortable for some to eat or even speak. That is why here at Olympia Prosthodontics & Cosmetic Dentistry, we want you to feel confident in the security of your teeth while enjoying the benefits a sturdy prosthetic can offer you.
WHAT ARE IMPLANTS?
If you are missing teeth, even with good dentures, you may have noticed how complicated it was to take care of them properly. Though there are many ways to adhere them to the gums, you are primarily depending on strong suction and may not be guaranteed a secure fit. In addition to having to be cautious with nearly everything you put in your mouth to eat, it can also cause anxiety in social situations were it to slip at an inopportune time.
With the use of implants, we can give you back permanent teeth in as little as one day. The All-on-4 dental process is often used to help those who are edentulous and may have significant jaw regression. When you are missing a tooth, your cells stop sending the signal to regenerate, which causes the bone to atrophy. This can make it difficult to apply many implants since you may require a graft to build up a foundation.
Through the All-on-4 treatment, you not only reduce the deterioration of your jaw, but you may also help it to regenerate, which should help improve your overall oral health. Rather than replacing every empty socket with a titanium screw, instead you rely on as few as four implants to hold your prosthetic in place. These implants can become as strong as your natural bone and are non-removable. Your teeth should work just like real ones and could be indistinguishable from your natural smile.
ADVANTAGES OF ALL-ON-4
In addition to being able to eat and speak without difficulty, you should also be able to reduce the possibility of contracting periodontal disease. Because it can happen in only one appointment when compared to standard dental implant procedures, there is less time spent recovering from surgery. Since the prosthetics are attached to the implants and not your gums, there is less pressure and sensitivity applied to soft tissues.
You should find that with the All-On-4 treatment, it can be just as easy to take care of artificial teeth as real ones. Although you should refrain from certain habits, such as crunching ice, which could damage your prosthetic, as long as you brush after every meal and continue to maintain regular dental checkups, your brand new smile could last for the rest of your life.
Because All-on-4 does not usually require grafting, it could be a beneficial option for many patients even if they may have significant resorption of the jaw bone. If you would like to learn more about dental implants and whether All-on-4 may be the treatment plan you are looking for, please give Olympia Prosthodontics & Cosmetic Dentistry a call at (360) 456-1200 to schedule an appointment with us.