Proper oral care habits offer many benefits including keeping your teeth healthy and strong for life. Unfortunately for some patients, no matter how vigilant they are with oral care, they have dental problems that lead to tooth loss. Tooth loss is one of the most prevalent dental issues among adults, making tooth replacement procedures common. There are lots of options depending on how many teeth you are missing. The most common replacement for patients who are missing most or all of their teeth is conventional dentures due to the cost. Unfortunately, this option also has many disadvantages. The ideal option is dental implants because they look, feel, and function like natural teeth. However, they are expensive. All on 4 dental implants are the modern tooth replacement option. This is a hybrid solution that combines the affordability of conventional dentures with the stability of dental implants. Here is what you need to know about All on 4 dental implants at Tamarack Hills Family Dentistry.
Why Choose Tamarack Hills Family Dentistry In Woodbury, MN For All On 4 Dental Implants
Dr. Avi Matha has undergone extensive training in a variety of areas including cosmetic dentistry, dental implants, and more. He is also a Fellow and a Diplomate of the International Dental Implant Association. He has the experience and expertise required to ensure a successful dental implant procedure.
Who Is the Right Candidate for All On 4 Dental Implants?
All on 4 dental implants are a full-mouth tooth replacement solution. Therefore, only patients who are missing most or all of their teeth will be considered. However, there are a few requirements:
- The patient must be over the age of 18+ there is no upper age limit
- Patients must be free of health issues such as uncontrolled diabetes and heart disease
- Patients must be free of oral health issues such as gum disease.
- The patient must have an adequate jawbone or be healthy enough to undergo bone grafting procedures
Average Cost Of All on 4 Dental Implants in Woodbury, MN
The average All on 4 dental implant cost is around $12,000 per arch and $25,000 for both. This cost only covers the cost of the implants, overdenture, and surgery. This does not take into consideration the cost of imaging, sedation requirements, and additional procedures.
Your final cost depends on several factors:
- Material used for the restoration (porcelain or composite resin)
- Experience/expertise of the dentist performing the surgery
- Any additional procedures required
- Location of the dental clinic
- Dental insurance coverage
While this is significantly higher than the cost of conventional dentures, which is around $1,000 to $3,000 per arch, it is much less expensive than a full-mouth restoration, which can cost an average of $60,000 or more.
Dental insurance providers cover many dental procedures. Some of them cover the All on 4 procedure, some do not. Our office staff will work with your provider to determine your coverage limits and we will work hard to ensure that you maximize your benefits.
If your provider does not cover this procedure or if you do not have dental insurance, we offer financing options to help you pay for your treatments. This will allow you to break the fee up into smaller, more budget-friendly payments.
All on 4 Dental Implants Step-by-Step
All on 4 dental implants are also referred to as “teeth in a day”, which means that placement of the implant and overdenture can be completed in a single appointment.
Here’s what to expect with All on 4 dental implants step-by-step:
The first step to any consultation at Tamarack Hills Family Dentistry is the initial consultation. This will help us determine if you are a candidate for All on 4 dental implants.
If it is determined that you qualify pending completion of preliminary procedures, those will be scheduled first. Once you can undergo the implant placement surgery, that will be scheduled.
The dentist will start by making an incision in your gum and drilling a hole in the jawbone for the implant screw. The implant screw will be placed. The incision will be closed, leaving the implant screw exposed enough to attach the abutment and then the overdenture. This will allow you to leave the clinic with a full set of teeth.
Before the abutment and overdenture are placed, the dentist will make an impression on your mouth. This will be sent to the dental lab to fabricate your overdenture. You will also choose your preferred tooth color and material.
It is important to note that this set of teeth is temporary. You will need to return in a few months after the jawbone has fused with the implant screws to get your permanent overdenture. The healing process usually takes about 6 months but may take less or more depending on your body’s ability to heal.
Advantages & Disadvantages of All On 4 Dental Implants
When considering a dental procedure, it’s important to take the time to weigh the advantages and disadvantages.
