Decisions, decisions. For patients with missing teeth, it may seem easier to solve a Rubik’s cube than choose among the different treatment options now available—from removable dentures and traditional implants to a fairly new procedure called All-On-Four dental implants. To help you solve the puzzle of which treatment option may be right for you, here’s a handy checklist of how All-on-Four dental implants differ from dentures and traditional implants.
Dentures
A denture is a removable replacement for missing teeth that come in two varieties—complete or partial—depending on whether all the teeth are missing or whether some natural teeth remain.
In comparison to dentures, All-On-Four dental implants are:
- Permanent teeth that look and feel like natural teeth
- Stable, allowing you to bite with increased force into all your favorite foods—from a crisp apple to buttery corn on the cob
- Anchored in the mouth, so they don’t pinch, slip, create mouth sores or trap food underneath
- Support to a full dental bridge that’s fixed in your mouth—requiring no nightly removal and cleaning or messy, sticky adhesives
Dental Implants
Dental implants are replacement tooth roots that serve as a strong anchor for fixed (permanent) or removable replacement teeth made to match your natural teeth.
In comparison to traditional implants, All-On-Four dental implants:
- Use only four implants to replace all teeth in an upper arch, while traditional implants use anywhere from five to eight implants in one arch
- Typically require no bone grafting, a process that can take six months or more following the oral surgery
The oral surgeons at Oral & Facial Surgeons of Arizona are all All-On-Four specialists, as well as experts in other more traditional treatments that may be a viable option as well. To learn more about what treatment is right for you, give our office a call to schedule a consultation with an oral surgeon, who can evaluate your condition, make a custom diagnosis and help you select the best treatment option for you.