MY DENTURES ARE ILL FITTING OR NEED REPLACING
REPLACING DENTURES WITH ALL-ON-4 TREATMENT
Treatment Options
If you experience any of the following, and you are looking for a permanent solution, you should come in for an evaluation:
- loose dentures that may even fall out when you speak or laugh
- sore and irritated gums and soft tissues
- restricted diet or problems with chewing certain foods
- headaches, neck, or ear pain
- bone loss, thinning lips, sagging mouth, a change in facial features
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All-on-4
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.
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.
This procedure is becoming more and more popular as our patients realise that traditional removable dentures are not their only option, and there is now an opportunity to have a full arch of fixed teeth again.
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Other Options
Due to our clinic’s focus and treatment planning philosophy, we do not provide denture-only treatment. However, we understand that for both financial and biological reasons All-on-4 is not an ideal solution for all patients. In these cases, we regularly collaborate with a clinic that shares the same values for care, transparency and quality as we do. Please reach out to our team if you are interested in learning more.
How do dental implants differ from dentures?
- Dental implant bridges are considerably smaller and fixed in place (non-removable).
- Instead of sitting passively in a patient’s mouth, dental implants actively conserve the patient’s jaw bone and oral health.
- Where dentures need to be replaced every few years, dental implants are a more long-term solution.
It is important to note that not everyone is a suitable candidate for All-on-4. 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!
All-on-4
- Treatment Length: 4 days
- Treatment Longevity: Implants = Lifetime | Bridge = 5-7 years
- Reversible? No
- Recovery Time: 1-2 weeks
- Treatment Cost: $$$$
Key Details
How long does treatment normally take?
- 3-4 weeks of planning, then a new set of teeth is inserted within 4 days.
How long does treatment last?
- This is not a quick fix procedure – 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 implants to last a lifetime, with the bridge to be replaced after 5-7 years.
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. 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 surgery, the typical recovery time is a week. We advise patients to take this time off work from Monday (surgery) through Thursday (insert) and until Sunday for rest. Some patients will take an additional week off, because that’s how long it takes for possible swelling to go down. However, the additional week is up to your discretion since you can consider how well your body usually recovers and heals. We can supply a medical certificate for the time required to recover.
- It takes 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.
Dentures Replaced: Chona’s Story
See the Difference for Yourself
Curious about what’s possible for your smile? Our Before & Afters page showcases real transformations from patients who, like you, were ready to discover their options. Explore cases by treatment type and main concern!
