What are all-on-four dental implants?

Implants are used in the dental industry to replace teeth that have been extracted or lost due to decay or trauma, they are designed to replicate the function of natural teeth from the root upwards, and they look almost identical to the real thing. Because the product has to last for decades, it needs to be made from very tough materials; titanium is used to create the synthetic root of the tooth, and then treated porcelain is placed over the top of it to build a natural-looking crown. There are various different companies that manufacture dental implants, but all-on-four implants are slightly different; they work to replace an entire jaw of missing teeth by attaching a denture or bridge to just four implants – hence the name ‘all on four’. The technique is less invasive for the patient, more cost-effective, and can still encourage bone growth in the jaw – it is also possible to implant four teeth in one day, allowing the patient to undergo treatment in a shorter time frame.

Are all-on-four implants expensive?

Treatment using the all-on-four procedure is quite expensive, when compared to less permanent methods of restoration, but the price can vary greatly from clinic to clinic. A typical price range could run from twelve or thirteen thousand pounds, right up to twenty thousand pounds, depending on how much work there is to be done, including extractions, implanting, and subsequent bridgework. This is a lot of money to most people, but if you are able to organise financing – either through private means or working with a loan provider, then you would certainly see the benefits of this top-quality treatment. If you are really struggling with your resources, most dental surgeries will work with a particular loan company, to make sure that all their customers have access to care for a reasonable price every month.

There are other factors that could affect how much you pay for implants, such as the individual fees of your chosen surgeon, as well as their experience with the technology, and the quality of the components used. The biggest element that will determine price is the condition of your teeth in the first instance, i.e. if you have extensive tooth loss on both upper and lower jaw, it is going to cost a lot more to repair than it would for one or two missing teeth.

Aftercare could also push the price up, although again, that is related to the operating guidelines of the clinic you chose to attend. If you are interested in all-on-four dental treatment, call and speak to a member of the team at the Pearl Dental Clinic, they will be able to provide all the information you might need about this revolutionary system, and they can book you an appointment right away. Often, the hardest part of fixing a smile is taking the first step, so make yours an easy one and get your treatment underway.

Where can I get all-on-four implants from?

Although the technology is relatively new to the UK market, there are still plenty of surgeries across the country that can offer all-on-four treatment. At the moment, the problem is that a lot of dentists don’t have the time or the finances to undertake the necessary training to successfully fit dental implants, but fortunately, the number of people taking related courses has trebled over the last year, so there should be more and more places providing implant products in the near future.

When choosing a clinic to fix your smile, you have to be careful that you chose a reputable dentist, who is interested in how they can help you, rather than the amount of money they can get out of you. Word of mouth is the best way to find a decent provider, as most people will know someone personally who has experience with local clinics. If you don’t have such connections, you can always check online for testimonials from previous patients, and reviews from people regarding costs, customer care, and the overall result. Of course, there’s no way to guarantee that your treatment will run smoothly one hundred per cent of the time, but you can help improve your chances by doing a little bit of groundwork beforehand. You might want to consider visiting prospective surgeries first, to see if you feel comfortable with the staff and the environment.

How long should all-on-four implants last?

With highly-durable products like all-on-four, you won’t even notice that your teeth are synthetic after a while – that’s how naturally they function. Dental implants were designed as a permanent solution to the problem of missing teeth, and that’s exactly what they provide; with good care, they could last a lifetime in great condition. If you have a bridge fitted over the implants to replace more teeth, this will require slightly more maintenance than the implants on their own, primarily because it is not bonded to the bone in the same way, so it can’t adapt to the changing shape of the jaw as you get older. However, the result as a whole is still very easy to live with and should perform adequately with minimal upkeep.

Am I suitable for all-on-four implants?

Your surgeon will be able to tell you whether all-on-four treatment is best for you, but here are some basic guidelines on suitability;

-Patients with diabetes and smokers might not be referred for this type of surgery, as their recovery could be compromised by their health; people who smoke are twice as likely to suffer failure with their surgery than those that don’t smoke.

-Present dental problems could complicate matters; things like gum disease or bacterial infection would put the surgeon off fitting implants, as they would most likely fail at a later stage anyway.

-People with weak jaws will probably be turned down for implants, because the jaw bone has to be dense enough to support both the implants and the bridge, if it is not, then the surgery will be unsuccessful. A bone graft could be helpful in this type of situation.

-Patients with on-going health problems should not be exposed to invasive surgery, as this could exacerbate their condition and ultimately lead to rejection of the implants.