For people who have lost their adult teeth, dentures can bring back your confidence along with that award-winning smile.
For some, they can even prove to be truly life-changing.
Traditionally, dentures were fairly simple, fitting over the gums and staying in place with pressure, friction or even mild adhesive. However, contemporary dentistry offers a range of innovative methods to secure dentures to your gums, including the revolutionary “all-on-four” procedure. This approach offers a more permanent and cost-effective way to embrace dentures
So, let’s dive into what the all-in-four is and how it can help you.
Explaining implants
Before we get to the all-in-four we have to take a moment and explain what the ‘four’ in the name is referring to.
The four in ‘all-in-four’ refers to dental implants. These are titanium posts that are surgically inserted in your jawbone to create permanent fixtures where your dentures can attach.
These can be used for anything from the replacement of a single tooth, to a whole set of new teeth.
The all-on-four
In the past, the procedure required six of these posts set in your gums to hold your dentures, to do a full set of dentures. That’s because there is limited bone density at the back of the mouth. All those implants made the procedure costly and time-intensive.
However, in the 1990s, a Portuguese doctor discovered a simpler way of doing it. By placing the back two implants at a 45-degree angle, he wasable to make dentures just as stable with only four implants. That’s why it’s called ‘all-on-four’.
This innovative approach not only made the procedure quicker it also made it more cost-efficient.
Finding your smile with all-on-four dentures
Though all-on-four dentures are more expensive than traditional dentures, they offer two great benefits:
Longevity: Traditional dentures can last anywhere from five to ten years. With ‘all-on-four’ dentures, you can expect your dentures to last at least 20 years, with the potential to last a lifetime.
Maintaining jaw bone density: With traditional dentures, wearers can experience jaw bone density loss. However, people with implants face less bone loss.
If you would like to explore ‘all-in-four’, or other implant-mounted dentures, give us a call. Our team will guide you through the benefits and suitability of these procedures, helping you rediscover your beautiful smile with confidence.