Dental Implants All on 4

The All on 4 method is used in implantology to restore a complete dentition in patients who have lost teeth or need complete rehabilitation. It was proposed by NobelBiocare several years ago and involves the placement of 4 dental implants, with the most posterior implants placed obliquely or at an angle.

This tilt of most posterior implants is done to avoid anatomical areas such as:

• Upper: to avoid the need for bone grafting such as upper sinus elevation.
• Inferiorly: due to insufficient bone height in the region of the lower molars. 

Usually 4 implants are used according to the classical technique, but sometimes an additional 5th implant can be placed. All these factors depend on the patient's bone, both in height and width, as well as bone density.

The supports or intermediate pieces are placed on these dental implants, on which a screw-retained hybrid denture is fabricated.

The All on 4 method allows the patient to leave the dental clinic with fixed teeth on the same day, provided that the implants have been successfully surgically placed and have acquired the necessary strength.

How many implants are needed to anchor teeth in the upper jaw?

Usually, if there is enough bone, especially in the molar area, 6 and 8 implants should be placed in "traditional" treatment. With the All on 4 method, 4 or 5 dental implants are required in the upper jaw because the bone is more porous than in the lower jaw.

How many implants are needed to anchor teeth in the lower jaw?

For "standard" treatment, a maximum of 6 implants are usually placed. With the All on 4 method in the lower jaw, 4 or 5 dental implants are sufficient.

When is the All on 4 method used?

This method is NOT recommended for all patients, but only for those who have no bone in the posterior part of the upper or lower jaw and do not wish to undergo bone remodeling procedures.

Does the All on 4 method work?

If you're thinking about using the All on 4 method, you're probably wondering if this method really works. To date, only review articles with a 10-year follow-up for the lower jaw and a 5-year follow-up for the upper jaw are available. At the mid-term (3-4 years), the range varies from 96.3% to 100% success. At the long term (5-10 years), the range is 94.8% to 98%. This success is, of course, due to good care by the dentist and the patient, who should have a checkup at least once a year and go to the dental office to have the denture lifted and cleaned.

How are All on 4 implants planned and performed?

The first step in preparing for implant placement is to take a panoramic x-ray to initially evaluate the patient's bone to determine if he or she is suitable for the procedure or if the traditional implant method should be used.

Then, at the dental clinic, you will be given a CT scan or 3D scan of the area of your jaw that requires treatment. With these, your implant surgeon will assess the condition of the bone and tissue and prescribe treatment, if necessary. Arrangements will then be made for the fabrication of a temporary denture that will be used to anchor the implants placed during the All on 4 surgery. This temporary denture will need to be used for at least 3-4 months until the dental implants have healed, after which the permanent denture can be started.

Benefits of All on 4 implants:

This method of dental implantation offers a number of advantages over traditional approaches.

• Shorter treatment time to final prosthetics.
• Simpler surgical procedure compared to the traditional method.
• Avoidance of bone grafts.
• Dental implants are placed on the same day as tooth extraction if necessary.
• Only 4 or 5 dental implants are needed, which saves money compared to 6 or 8 implants with the traditional method.
• Fix teeth and smile on the same day with a screw-retained hybrid denture from the first moment.
• A non-removable denture that you won't have to put on and take off every day.

Disadvantages of All on 4 implants:

• The posterior implants are angled, which makes prosthetics in the molar area unsupported, which can lead to their destruction or breakage over time.
• Since this is only a fixed denture on 4 implants, if any of them fail, you will have to have a new dental implant surgery.
• Fitted hybrid dentures always have an artificial pink gum under which food can accumulate.

If you are interested in the All on Four method and are looking for a dental clinic to place dental implants with a guarantee, contact the manager of «UAmedTOURS» for a consultation with our specialists.