Do you hold back from smiling in public? Do you lack the freedom to eat all of the foods you once enjoyed? A mouth full of broken, missing, or unhealthy teeth can negatively affect many aspects of life, including eating, talking, and overall confidence. In the last decade or so, full dental implants have become an ideal solution for the majority of people who need to have unhealthy teeth replaced, or are tired of struggling with inconvenient and irritating dentures. For those who need to gain control of their dental health and recover the self-esteem and freedom to smile, a technique called the All-on-4® allows patients to replace all of their missing teeth with dental implants in only one appointment.
What are the All-ON-4® Implants
The All-on-4® Dental Implants is a method of full teeth replacement that can be completed in a single day, using just 4 implants per arch. Patients arrive on the morning of the procedure, and leave our Miami office in the afternoon with a beautiful set of new teeth, ready to smile, laugh, and eat.
All-on-4® Implants are non-removable dental implants that look and feel like normal teeth. Most patients do not require bone grafting, and the technique can even be used on many patients with bone loss from gum disease. This is because the All-on-4® Implants technique maximizes the use of available bone, allowing for almost any patient requiring a new set of teeth to be eligible for full dental implant surgery in Miami. The patient response to All-on-4® Implants has been overwhelmingly positive.
* Each patient is unique and individual results may vary.
All-ON-4® Implants vs Dentures
All-on-4® Implants are superior to dentures in almost every way. Instead of being secured with adhesives (which can be difficult to apply and are often unreliable), dental implants are secured to the jaw bone within the gum, making them a permanent, strong, and reliable full teeth replacement. All-on-4® Implants look and feel more like normal teeth, and they even help preserve the bone by replacing some of the tooth root, which provides vital support that can help preserve facial structures.
Full dental implants are much more convenient than dentures, avoiding many of the annoying issues that removable false teeth are prone to. Dentures can rub and chafe the gums over time, causing sores and irritation. Should the dentures slip and move around, speaking and eating can be uncomfortable and embarrassing. Because All-on-4® Implants are just like natural teeth, care involves only simple brushing and is designed to be permanent, while dentures will eventually need to be replaced. While implants are more expensive than dentures, they are well worth the cost, and are a one-time expense that can greatly improve overall quality of life.
All-ON-4® Implants Technique
Dr. Gallardo is among only a few dentists in South Florida to offer sedation dentistry, and his experience and expertise will give you peace of mind that you will get great results from your All-on-4® Implants in Miami.
The surgery itself can take several hours, but the All-on-4® Implants procedure can be completed in just one appointment. The revolutionary concept of the method is using the dense bone in the jaw to secure just 4 implants to each arch (upper and/or lower teeth), making the surgery appropriate for even many patients with bone loss. These implants are strong enough to secure large dental bridges that are non-removable, comfortable, and look just like normal teeth. Older methods involved 6 or 8 (or more) on each arch to secure the teeth, which was more expensive, time-consuming, and uncomfortable.
Depending on your needs, you may be able to undergo different types on anesthesia, including IV conscious sedation, orally administered sedation, or inhalation conscious sedation (nitrous oxide/laughing gas). These anesthesia options will allow you to remain calm and comfortable throughout the procedure, especially if you have significant anxiety about dental work.
Once the anesthesia has been administered, the surgery can begin. During the procedure, implants are placed strategically at a specific angle, which lends more support to the teeth and avoids the sinus cavities and alveolar nerve. Using this method, not only can the teeth be secured in one day, but avoiding the need for painful bone grafting reduces the healing time greatly.
Recovery of All-ON-4® Implants
Naturally, there will be some healing time required, but this recovery period is much shorter with All-on-4® Implants than with other implant methods, thanks to fact that the teeth are connected directly to the implants the same day, thus not sitting on the surgical side. Our surgical techniques, superior anesthesia options, and use of plasma growth factors, make this procedure a comfortable experience for our patients.
Following healing from the All-on-4® Implants procedure, many of the extra steps involved with caring for dentures are eliminated. This is because full dental implants look, feel, and are cared for just like natural teeth. Instead of removing the teeth every night, implants only require regular brushing, flossing, and cleanings at the dentist. Many patients are advised to use oral irrigators and stimulators as an additional step in keeping the gums and implants clean and healthy. You will be given specific care instructions following your procedure.
How Much Are Dental Implants?
As with any procedure, the costs will vary depending on a number of different factors. If you are interested in the dental implant procedure, call our Miami office to schedule a consultation. During your consultation, you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the procedure itself, costs, and financing options to help you achieve a beautiful new smile.