At Dentalia, we strongly believe that dental implants are the future of restorative dentistry. Whilst conventional dentures continue to be a simple and popular solution, the adhesives used to keep dentures in place can be messy and shift around when you eat or even talk. When it comes to the most natural long-term solution for missing teeth, in almost all cases, we would recommend dental implants.
Whilst conventional dentures are removable, dental implants provide a permanent solution to replacing lost teeth. An implant is a small post that is inserted directly into the jaw bone, acting as a new root for an artificial crown, replacing the lost tooth. Not only does this look and feel like a real tooth, but it also helps to strengthen the jaw as the implant heals – missing teeth can have a negative effect on the jaw bone. A number of implants can be inserted into the jaw to replace multiple missing teeth.
For patients with one or two missing teeth, we insert traditional implants, however, for multiple missing teeth, the process of adding as many as a dozen implants can be painful and expensive. The good news is, much faster and less invasive procedures are available:
All-On-4 and All-On-6 Dental Implants
With conventional dental implants, replacing multiple teeth can a painful and time-consuming process. Multiple implants are secured over a series of appointments, allowing the jaw time to heal. In contrast, same day dental implants provide a full arch, or both arches of new teeth in a single day for patients who have no teeth or teeth in a bad way.
Rather than inserting individual implants for all missing teeth, we insert four or six implants into the jaw, hence the names of All-on-4 or All-on-6 implants. In many cases, six implants are required for the upper jaw, whilst four or six are required in the lower jaw. On the day of surgery, these implants are placed, and any necessary bone augmentation is carried out. Once implants are in place, a pre-made, temporary bridge can be fitted to the implants. Between four and six months later, a reinforced fixed bridge is then fitted.
By carrying out all dental work in a single day and reducing the number of implants needed, the procedure is less expensive, less time consuming, less painful and requires less recovery. Whilst a temporary bridge is replaced once the jaw is fully healed, at no point are implant patients without fixed teeth following the initial procedure.
For people that have experienced poorly fitting dentures or damaged teeth in the past, all-on-4 or all-on-6 dental implants can be life changing.
To learn more about the benefits of all-on-4 or all-on-6 dental implants, or to arrange a free consultation and no-obligation assessment of whether implants could be suitable for you, please call 01256 353033 or make an enquiry online.
