What is the all on 4 dental implant? All you need to know

According to the Oral Health Barometer 2021, a study conducted by the Portuguese Dental Association in order to assess the oral health of the Portuguese, around 70% of the Portuguese are missing one or more teeth, not counting wisdom teeth. These figures are cause for concern and have led to an increase over recent years in the demand for dental implants, as a means of replacing tooth loss.
It is in this context that all-on-four implants have appeared, as an alternative to total removable prostheses, used when the patient no longer has any teeth.

What is an all-on-four implant?
All-on-four dental implants are implants used to replace all the teeth in each jaw, giving the patient back their functional capacity and improving the aesthetic appearance. In this regard, this treatment is recommended in cases where patients have no teeth or where the current teeth cannot be used.
This procedure consists of using a fixation technique with four strategically placed screws in order to provide a safe fixation and quick recovery. We will now describe the entire process for the application of an all-on-four implant.

What is the process for an all-on-four implant?
This is a process which in the vast majority of cases is quick, inexpensive and effective. Thus, it is possible to divide this procedure into three phases:
1. Assessment and Study – in this phase, medical examinations are carried out in order to understand whether there is the necessary bone support for the implant, as well as defining the fixation points and developing the fully customised prosthesis which will be applied;
2. Tooth extraction (when necessary) – since this is a procedure for replacing all the teeth, if there are still some in a degraded state, they will first be removed;
3. Surgical procedure – after all the previous phases have been successfully completed, the intervention is scheduled. This clinical act usually lasts a short period of time (between 1 and 2 hours) and is carried out under an anaesthetic for the patient’s total comfort.

What is the durability of an all-on-four implant?
The use of the all-on-four technique allows not only a rapid recovery, but also a longer durability of the prosthesis. However, the durability of the treatment will depend on factors such as a recovery that respects all the recommendations of the dentist and, after this, careful oral hygiene and regular visits, which are also recommended in patients with the original dentition.

Do you have missing teeth and want to recover your smile? Contact us or make an appointment here!