Did you know that the first patient to receive an All-on-4® treatment got it in 1998?

Over the past few decades, dentistry has seen significant advancements in treating all oral issues. One area of dentistry that has seen a lot of change is implant dentistry. Implants have become the ideal treatment for missing teeth.

Professor Paulo Malo is known for championing one of these advances in dentistry in the 1990s. The advances in dentistry he worked on during this time was the All-on-4 implant technique. He developed this technique with backing from Nobel Biocare, and in 1998, he performed the first procedure.

What Are All-on-4 Implants?

The All-on-4 technique is different from other implant techniques in several ways. First, the technique utilizes only four implants to replace an entire arch compared to other implant techniques.

Also, placing the implants does not require the same bone density throughout the jaw. The implants at the back of the mouth tilt at 45 degrees towards the back. Dental surgeons place the implants for these into the premaxilla or anterior maxilla.

What Dental Issues Can All-on-4 Implants Correct?

Dental surgeons use dental implants to treat singular or multiple missing teeth with a relatively long distance between them. Traditional implants need between six to eight posts to restore an entire arch. The All-on-4 technique is ideal for specific patients with the following issues:

 

• Dental or jaw trauma
   

• Gum disease
   

• Multiple missing or damaged teeth
   

• Damaged oral or gum tissue

The angled approach in the All-on-4 technique allows dental surgeons to avoid areas with reduced bone density. It creates a good solution for patients who have sustained bone loss from issues like gum disease.

What Are the Benefits of the All-on-4 Implants?

One of the significant benefits of this technique is that it is much less invasive—only needing four posts compared to the six to eight posts required for conventional implant options. Here are the other significant benefits of the technique:

 

• Less Time in Treatment

Conventional implant procedures require the patient to commit to several months and multiple appointments. The All-on-4 technique requires a single appointment for implant surgery and placement of prosthetics. This speedy turn-around time is made possible by tilting the implant posts. 

 

• Higher Success Rates

According to studies on the success rate of the All-on-4 implants, they scored 99 percent. They did these studies over ten years. One of the features that cause these high success rates is the two coatings on the All-on-4 implants. The coatings usually greatly increase adherence to the jawbone and boost soft tissue density.

 

• Affordable

Because All-on-4 implants only need a single procedure, you will save quite a lot. These stats compare to other conventional implant procedures and tooth replacement options. Usually, you need multiple appointments to fit the implants or dentures. You may also need several adjustments to the bridges over the years. All-on-4 is a permanent tooth replacement solution.