All-on-4

The term “All-on-4” refers to a specific pattern of dental implant placement to facilitate placement of non-removable prosthesis that restore all the teeth, in either the upper or lower jaw. This type of prosthesis is made when there are no teeth remaining (edentulous jaw) or when it is necessary to remove all remaining teeth and the patient prefers a non-removable prosthesis in comparison to a removable denture or implant-supported denture.

Bio-engineering studies subsequently demonstrated that 4-6 dental implants placed in an edentulous jaw provided sufficient stability to support the reconstructed dental arch. Adding more than six dental implants did not significantly increase the strength or longevity of the restored teeth. 

The good news for patients who have lost or will soon lose all the teeth in one or both jaws, is that full dental arch reconstruction can now be done much more cost effectively and comfortably than in the past. These complex dental reconstruction cases are computer planned and executed such that a patient can go to sleep in the office setting, have all the diseased teeth removed, the bone of the jaw modified, dental implants placed in one procedure.

This treatment is most often followed by the placement of a temporary teeth restoration that is connected to the implants, usually the same day as implant placement. The patient wears the temporary teeth for a period of 6 months, at which time the dental implants are fully integrated into the jaw, and a final, permanent dental restoration is then placed. The patient visits with their restorative dentist on a regular basis to have the dental restoration monitored and maintained.