If you wish to reclaim your radiant smile and all the confidence that comes with it, All-on-4® dental implants offer a permanent solution. They provide an alternative to all the less comfortable, less realistic, and more painful treatment options.
They’re a pathway to a realistic-looking set of new teeth and a fabulous smile in a short space of time. If missing teeth have dampened your confidence and impacted your physical health, you may be a candidate if you’ve been considering dentures or implants. But you may also have some questions: what does the procedure involve? How long does it take to get All-on-4® dental implants? And are All-on-4® dental implants removable?
Chances are, you’re familiar with traditional dentures. For those who have lost teeth due to conditions such as tooth decay or trauma, they provide a realistic-looking set of replacement teeth that are commonly removed at night. This treatment involves titanium screws placed in the jaw in one appointment. The bone fuses to the implant to hold it in place, and an artificial tooth (“crown”) is attached to the top of the implant. The implant crown is made to resemble the other teeth in colour, size and other factors.
The All-on-4® treatment, however, differs from both dentures and implants in their traditional senses. It’s not a set of dentures. And although it involves implants, less is more in this case. Four implants support an entire bridge of teeth.
Are All-on-4® dental implants removable? Or do you never need to take them out? What makes them different, and why are they a better treatment option for many dental patients? This article explores those questions and explains the treatment in more detail. If you have missing teeth and have been searching for solutions, All-on-4® implants may be the treatment for you.
What is All-on-4® with Dental Implants?
All-on-4® is an advanced dental procedure that gives you a beautiful new smile using only four dental implants. Utilising state-of-the-art technology and the highest quality materials, it eliminates the need for more painful and invasive procedures and can give you a new set of teeth on the same day.
The procedure offers a minimalist approach to the concept of dental implants. In traditional implants, titanium screws (implants) are placed in the jaw bone to support either a new single tooth or multiple implants to support a bridge of teeth, usually one implant per tooth. With All-on-4®, four screws are all that’s needed to support an entire bridge of teeth: just two at the front and another two at the back.
In 1998, Dr Paulo Maló conceived the concept in partnership with Nobel Biocare. Since then, more than 100 scientific studies and thousands of satisfied patients have validated that the treatment is a powerful and effective one.
How long does it take to get All-on-4® dental implants? At Next Smile Australia, we use the Maló Protocol, a two-bridge treatment process pioneered by Dr Maló. You’ll receive your first set of teeth during stage one: a provisional bridge to wear for three to six months. As your mouth heals, you’ll already reap the benefits of your new smile. Once the bone has fused to the titanium implants, you’ll be ready for stage two. You’ll receive your final bridge, the official term for your permanent set of teeth.
The procedure takes one surgical appointment, and you will receive your temporary teeth within 24 hours of receiving your titanium implants, often on the same day.
All-on-4® implants have a range of benefits. They provide you with a new set of teeth that are both beautiful and fully functioning, allowing you to bite, chew and use your mouth to its full capacity. On an aesthetic level, they also give you the confidence to smile more widely in photos. The procedure is relatively fast compared to other options on the market, with no bone grafting. This also means a lower-cost treatment with a shorter healing time. The procedure is also the most effective if natural-looking teeth are your goal. Best of all, it has a 98% success rate.
Are All-on-4® dental implants removable? No. Once implanted, they’re permanent teeth and can only be taken out by a dentist, easily unscrewed for a professional six-monthly clean. They function like a regular set of natural teeth, and there’s no need to remove them to clean them or to go to sleep. It’s important to remember that although your new implants won’t decay, they still need regular cleaning and check-ups to stay healthy.
Differences Between All-on-4® & Dentures
Unlike traditional dentures, All-on-4® implants aren’t removable. You never need to take them out before bed, for cleaning or any other reason. On the other hand, you need to remove dentures to sleep and clean daily.
All-on-4® implants tend to feel more natural and comfortable than dentures. The final bridge will be screwed into the implants providing a stable fit that dentures cannot match. Ill-fitting dentures can cause many problems, from difficulty biting and chewing to headaches and gum disease. Using the highest level of technology for a natural look and feel, we’ll create a new set of permanent teeth expertly crafted to the roof of your mouth.
Dentures can wear out with time and may eventually need to be replaced. If they’re not a proper fit for your mouth, they can feel loose and be prone to breaking. All-on-4® implants can be cleaned just like natural teeth and worn for the rest of your life with good regular care and professional maintenance.
All-on-4® at Next Smile Australia
There are risks and complications attached to not seeking treatment for missing teeth. It can lead to jawbone deterioration, facial structure changes, shifting among other teeth, and gum disease, which is linked to conditions elsewhere in the body, such as heart disease.
Several factors may impact your suitability for All-on-4® treatment, and chances are you’ll have questions about the process beyond “are All-on-4® dental implants removable?”
A Next Smile surgeon will assess your dental and overall health when discussing your suitability for the treatment. The process involves scans and photographic imaging, an in-depth look into your personal situation so we can provide an individualised solution.
Our team is guided by a particular set of values: excellence, dedication, honesty, and empathy. These values motivate us to consistently provide our patients with a personalised, compassionate approach.
To stay true to that approach, we’ve established industry-leading Super Clinics across the country for the care of our patients. Our All-on-4® surgeries take place in these clinics. These purpose-built clinics have state-of-the-art surgical theatres, in-house dental laboratories, X-rays and CBCT scans, leading-edge diagnostic technology and top-of-the-line comfort, among others.
Find out more about All-on-4® treatments, including answers to questions like “are All-on-4® dental implants removable?” and “how long does it take to get All-on-4® dental implants?”. If you’d like to know more or believe the procedure is right for you, get in touch.