I Want to Avoid Wearing Dentures
Many patients we see are searching for an alternative to dentures.
They want a fixed, natural-looking option rather than dentures which can fall out or move.
Treatment Options
Traditional false teeth or dentures are not always reliable. Eating, talking and socialising can become a real challenge and the wearer’s ability to taste can be significantly reduced. An alternative treatment option we can provide is replacing or avoiding dentures with implant retained bridges, through a process often referred to as All-On-4/All-On-X.
All-on-4 / ALL-ON-X
The term All-On-4 refers to a treatment where a full arch of 12 teeth (upper jaw, lower jaw or both) is secured into the jaw by the foundation of four implants. All-On-X simply refers to cases where additional implants are required.
Compared to older methods which used far more implants to achieve a similar outcome, All-On-4 is far less invasive, therefore carries less risk and a much higher success rate. Due to the simplicity of the final structure, it is much easier to maintain and clean.
Get matched with a Dentist experienced in treating your condition.
This procedure is becoming more and more popular as our patients realise that traditional removable dentures are not their only option, and there is an opportunity to have a full arch of fixed teeth again.
- Non-removable
- Secure / no movement
- Great cosmetics
- Restored function
- 3-4 day completion of the main treatment
- Looks and feels like natural teeth
- No bone shrinkage/facial profile changes
It is important to note that not everyone is a suitable candidate for All-On-4 or All-On-X. Bone density, medical history and other risk factors need to be taken into account. This is where the experience and transparency of your dentist is really important!
Get matched with a Dentist experienced in treating your condition.
DENTURES PROS AND CONS VIDEO
In this video Dr Adrian discusses the pros and cons of dentures, including a real patient case study.
Key Details
How long does treatment normally take?
3-4 weeks of planning, then a new set of teeth is inserted within 4 days of your surgery. These teeth are temporary so we can assess bite, function, speech, aesthetics and more over time and make any refinements before your final bridges are inserted 5-6 months after surgery.
How long does treatment last?
This is not a quick fix procedu. There are important aftercare instructions and new habits that must be followed to ensure success. With good oral hygiene you can expect your All-on-4 or All-on-X implants to last a lifetime, with the bridge/s to be replaced after 5-7 years (or potentially longer in some cases depending on the material you choose for your bridge/s).
How do I maintain the desired outcome?
- Carefully follow the hygiene and healing recommendations suggested for your first 4 months post-surgery.
- Adopt recommended habits for maintaining oral health.
- Wear your nightguard to protect the teeth from night-time clenching and grinding.
- Attend regular hygiene visits (every 6 months) and a bi-annual bridge removal appointment (every 2 years).
- Avoid smoking and/or vaping.
Does it hurt?
- For the comfort of our clients, All-on-4 treatment is carried out under IV Sedation (with a specialist anaesthetist). You may experience some discomfort during the immediate post-operative stage, but we will provide you with the care, medication and tools to get through this time. Your comfort is our top priority.
- The best people to ask about recovery experiences are our past patients, who are happy to share their journeys with you.
What is the expected recovery time?
- After All-on-4 or All-on-X surgery, the typical recovery time is 1-2 weeks. We advise patients to take this time off work from Monday or Tuesday (surgery) through to Thursday (insert) and until Sunday for rest. Some patients will take a second week off, because that’s how long it can take for possible swelling to go down. However, the additional week is at your discretion since you know best how well your body usually recovers and heals. We can supply a medical certificate for the time required to recover.
- It takes about 4 months for the implants to fully integrate with the bone. During this time, we will have a series of follow up appointments and you will be on a soft food diet (food you can cut with a spoon). At the 4-month mark, once everything is healed, your dentist will give you the go ahead to eat all the foods you love again!
What are the key risks?
- Permanent and irreversible: Implants are a permanent solution, where patients are unable to return to having natural teeth once treatment begins.
- Implant failure: There are both avoidable (medical conditions, smoking and heavy grinding) and unavoidable (3-5% of cases worldwide) implant failures. Implant failures can be addressed by your dentist, but are most likely to be managed effectively when identified early, which is why ongoing hygiene and reviews are necessary.
- Complex surgery: Implant procedures require complex surgery where complications can arise and the experience of your treating dentist, anaesthetist and team is critical.
- Rushed consent and planning: Completely understanding your treatment is essential. Proper planning also ensures functional speech and eating abilities, alongside achieving desired aesthetic outcomes. Rushing this process can be detrimental to your treatment success.
- Being unprepared for ongoing maintenance: Regular appointments are needed to maintain the desired treatment outcome, and patients must factor in the time and costs required in the future, as well as bridge replacement.