All-On-4

All-On-4®

What is All-on-4 ®?

The All-on-4® treatment concept is a trademarked full arch (top jaw or bottom jaw) rehabilitation treatment concept by Nobel Biocare and refers to a procedure where patients receive just four or more implants and a full set of new replacement teeth within a day.

The treatment has had high uptake in Australia due to excellent marketing, however it is not as successful as traditional vertical implants and was designed to avoid the step of having to do sinus lift and bone grafting which would increase the overall treatment time.

Dr John Webster has completed advanced training in the All-on-Four ® treatment protocol including the placement of zygomatic implants to facilitate the four implants required for the treatment concept to be stable with cross-arch stabilisation.
Mother and Daughter taking a photo
Photo of a mouth with implants
However instead of just marketing the Nobel Biocare brand of All-on-Four ®, at the Oral Facial and Implant Centre, Dr John Webster will guide you on the best custom treatment that offers you the most predictable outcome with a long-lasting result.

How can All-on-4® treatment be done in a day?

The teeth that are fitted on the same day are a temporary option that are screwed as one long bridge to the newly placed four implants. The implants are tilted at an angle to take maximum advantage of existing bone, reducing the need for bone grafting. The real appeal is how quickly permanent implants can be placed so that patients can leave the same day with fixed non removable replacement teeth. With this increased speed desired by patients for same day treatment there is a slight trade-off with less long-term success being a few percentage points less than traditional implants.

After 3-6 months when the implants have healed and integrated into the bone, a permanent bridge will be custom made and fitted to the four implants and this is the final prosthesis you will hopefully have for a lifetime.

What other options are there to All-on-4®?

All-on-Four® refers to one brand. Other brands such as Southern Implants, Neoss and MIS have full arch rehabilitation treatment plans all with slight advantages and disadvantages so it is important when discussing All-on-4® that Dr John Webster also discuss with you the other options you have to achieve teeth in a day.

The other option many people have tried before presenting for initial consultation regarding All-on-4® treatment is traditional dentures. Once you have tried a denture you will quickly become familiar with the limitations of what you can eat, how the dentures slips and slides when talking and eating, how it can irritate the gums and how over time it becomes loose and hard to keep clean. The problem with dentures from a Specialist Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon perspective is that dentures put downward pressure on the bone and they hasten and stimulate resorption of this bone that use to surround your teeth. This is why dentures over time lose their fit and begin to get loose.

Dentures also wear out, need to be replaced and have a cost on quality of life with people with dentures may find it difficult to eat raw fruits and vegetables and foods that require a lot of chewing. Denture wearers often have less fibre intake which can affect digestive tract, bowel cancer rates and overall health and well-being.

At the Oral Facial & Implant Centre we believe each denture wearer should factor these health costs and replacement costs when comparing to the higher initial financial investment required for fixed teeth solution like All-on-4®. The longer you wait to decide for implant and fixed treatment options the more bone that resorbs away from the jaws and can increase the need for more costly grafting procedures.
A male smiling

What are the benefits of All-on-4® and similar treatment protocols?

  • Chew food like you have your own teeth
  • No more moving dentures – the teeth are fixed in place
  • Less invasive as required less bone grafting procedures
  • Fixed teeth/bridges are less irritating to the mucosa
  • Improved speech, confidence and smile design
From bone grafting to complete aesthetic zone anterior dental implants our Toowoomba Oral Facial & Implant Centre provides the best in prompt and expert specialist care. If you would like to know how we can help you further, or to book a no obligation dental implant consultation please phone 07 4580 4733 or alternatively request an appointment now online.
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