If you currently have dentures or need dentures, you might want to consider looking into the all-on-4 dental implant system. This system is designed to replace an entire arch (either the upper or the lower) with the use of only four dental implants. A normal arch has 14 teeth in it, but you will not need to have 14 implants put in to get this system. Here are several things to understand about the all-on-4 system.
It uses only four implants
A dental implant actually refers to a small device that is inserted into the jawbone to support an artificial tooth, and it is considered a permanent tooth replacement option. When a person is missing just one tooth, one dental implant can be used to replace the missing tooth. If you are missing all the teeth on your upper or lower arch, a dentist can replace all the teeth on this arch by only inserting four actual implants in your mouth. These four implants are strategically placed in the right areas so that they can permanently hold all 14 artificial teeth.
Why this system is used
When a person is missing all the teeth on an entire arch, it would not make sense to put in 14 separate implants. In fact, this is not even possible or feasible. Over the years, dentists have found that just one implant can hold several artificial teeth in place, and that is how they came up with this system.
When they insert the implants in the four locations, they can attach 14 crowns to the four implants, and this is not only effective, but it is also cost-effective. Getting an entire arch replaced with this system may only cost around $15,000 to $24,000. This is a great deal, especially if you consider that one dental implant usually costs around $5,000.
Why implants are better than dentures
Getting dental implants in your mouth offers a permanent set of teeth that will not rot or develop cavities. These teeth will not slip out of place like dentures, and they will not lose their grip. With implants, you will be able to eat almost anything you enjoy, including things that are very difficult to eat with dentures. In addition, dental implants look great and work just like real teeth.
If you would like to find out if this option would be right for you, you should contact a cosmetic dentist in your area.
Share13 April 2017
