There are millions of Americans that are missing most or all of their teeth. There are several options for replacing missing teeth, including:
Many patients choose dentures or bridges because they are the most affordable. Some patients choose dental implants because they want a more permanent solution- but implants can be expensive.
ZircTeeth offers a hybrid solution: All-on-4 dental implants. This combines the affordability of dentures with the security of dental implants. In this article, we'll explain more about the All-on-4 system, including the cost.
Dental implants are considered the "gold standard" of tooth replacement. They look, feel, and function more like natural teeth than other tooth replacement options. A dental implant consists of three parts:
Dental prosthesis: a crown for a single-tooth implant, or can be a full arch for those who are missing all of their teeth on the top or bottom.
All-on-4 dental implants are a revolutionary, comfortable, aesthetically-pleasing system of replacing a full arch of missing teeth with only 4 dental implants. Two are placed in the front and two in the back of the jaw. The two that are in the back are angled at 45°, which provides the stability required for normal bite force.
All-on-4 dental implants offer several benefits:
Dental restorations such as dentures and bridges often look artificial, and if they are removable, often slip and slide around in the mouth. However, All-on-4 dental implants uses dental implants to secure the prosthesis in place. This creates a restoration that looks, feels, and functions more like natural teeth.
When you are missing most or all of your teeth, activities such as speaking and eating can be challenging. While dentures and dental bridges can help, there are still certain foods that should be avoided and certain words that you may struggle to pronounce. All-on-4 dental implants are secured to the jaw, so you don't have to worry about them slipping around. This means that you can eat what you like and you shouldn't have any trouble speaking clearly. However, it is important to note that you do have an adjustment period.
Dental implant placement is a surgical procedure. However, depending on your situation, it might not be as intense as you expect. In many cases, All-on-4 is referred to as "teeth in a day" because you can leave the clinic with a full set of teeth on the same day as implant placement. You will need to come back after osseointegration to have the permanent prosthetic placed, but by providing you with a temporary prosthetic, you can get back to your normal routine quicker. You will need to be careful and stick to softer foods during the healing process to avoid causing the implants to shift.
You may not give much thought to how much your teeth affect your confidence until you lose them. When you replace your missing teeth with a dental restoration that looks, feels, and functions like your natural teeth, you'll see an improvement in your self-esteem.
The cost of All-on-4 dental implants ranges from around $12,000 to $25,000 per arch, or $24,000 to $50,000. There are several factors that impact the cost of All-on-4 dental implants:
Some dental insurance providers will cover a portion of treatment, while others consider dental implants a cosmetic solution. Our office staff will work with your provider to determine coverage. If you do not have insurance or your coverage is inadequate, we offer financing options to help.
All-on-4 is usually recommended for patients who are missing all teeth on one or both arches. This is because it is more cost-effective than replacing each tooth with a single dental implant and looks, feels, and functions more naturally than dentures. This may also be recommended for those who have been wearing dentures for some time and are looking for a more stable solution.
Typically, only patients with adequate healthy jawbones qualify for dental implants- but with All-on-4, some jawbone loss may be acceptable. In fact, some patients require jawbone reduction to create space for the prosthesis.
Recovery from dental implant placement can take several months to a year because there are several steps involved. However, recovery is much easier with All-on-4 because the artificial teeth can be placed on the same day as the dental implants. This allows patients to get back to their normal habits in about a week, as opposed to waiting for several months.
However, it is important to note that you should still be careful what you eat because you can cause the implants to shift if you eat foods that are too hard, crunchy, chewy, or tough. The team at ZircTeeth can help you understand what you should expect during the entire process.
If you think you might qualify for All-on-4, schedule your consultation with Dr. Eskandar and the team at ZircTeeth today. We will perform a comprehensive exam with imaging and determine the best way to restore your smile. We have three convenient locations to choose from: Manchester, Boston, and Malden.
