How to Know if You Are Suitable for All-on-4® Dental Implants


All-on-4® dental implants replace missing teeth and involve inserting four implants strategically in the jaw bone. The implants are used to support prosthetic teeth. The implants are small screw-like titanium that mimics the tooth root. After they are placed, the replacement tooth is connected via abutment on the implants. The All-on-4® implants are permanent and last forever.

 

However, not everyone qualifies to have the procedure. The dentist determines whether you are suitable or not after conducting a dental examination as well as assessing your medical history and other factors. During the consultation, the dentist will examine your oral health, and x-rays will be taken to examine your bone structure.

 

Most people who consider All-on-4® implants have either lost all their teeth or have very few teeth left. There are some of the factors to consider when getting the procedure:

  1. General health

To be suitable for the All-on-4® procedure, you must be healthy because anaesthesia is used during the procedure. Some medical conditions make candidates unsuitable for the procedure. For example, patients with diabetes are not eligible due to the use of anaesthesia. Patients undergoing radiation therapy are also not suitable for the procedure.

 

  1. Oral health

A person needs to have excellent oral health to undergo the procedure. For example, if you have gum disease, it is first treated before the implant procedure. In some cases, if you have a history of gum disease, you can undergo the procedure, but it increases the risk of implant failure.

 

  1. Bone structure

The scans and x-rays taken by the dentist during the consultation are to examine your bone volume. It is crucial to have adequate bone structure. All-on-4® doesn’t require bone grafting. However, in case it is needed, the dentist will always inform you.

 

  1. Smoking

The risk of procedure failure is higher for smokers. Therefore, you need to quit smoking during the period of the procedure and recovery.  However, the dentist will advise you to stop completely.

 

If you wish to know if you qualify to have All-on-4® dental implants, consult one of the dentists at Next Smile™ Ballarat. Our dentists have years of experience and will guide you through the procedure and whether you qualify. Visit our website or contact us for more information.