Tooth loss can negatively affect both your professional and social lives. This may in turn reduce your quality of life. With the many treatment options available, knowing the one that will work best for you can be difficult. Today, All-on-4 is a popular treatment option for replacing a full arch of missing teeth. In addition to the numerous advantages associated with the procedure, All-on-4 can also improve your quality of life.
Here's how.
THE ALL-ON-4 IMPLANT TREATMENT
To understand the benefits of this procedure and how it can help improve your quality of life, it is important to know what the treatment plan entails. All-on-4 is a dental implant technique that uses full-arch prosthesis to replace an entire row of missing teeth. The arch is held in place by just four strategically-placed implants. The implants are surgically placed into your jaw to provide a firm and solid foundation for the dental bridge.
Unlike traditional dental implants, you will not have to replace each missing tooth individually. The permanent set of prefabricated teeth will feel, look and function like your natural teeth. You may be a good candidate for All-on-4 if:
• You have lost multiple teeth due to injury or tooth decay
• You have advanced gum disease
• You are in good enough health to undergo surgery
• You are committed to treatment
HOW ALL-ON-4 CAN IMPROVE YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE
Before choosing All-on-4 restorations, it is important to understand the benefits of this procedure. Below are some ways the dental implant technique can improve your quality of life.
YOU CAN EAT WITHOUT LIMITATIONS
When you have damaged, decayed or missing teeth, you may experience limitations in what you can eat. Similarly, there are certain types of food you will want to avoid eating when wearing traditional dentures. These include sticky foods, hard foods and tough meats.
With All-on-4, you will have fully-functioning set of teeth, effectively allowing you to eat what you want without reservations. This will not only enable you to enjoy a variety of foods but also eat a healthy diet with more ease.
YOU WILL HAVE NORMAL BITE FORCE
Tooth loss can significantly compromise your bite force. When this happens, your remaining natural teeth will be working harder to break off bites of food. A full-arch implant will help to restore chewing function and ensure you have normal bite force. After the procedure, you will be able to bite into and chew through tough foods that you were not able to eat previously.
YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SMILE BIG
Missing teeth affect many aspects of your smile. Losing multiple teeth will leave a gap in your smile and affect your facial features. Full-arch restoration will not only replace your missing teeth but also help in retaining the bone that keeps your facial structure from collapsing. This will go a long way in enabling you to maintain your youthful appearance. In addition, you will be able to reveal your teeth and show off your smile without worry.
IMPROVES CONFIDENCE
How you feel about your teeth can affect your confidence. Fortunately, All-on-4 provides you with natural-looking and natural-functioning teeth. Since the artificial teeth mimic your natural teeth, people will not know you have them unless you tell them. You will have a consistent appearance and a beautiful smile. This means that you can talk, smile, laugh and eat with more confidence.
IMPROVED ORAL HEALTH
Getting a full-arch restoration can contribute to improved oral health. The implants are fixed directly to the jawbone, something that helps to provide strength to the area and retain bone mass. As such, this treatment plan is effective in preventing bone loss and degradation.
In addition, All-on-4 teeth and implants are easy to care for. To ensure the teeth stay clean and healthy, all you need to do is keep up with the normal oral care habits. This helps to save time and contributes to better dental hygiene.
ELIMINATING HEALTH PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH FAILING TEETH
If not restored, failing and missing teeth can lead to a host of other health conditions. The dental problems increase the risk of periodontal disease. Periodontal disease has in turn been linked to other serious health issues such as:
• Diabetes
• Heart attacks
• Strokes
• Alzheimer's disease
• Cancer
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Chronic kidney disease
By replacing missing teeth, All-on-4 restores your mouth to a more natural state. This helps to overcome periodontal disease, something that goes a long way in maintaining your general health and quality of life.
GREATER COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE
Even with proper care, other tooth replacement options will need to be replaced after some time. For instance, traditional dentures may become loose and uncomfortable as the underlying bone structure changes over time. However, with All-on-4, your teeth are restored for life since the prosthetic teeth are securely fastened. The long-term stability of the implants ensures great comfort and convenience.
INCREASED SATISFACTION WITH SOCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
Studies show that All-on-4 implants have a 98 percent success rate over a five year period. Considering the different ways that a full-arch restoration of teeth can improve your quality of life, this treatment option will help you deal with the social discomfort associated with tooth loss. This will make it easier for you to interact with others. In the end, you are likely to enjoy increased satisfaction with your social and professional relationships.
OTHER BENEFITS OF ALL-ON-4
In addition to helping improve your quality of life, full-arch restoration will offer you many other advantages. Here is why you may want to consider this tooth replacement solution.
• Quick procedure: Oftentimes, this procedure will require only one visit to the dental office. Also, you will experience minimal discomfort during the procedure and get immediate results.
• Quicker healing time: Compared to traditional implants, healing time is significantly reduced when you opt for All-on-4. This allows you to resume your normal activities faster.
• An affordable dental restoration option: Because fewer implants are required and the application process is shorter, All-on-4 is generally a more cost-effective tooth replacement solution.
• Reduced need for bone grafting: Your oral surgeon will use only the existing bone, meaning the need for bone grafting is reduced. This helps to save you time and money.
• Easy to maintain: Provided you maintain the recommended dental hygiene routine and go for dental check-ups regularly, you will be able to keep your mouth healthy.
Are you looking for a solution for missing teeth? North Shore Smile Surgery can help. Dr. Scott Frank is a skilled, experienced and passionate oral surgeon specializing in the All-on-4 treatment concept. Visit our website today to schedule an appointment and start your smile transformation journey.
