ALL ON 4/5/6
ALL on 4 / All on 5 / All on 6
To understand what a All-On-4 dental implant is, you first need to know what an implant is. A dental implant is basically a small (usually titanium) screw that’s inserted into your jawbone in the space left by a missing tooth. Once the implant is placed in your mouth, your dentist will attach a fake tooth to the screw.
Now, multiply this idea by four and you get an All-On-4 dental implant. Instead of using an implant for every missing tooth, you can simply use four implants on top and four on the bottom as the main anchors. Then your dentist can attach a denture at those spots.
How is All-on-4 different from traditional dental implants?
All-on-4 dental implants do not require bone grafting and simply require four implants that can support the entire arch of dental restorations. Traditional dental implants may require up to eight single implants to support an entire arch of dental restorations. All-on-4 dental implants only use four implants in total because the two posterior implants are tilted at an angle that allows for longer implant posts. These implants offer the same durability and support of traditional implants but with a faster treatment time.
Surgery is much quicker as most patients are able to have the replacement teeth added the same day as their implant surgery while maintaining regular eating and chewing functions, rather than waiting weeks between surgeries.
With traditional dental implants usually requiring more than four single implants to support a full arch, the cost of treatment is typically higher as more dental implants need to be placed. The jaw bone would also need to have substantial strength in order to support the implants, meaning that many patients would require a bone graft procedure before the implant procedure could even begin. This, again, would increase the cost of the procedure as well as extending the amount of time required for treatment to be complete.
All-On-4 Dental Implant Procedure
It can be scary to get implants for the first time. Most of that fear is probably due to the uncertainty, so here is the step-by-step process for getting an All-On-4 dental implant.
First, your dentist will want to make sure your comfortable, so either local anesthesia will be administered.
Second, the dentist or surgeon will prepare your mouth for the implants, which involves removing your remaining teeth that are failing. They will then remove any diseased or infected tissue from your jaw and gums.
Next, they will begin the implantation process. This means they will insert the titanium screws into your jawbone. Most likely, they will place two implants toward the front of your mouth and two towards the back of your mouth so the “anchors” can evenly bare the force of the denture.
After the implants have been placed, they will thoroughly clean the surgical sites and suturing all the incisions. Then you’ll be taken to a recovery room where you can relax and take time to wake up from the anesthesia.
Full arch Implants Bridge Treatment duration
One trip by required at least 12 days in Bangkok ( 4-5 visits)*
*Please make an appointment in advance
Benefits of All-on-4 and All-on-6 Immediate Function Dental Implants
Suitable for almost all bone quantities. None or very small bone graft required
- Flapless and painless procedure
- simple and good predictability from a surgical perspective
- Well-balanced prosthetic support for an immediate function procedure
- Attractive prosthetic solution, Immediate Function & fixed prosthesis
- No healing time required prior to functioning
- Fast , fixed and cost effective
All-On-4 Dental Implants Recovery Time
The recovery time after getting traditional dentures can range from 3 to 8 months, but after getting an All-On-4 denture, you should be functioning sooner. The reason is that the implants fuse to your bone and promote stability of the denture from the very first day.
Here’s what you can expect the recovery to look like starting the day of the procedure.
First Day Recovery
During the first hour after your recovery or until you stop bleeding, you will have had gauze packs placed over the areas of surgery — you should gently bite down on these to keep them in place. After the first hour, you may be asked to remove the gauze, unless there’s excessive bleeding, in which case your dentist will probably replace them with new gauze. After that, they’ll want you to change the gauze every 30-45 minutes.
When you go home from surgery, make sure you don’t do anything that would disturb the tender areas. Do not rinse or touch the surgical areas, except for gentle brushing with a soft toothbrush. And obviously, smoking afterwards (or in general) is a very bad idea if you want the surgical spots to heal well.
Although you should be extra gentle, it’s also important to keep your mouth as clean as possible. Your doctor will likely prescribe a medicated rinse to keep the bacterial load down in your mouth and help promote healing.
Twenty-four hours after surgery, if there’s minimal bleeding, you can gently rinse your mouth with saltwater. Just mix one tablespoon of salt with about eight ounces of water and rinse gently, allowing the water to drip from your mouth into the sink. You can do this 2-3 times per day.
The Days Following Surgery
In the time following the procedure, the main activities you’ll be doing should involve resting on a couch or bed. Things you shouldn’t be doing include bending over, lifting heavy objects, or any strenuous activities as it could lead to more bleeding and swelling.
Also, when transitioning from a lying down position to standing, it’s best to do so slowly. Otherwise, you could get lightheaded. If you normally exercise, you’ll need to avoid it for 3-4 days after surgery.
Common Post-Surgery Issues And How To Deal With Them
Here are some common issues you may experience in the days following surgery and how to care for your All-On-4 dental implants.
-Persistent Bleeding
If you find that you have bleeding that won’t stop, this usually means you may be biting down on the gauze packs without them covering the surgical areas. Reposition the gauze and see if that helps.
If this does nothing and the bleeding continues, try sitting upright, avoid physical activity, and put ice packs on the outside of your mouth.
Then you can bite down on one for an hour or a moist black tea bag for about 30 minutes.
If this still doesn’t help, call your dentist to schedule an appointment.
-Swelling
Swelling is a normal part of getting surgery, and it will reach its climax about 2-3 days after the procedure. Using ice or a cold pack on your cheek within the 24 hours following the procedure can help control it (20 minutes on and 20 minutes off). Your dentist may prescribe you medication as well.
-Pain
This is something that’s just unavoidable when dealing with surgery. Your dentist will have given you a prescription for pain medicine — take it as directed and it should help decrease the discomfort.
If you feel that you need more medicine to control the pain, call your dentist.
-Restricted Diet
As long as the food you eat doesn’t cause more discomfort, it’s probably okay to eat. Though you should avoid any hard foods or candies or very hot foods, and chewing is not recommended if the sensation in your tongue has not returned. The best-case scenario is to consume only liquids or pureed foods for the first few days after surgery.
Most importantly, make sure your getting nutrition, no matter how inconvenient it may be. It’s crucial to your healing.
-Nausea
You may experience nausea or even vomiting from any accidentally swallowed blood or from any of the medicines you’ll be taking. Usually, a carbonated drink and some crackers can help tone down the sickness. If the nausea persists or gets severe, call your dentist for recommendations.
-Discoloration
About 2-3 days after surgery, you may notice discoloration or bruising near the surgical areas (usually black, blue, and/or yellow). This is normal. After the first 36 hours after the procedure, you can apply moist heat to your cheek.
-Sharp Sensations In Your Mouth
If you start to feel something sharp in your mouth, this could be the bony walls that used to support the now missing teeth. Small pieces of the bone may protrude from the gums after a few days. If it becomes uncomfortable or concerning, you can speak with your dentist.
-Dry Lips
It’s expected that your lips will become dry as your mouth will be slightly stretch from wearing gauze. You can use chapstick or some other hydrating ointment.
-Sore Throat
Because your mouth may be open most of the time because of the gauze, this can lead to a sore throat, making swallowing painful. This is a passing symptom, usually going away after a few days.
-Stiff Muscles
Your jaw muscles may become stiff, again because of the gauze keeping your jaw in the same position for long periods of time. To counteract this, you can gently and slowing stretch your jaw every once in a while.