All on Four in Tuxtla Gutiérrez and San Cristóbal de las Casas: Restore your smile with just 4 dental implants.
Welcome to the blog of Salud Oral Clinic in San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas! I am Dr. José Bermúdez, a specialist and pioneer in dental implants in the state.
At this clinic, we offer a wide variety of dental services, but today I want to talk to you about one of the most popular treatments at our dental clinic: All on Four dental implants.
The All on Four technique is a revolutionary treatment based on the principle of four dental implants; it combines two straight anterior dental implants with two angled posterior dental implants to support a full arch of teeth.
This technique is an excellent option for patients who have lost all their natural teeth in the upper jaw or lower jaw, or who, for some reason, will lose most of their teeth. This is mainly due to negative habits such as poor oral hygiene, advanced tooth decay, periodontal disease (tooth mobility), and uncontrolled systemic diseases. These issues lead to significant problems with speech, chewing, and aesthetics, negatively impacting the patient’s quality of life. In conclusion, this treatment offers the possibility of placing a denture supported by 4 dental implants without a palate.
Can four dental implants support the force of a full denture?
The answer is yes. The All on 4 dental implant technique is strategically designed to withstand chewing forces and prevent overloading on the dental prosthesis.
How long does this treatment last in my mouth?
The All on 4 dental implant procedure has shown excellent short-, medium-, and long-term results. Recent studies show that the success rate of All on 4 dental implants is 98.2%. The dental implants and prostheses can remain in the mouth for over 10 years. While 10 years may not seem like a long time, it’s important to understand where this number comes from. All on 4 consists of two parts: the dental prosthesis and the four dental implants. These implants have a low probability of being damaged over time as they fuse with the bone, becoming a natural part of the body. However, in some cases, they may require replacement after 20 years. On the other hand, the dental prosthesis connected to the implants, although durable, is also delicate and may need replacement or repair after 10 years. Maintaining All on Four dental implants every 6 months can significantly enhance the durability of both the prosthesis and the implant.
Which patients are candidates for all on 4 dental implants?
- All patients who have completely lost their upper jaw or jaw teeth.
- Patient who is healthy or controlled from systemic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, etc.
- Patients with few teeth, which makes prosthetic rehabilitation impossible.
- Patients with periodontal disease (excessis dental mobility).
- Patients with uncomfortable total dentures.
What are the contraindications of this technique?
- Patients with radiotherapy on the head and neck within 12 months before surgery.
- Patients who have had cardiac events less than 6 months ago.
- Presence of untreated periodontal disease.
- Hypertensive or uncontrolled diabetic patients.
What are the benefits of the all on four dental implant technique?
- You can have a complete denture with only 4 dental implants.
- In the same appointment of placement of dental implants, you will be placed an immediate fixed denture, with which you can eat and smile.
- You won’t have to place a dental implant for a lost tooth, allowing you to save time and money.
Is the procedure painful?
The answer is no, everything is under local anesthesia and many of our patients report that during the recovery of the all on 4 dental implant technique, they presented minimal discomfort, being able to return to their normal activities in a few days.
How is the planning of this technique?
This technique is carried out under a strategic and detailed planning, first you will have a general assessment appointment where we will analyze if you are a candidate for all on 4 dental implants, we will make a detailed medical history to know everything about your health in general, allergies or diseases, we will solve all your doubts about the procedure, we will listen to all your expectations and we will be able to know what you expect functionally and aesthetically from your future teeth on all on four dental implants. Generally we will ask you for a panoramic x-ray and a tomography (3D x-ray), so that we can assess the level and quality of the bone, location of the dental nerves, position of important anatomical structures and thus be able to determine the ideal size of your future dental implants, eventually and only if necessary we will ask you for laboratory studies to ensure that the blood values are stable.
Thanks to our unique technology in the state, it is possible to plan the procedure digitally, performing surgical guides for the placement of all on four dental implants and in the same way design your future dental prosthesis. Likewise, in that first appointment we will take physical and digital records to start with the 3D design of the surgical guide, in the same way we will start with the design and manufacture of the immediate fixed denture that will be placed on the day of the procedure.
How is the all-on-four dental implant procedure?
First you will be asked to arrive in advance to be able to take your vital signs and make sure that you are in condition for the procedure, then we will place local anesthesia in the area where work will be worked, We recommend to all our patients the use of conscious sedation, a technique where nitrous oxide is used in combination with oxygen through a nasal mask in order to reduce anxiety, stress, keeping your breathing, pulse and blood pressure stable, this will make the procedure of placing dental implants all on 4 more comfortable.
Next, and with the help of the 3D guide (Planned previously), the four dental implants will be placed as follows:
Two of the all on 4 dental implants are placed in the anterior sector of the bone (jaw or maxillary) and the two remaining dental implants will be placed inclined in the region of the second premolars or first molars with an angulation of 30 degrees. After the placement of the dental implants, you will immediately be placed a complete fixed denture without a palate, this immediate fixed denture on all on four dental implants, will be placed in order to wait for the integration of the dental implants with the bone (3-5 months) and at the same time maintain the aesthetics and masticatory function. That is to say, in a single appointment, you will have your dental implants and an immediate functional prosthesis. Finally, you will be prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as oral care recommendations and the procedure will be over.
Once the time of integration of the dental implants to the bone is over, we can change your immediate for a definitive fixed dental prosthesis, with greater aesthetics and quality.
As a specialist and pioneer in dental implants in this region, each case that is presented to the clinic is unique so my commitment is high towards each of my patients, especially those who have lost all their teeth, since with my experience and knowledge I will be able to offer a personalized solution, according to their needs and budgets, in order to return the trust and quality of life lost. So allow yourself to improve your image and change your life with our all-on-four dental implant technique and modern dentistry.