Millions of American adults struggle with tooth loss. There are a number of potential causes. Regardless of the cause of your missing teeth, it is crucial to replace them with an aesthetic and functional restoration. The All-on-4® option allows for the replacement of an entire row of teeth with as little as four implants.

One of the most convenient and affordable options to address significant tooth loss is with All-On-4® dental implants. At Mercer Island Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, this is a service that we are happy to provide for our patients. We welcome you to reach out for more information or to inquire whether All-on-4® is the right option for you.

What Are All-on-4® Dental Implants?

To understand what All-on-4® implants are, it may first be helpful to understand dental implants in general.

A dental implant is essentially a metal screw, which is designed to serve as an artificial root. Each implant is secured in your jaw, where it fuses with the bone to ensure long-term stability. Following this fusion, artificial teeth are placed onto the implant; these prosthetics might be crowns, bridges, or even complete dentures.

What Sets All-on-4®?

This brings us to All-on-4®, which is a sophisticated variant of traditional implants. The beauty of All-on-4® is that, with this method, you do not need an individual implant for each tooth you hope to replace. Instead, All-on-4®works with as little as four precisely-placed implants at the top of the mouth and/or four precisely-placed implants on the bottom. Full dental arches are then placed onto these implants, which means you can restore your entire smile with minimal surgical intervention.

All-on-4® can often be the most affordable and convenient way to restore missing teeth.

What are the Benefits of All-on-4® Dental Implants?

There are a number of reasons why patients at Mercer Island Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery choose All-on-4®. A few benefits you can anticipate include:

Fast, Full Results

The main reason to choose All-on-4® implants is that you can completely restore all of your missing teeth, getting a healthy and fully-functional smile with a relatively small investment of time. In many cases any remaining teeth can be removed, implants placed and a new set of teeth delivered all in one day!

Improved Aesthetics

All-on-4® implants can give you a beautiful smile full of natural-looking teeth. Not only that, but they help prevent further tissue deterioration.

Single Surgery

Traditional implants require multiple surgeries, especially if any tooth extractions are required beforehand. However, with All-on-4®, you often only need one. This saves you time, abbreviates your recovery period, and it minimizes both your cost and your surgical risk.

Am I a Good Candidate for All-on-4®?

Not every patient is well-qualified for All-on-4® implants. The main thing to keep in mind is that All-on-4® is generally used to replace a full arch of teeth; that is, all upper or all lower teeth. For those with significant tooth loss, All-on-4® can be ideal. For those who are only missing a couple of teeth, another option may be best.

All-on-4®: The Process

For those who are considering All-on-4® implants, it is only natural to experience some uncertainties about the procedure. One of the best ways to enjoy peace of mind is to know a little bit more about what it involves.

Consultation

The first step in the process is meeting with Dr. Streelman for a consultation. During this one-on-one meeting, our board-certified oral surgeon will perform a physical evaluation of your mouth and may collect X-rays or other images. Dr. Streelman will walk you through the different options for tooth replacement and answer any questions you might have.

Surgery

With All-on-4® implants, you can often have both the implants and the replacement teeth placed at the same time. This surgery usually lasts around 2 to 4 hours and is performed while you are sedated, ensuring there is no pain or discomfort.

Recovery

Finally, you will need to devote three to six months for your implants to fully heal. The first few days may be characterized by some soreness and swelling, as well as restricted diet, but the bulk of the discomfort will subside within the first week. During the recovery period, you will have several follow-up appointment simply to verify that the implants are healing the way they are supposed to.

Does Dental Implant Surgery Hurt?

One of the most common questions we get about All-on-4® implants is whether or not the experience is painful. Please rest assured that our in-house anesthesiologist, Dr. Michelle Modad, is able to offer sedation to keep you comfortable during the procedure. Following the surgery, you may experience some soreness, but this can be managed with either prescription painkillers or over-the-counter remedies.

Will Insurance Cover the Cost of All-on-4®?

Another common question we hear from our patients: will dental insurance help cover the cost of All-on-4®? This can vary from plan to plan and we will work with your insurance company to verify if this is a covered procedure.

All-on-4® Implant Aftercare

Following your surgery, you will need to stick with soft and bland foods until your oral surgeon clears you to resume normal eating. Also, be aware that it is important to brush and floss consistently and to stay current with routine dental check ups in order to take care of your replacement teeth. With the right maintenance, your implants should serve you well for many years.

Get All-on-4® Dental Implants in Mercer Island, WA

To learn more about your eligibility for this treatment, reach out to Mercer Island Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at your next opportunity. We offer All-on-4® to patients from the Mercer Island, Bellevue, and Issaquah communities.