If you’re one of the estimated 178 million Americans who are missing one or more teeth, life can be complicated. When you least expect it, you may be struck by one of life’s most awkward moments. There you are, at a business lunch or dinner date, wondering whether you dare bite into the hard bread crust the waitress just brought to the table. You’ve been living with a secret for years—that you wear a full or partial set of dentures—and you don’t want to blow your cover now.
To make matters worse, if you’ve traded your original teeth for a full or partial set of dentures, simply maintaining your usual, healthy diet can come with a unique set of challenges. It can take up to six months after getting a new set of dentures to learn how to eat all your favorite foods again. You’ll likely discover that you’ll need to give up your favorite foods that require biting with the front teeth, such as corn on the cob or a hard whole apple.
Wearing a full or partial set of dentures can take a toll on your self-esteem and self-confidence. After all, who wants to stand up and give a presentation at work, knowing dentures cause you to make a hissing or whistling sound while you speak?
If these scenarios sound familiar, here’s some good news: All-on-4® dental implants can improve your quality of life. Here are three ways:
1. A dental implant acts like your own natural tooth root, so you won’t be able to feel the difference—even when biting down on hard bread crust.
2. All-on-4 dental implants can restore your confidence in your looks because you’ll have a row of perfect pearly whites that look just like natural teeth. Without implants to help you maintain your natural bone, over the years you may notice bone loss. Significant bone loss can shrink the contours of your jawbone, causing wrinkled lips and a sunken mouth and chin.
3. All-on-4 dental implants can save you time—and money. The procedure is often called Teeth in a Day because the procedure does not require multiple appointments. There’s a cost savings as well—All-on-4 implants require only four implants per jaw, versus as many as 10 implants per jaw using older techniques.