The advantages of All on 4 dental implants include the following:
- Easy healing
- Can be maintained like natural teeth
- Fewer food restrictions
- Improved speaking ability
- Quick, effective results
- Support jawbone health
- Improves confidence
The disadvantages of All on 4 dental implants include the following:
- Cost more than conventional dentures
- Discomfort immediately following the procedure and during healing
- Risk of implant failure
Aftercare and Maintenance
All-on-4 dental implants do not require any special considerations for care and maintenance. They should be cared for like natural teeth. However, you will need to stick to a soft food diet as much as possible while healing to prevent causing the implants to shift.
If you are a smoker, it’s a good idea to quit, especially while you are healing, for best results. This is because smoking has been proven to slow down healing time and increase the risk of complications.
All on 4 Dental Implants Before and After
Tooth loss can cause many oral and overall health issues. One of the primary issues is the inability to bite/chew food, which can ultimately lead to malnutrition because it’s harder to eat healthy foods.
If left untreated, a single missing tooth can lead to additional tooth loss because the jawbone will begin to deteriorate in that area.
Another issue is difficulty speaking because the airflow changes due to the spaces left by missing teeth which also impacts confidence. Many times, when people are missing teeth, they isolate themselves because they are embarrassed.
All-on-4 dental implants are the most cost-effective way to replace missing teeth while supporting jawbone health and a natural appearance.
Visit Tamarack Hills Family Dentistry In Woodbury, MN Today
Tooth loss is a common problem that impacts a major portion of the adult population in the United States. Many of these patients are missing most or all of their natural teeth, which causes a variety of oral and overall health problems, including malnutrition due to the inability to bite/chew healthy foods.
If you are missing teeth and are interested in exploring your replacement options, schedule your consultation with Dr. Matha at Tamarack Hills Family Dentistry. He has undergone extensive training in using dental implants to replace missing teeth.
We are located at 707 Bielenberg Drive, Suite 101 in Woodbury. Our office hours are Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
FAQs On All on 4 Implants
If you have any questions or concerns about All-on-4 dental implants or our other tooth replacement solutions, Dr. Matha will be happy to discuss those with you. Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about this procedure.
All on 4 dental implants is a hybrid tooth replacement solution designed to replace a full arch of missing teeth with 4 dental implants. The implants are strategically placed in the jaw, with 2 in the front and 2 in the rear. The placement of the implants supports a greater bite/chewing force than other tooth replacement options.
The implants themselves are designed to last a lifetime with proper care and maintenance. Typically, the overdenture will wear out over time, lasting an average of about 20 years. However, this depends on your oral care habits. In some patients, the overdenture wore out after about 5 years, while others lasted about 40 years.
All-on-4 is designed to replace an entire arch of missing teeth, usually about 10 to 14 teeth.
Yes, you can eat normally with All-on-4 dental implants. However, you will need to exercise caution when eating during the healing phase. While you will have a full set of teeth, you will still need to be careful and stick with soft foods to avoid causing the implants to shift.
If you still have some remaining natural teeth, those will need to be extracted before implant placement. In some cases, this can all be done on the same day, depending on the condition of your jawbone. If the remaining natural teeth are healthy, the dentist may make other recommendations.
All-on-4 and All-on-6 both do the same thing- replace an entire arch with a few dental implants. The biggest difference is the number of implants used. All-on-4 uses 4 and All-on-6 uses 6. Some dental professionals believe that All-on-6 is better because it offers a stronger bite force.
The average cost of All-on-4 dental implants ranges from around $12,000 to $25,000, which means you can pay up to $50,000 for a full-mouth restoration. In some cases, dental insurance may cover a portion of treatment. However, this is not guaranteed. Our office staff will work with your dental provider to determine coverage. If you do not have insurance or do not cover treatment, we offer financing options to help you pay for your treatment.
Dental implants have a 95% success rate, which means a 5% failure rate. In some cases, failure happens because the dentist placing the implants was inexperienced and/or places them improperly. Sometimes, failure is due to a lack of adequate jawbone density. Finally, implant failure may be the result of improper oral hygiene practices.
Schedule Your Appointment Today
If you have mild to moderate dental malocclusion, schedule your consultation with Dr. Matha at Tamarack Hills Family Dentistry today. Dr. Matha understands the importance of good oral health. We offer a variety of dental services for the entire family from pediatrics to seniors using the latest in dental technology, as well as a compassionate, gentle touch.
We are located on Bielenberg Drive in Woodbury, Minnesota. Our office hours are Monday through Thursday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.