If you have bad teeth, the best option for a full mouth rehabilitation might be to pull all of your teeth and get dentures. Although you may not like the idea of wearing dentures, you may find they're not so bad when they are attached securely to implants. Implant dentures are often put in with a procedure called the all-on-4 implant. Here's a look at how implant dentures can benefit you and how the procedure is done.
The Benefits Of Implant Dentures
If your natural teeth are decayed, you may suffer with frequent toothaches and infections. You may be limited on the types of food you can eat so you don't break off weak teeth or cause dental pain. When you have dentures, you'll have a full set of teeth again so your smile is improved.
When the dentures are held in place with implants, it's almost as good as having healthy, natural teeth. The implants fuse to your bone so the dentures are held tight in your mouth. This prevents slipping when you speak and bite into food. You'll be able to eat a normal diet when you have implant dentures, and that can help your overall health.
The Advantages Of The All-On-4 Procedure
Normally, when you have dental implants, you get one implant for each tooth since the implant acts as a replacement root. However, when you get dentures for your implants, you won't need an implant for each tooth. Instead, the full plate can be worn on just four implants. There are usually two in the front and two in the back evenly spaced to absorb the pressure of biting and chewing.
The advantages of the all-on-4 procedure are that the process is completed quicker, you need fewer implants, and much of the work can be completed in one visit. You can often bypass the need for a bone graft since your dentist can find an ideal spot for each of the implants and avoid areas of thin bone.
The Process Of Getting All-On-4 Implants
If you still have your natural teeth, your dentist will need to remove them before putting in the implants. It may also be necessary to remove infected tissue in your gums. Your dentist might do this on the same day that you get your implants. You'll have an anesthetic, and your dentist might recommend a general anesthetic so you can sleep through the long procedure. However, it may be possible to have implants put in with a local anesthetic instead.
The implants are small rods the dentist screws into your jawbone. Your new dentures will snap on the implants so you can remove your dentures to clean them well and to soak them while you sleep. You may get temporary dentures at first until your permanent ones can be made in a lab.
You'll probably have bleeding for several hours after the procedure, and some swelling can be expected too. Recovery is usually fairly fast, but you'll need to protect your gums so you don't cause bleeding to start again. Do this by avoiding smoking and strenuous activity until your dentist says it's okay.
Once your gums have healed and you start wearing your implant dentures daily, it may take some time to get used to having them in your mouth. However, it doesn't take long to adapt and you'll be able to enjoy eating without dental pain. Plus, you won't have to feel self-conscious about your smile any longer since you'll have a full set of white and attractive teeth that boost your self-confidence at work and in your social life.
Share29 September 2018
Halloween is a holiday that my children love, and telling them they can't go door-to-door collecting candy would break their hearts. This led me to allowing them to collect candy on the holiday, then rationing it out to them every day instead of letting them gobble it up in just a few days. I always thought this was better for them, but my dentist told me this could be the reason why their February dental check-ups were always their worst ones. Daily candy consumption was taking a toll on their teeth. I started a new tradition of letting them indulge for two days, then giving them the option to swap the rest with me in exchange for a new toy. They never pass on the opportunity for a new toy. I created this blog to encourage other parents find similar tactics to keep their children's teeth healthy after Halloween.