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Despite the ability to help combat tooth loss, dentures also pose some notable drawbacks. Being that they are artificial teeth that can be removed, they have a tendency to also shift within the mouth, making it difficult to speak or eat at times. The other big drawback is that they can be difficult to maintain, as most dentists recommend removing them nightly, brushing them and then storing them in water. Dirty dentures can lead to potentially deadly bacterial infections.

The good news is that for those fed up with dentures, there’s now a viable alternative: all-on-4 implants. Here’s a closer look at this innovation made possible by advanced dental implant technology:

All-on-4 Dental Implants: The Basics

All-on-4 is a type of dental implant restoration. However, instead of fitting a dental implant to each individual tooth that is missing, all-on-4 is designed to replace an entire row of teeth using just four dental implants that are placed on either the upper or lower part of the mouth.

Unlike dentures, dental implants do require minor surgery to install, as the implants are fitted via a screw that is administered into the jaw bone to replace the root part of the absent tooth. The implant screws are actually made of titanium, which become one with the jaw bone over time. When done right, the all-on-4 implant is able to give people the teeth they want without the two notable disadvantages of dentures, that being shifting teeth and cumbersome maintenance. With implants, you’d just care for them as you would your normal teeth with brushing and flossing.

Another big benefit to all-on-4 implants is that it’s a quick procedure, typically carried out in a single day. The procedure is preceded by a few diagnostic and planning appointments so that 3D scans, computer simulations and mock ups can be created to ensure an ideal end result.

The Seriousness of Tooth Loss

Tooth loss is fairly common in adults, with as many as 65 million Americans currently living without either all of their teeth or many of their teeth. However, what many people fail to realize is that when a tooth is lost, so is the bone that supports it. When this occurs, it can lead to a lot of issues. That’s where an implant treatment such as all-on-4 can really pay off, as the implant acts as the bone and helps support the jaw bone. All-on-4 is more of a permanent tooth replacement process, rather than the artificial teeth stigma that dentures are associated with. Dentures unquestionably serve a purpose in resolving tooth loss, but new technologies are advancing tooth restoration like never before.

For more information about the all-on-4 dental implant restoration process and its benefits, contact Kanehl Dental today.