All on 4 Dental Implants:

Fixed bridges, full dentures, and/or missing teeth can be replaced through an extraordinary procedure which allows the placement of four or more implants which hold a fixed bridge. This procedure can be done in as little as two appointments, and it allows far greater function than traditional dentures.

Getting dental implants used to be a very lengthy procedures, and many very complex cases used to take over six months, especially if multiple extractions were involved. However, the dental profession has become very technologically advanced, and you can now get immediate load or same day all on four implants.

Every patient is different, but the length of the procedure is 20 minutes per post, on average.

Hospitalization is not required since all on four is done on an outpatient basis.

Since you are going to travel to get your all on 4 dental implants, you should plan for a 7 to 10 day stay. The dentist is going to want to have a follow-up visit after the implantation has been done to make sure that everything is healing correctly and that everything is healing properly, and you can then travel home.

Details of the Procedure:

The all on 4 procedure begins with the administration of local anesthetic or IV sedation. The dentist will then make a surgical template prior to the surgery and proceed to do any and all necessary extractions.

The dentist will then clean out any debris from the bone socket, and a bone drill will be used to prepare the area to receive the implants. The dentist will ensure that the area is as clean as possible so that the implant has a greater chance of fusing with the bone.

Once the sockets are ready, the implants are set into place, and a torque wrench is used to test each implant to make sure that they can withstand force. Each all on 4 implant will then have an abutment attached to it.

The dentist will then take an x-ray to make sure that the all on 4 implant procedure was successful. An acrylic or porcelain bridge, depending on what you have opted for, will then be set into place.

After the Procedure:

You can expect a certain level of discomfort for a few days after your all on four procedure is completed. There are also some side-effects that you can expect like facial and gum swelling, gum and skin bruising, pain at the implant site and some bleeding.

All on 4 Dental Implant After-care:

• Eat only soft foods for at least 5 to 7 days
• Take antibiotic to prevent infection
• No physical activity for 3 days
• No alcohol, nicotine or tea for 3 days
• Clean teeth thoroughly and carefully
• Use dental floss
• Avoid hot liquids and food for a few days
• Use ice on swelling and for pain relief
• Do not push tongue on dental implant for 2 to 4 weeks

Results:

Most people who have had the all on four dental implant procedure report that they are satisfied with the final results. On the other hand, there are times when dental implants fail to fuse with the bone for whatever reason.

If this is the case, then the dental implant has to be removed, and the procedure has to be repeated after a few months. In order to increase your chances of having your all on 4 implants fuse with the bone, you have to practice good dental hygiene, keep your dental appointments, avoid chewing on hard candy, ice, or any other foods that can crack the bridge, and you must make sure you follow the after-care instructions to the letter.

Risks and complications associated with all on 4 dental implants:

There are risks involved with all dental implant procedures, and the following is a list of the most common risks and complications involved with all on four implants:

• Reaction to anesthetic or medication
• Bleeding
• Infection of implant site
• Structural injury or damage near implant site
• Tooth injury or damage near implant site
• Nerve damage
• Tingling or numbness of the teeth, gums, lips or chin
• Sinus problems

You need to pay close attention to your dental implants and bridge, and contact your dentist or oral surgeon if any of the following occur:

• Bleeding continues or reoccurs
• Pain continues, reoccurs or is uncontrolled by medication
• Sutures come apart
• Swelling persists or reoccurs
• Fever is 100.4 degrees or higher
• Chills
• Nausea or vomiting are severe