A missing or severely damaged tooth is about more than just the effects on your oral health. It has a significant impact on your smile, which can directly affect your overall quality of life. While a dental implant is ideal for a single damaged tooth, what if you have more than one? What if you’re missing several, or even all, of your teeth?
If this is the case, the all-on-4 approach might be right for you. With this approach, 4 sturdy posts are surgically installed in the mouth. Then an entire arch of artificial teeth can be secured to them. This helps restore the function of your teeth while giving you a new robust smile!
What Are Dental Implants?
Life can be complicated sometimes. A bad infection, biting too strongly on hard food, or facial trauma can lead to significant damage to your teeth. When a tooth becomes too damaged to repair, or gets knocked out, what do you do?
Usually, a dentist would recommend a dental implant in this situation. This is an artificial tooth root that an experienced dentist can surgically implant in the jawbone. This root, usually made of titanium, eventually fuses to the bone. Once this process is complete, the root can be used as an anchor for artificial teeth.
When the artificial tooth is installed, you’ll have a long-lasting solution to missing or damaged teeth. It’s a popular approach to this situation that offers plenty of benefits. They’re durable, they’re long-lasting, and they’re almost indistinguishable from your natural teeth. This all makes dental implants an extremely convenient solution. But what if you’re missing more than one tooth? What then?
Can You Replace All of Your Teeth With Implants?
If you’re missing several teeth, like an entire arch or even your entire set, there is good news—you can still replace every tooth using implants. However, if this is the situation, the process changes slightly.
Rather than installing a post for every single tooth, your dentist will need to take an alternative route. Installing a post in place of every tooth root would be extremely hard on the jaw; they likely wouldn’t fuse and would cause significant damage in the area. Instead, your dentist will examine your mouth, determine the strongest areas along the jaw, and then install 4 posts throughout the area.
This is called the “All-on-4” approach. Once the 4 posts are fused to the bone, your dentist will be able to fix an entire arch of teeth to them. This can be performed on both the upper and lower arch, with 8 posts total, if you plan to replace every single tooth.
When completed you’ll have an entire artificial set of teeth that offers the benefits of a single implant!
The Dental Implant Process
If you’re considering replacing an entire arch of teeth, your first step needs to be a visit to your dentist. They’ll examine your mouth to determine if the all-on-4 approach is correct for you. There are some factors to consider. Your overall health, your bone strength and density, and your lifestyle play a part in determining your eligibility for this procedure.
If your dentist thinks this is the right treatment for you, then you can expect the following steps:
- Prior to the 4-implant installation procedure, any remaining damaged teeth will likely need to be extracted. Your dentist will also determine the health and strength of your jaw to determine if your jaw can support the surgery.
- During the implant installation, you’ll be under anesthesia. Your dentist will install 4 titanium implants spaced evenly through the bone of your jaw.
- After these posts are installed, a temporary set of teeth will be affixed to the posts. These let you eat and speak normally while the titanium begins fusing with the bone. This can take anywhere between 3 and 6 months. During this time, follow any and all recommendations from your dentist.
- After the bone has fully fused, your temporary teeth will be removed. The permanent teeth will be installed to replace them.
- After the permanent teeth are installed, your dentist will schedule regular follow-up appointments to monitor your recovery.
Then, you’ll have your fully artificial new smile that looks and feels just like your natural teeth.
How Long Do Dental Implants Last?
Once your implants are installed, it’s crucial to begin caring for them just like your natural teeth. While they’re considered a permanent solution, implants aren’t indestructible. With proper care, they can last up to 10 years.
When caring for dental implants, it helps to:
- Brush twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush
- Use a non-abrasive toothpaste
- Floss daily to remove plaque
- Avoid using your teeth as tools
- Avoid smoking and chewing tobacco
- Limit your intake of sugary foods and drinks
And don’t forget to regularly visit your dentist for checkups, cleanings, and exams. This way, you can properly care for your implants with up-to-date advice from an experienced dental professional.
Are Dental Implants Right for You?
If you have a missing or damaged tooth, reach out to our team at Ti Dental. We can examine the area to determine if a dental implant is right for you, or if another solution may be more ideal. We’re here to help restore your smile, so request an appointment with us today!
