If many of your teeth are missing or damaged — or if dentures are preventing you from eating, speaking, and smiling naturally — you may be a good candidate for an All-on-4®procedure. This innovative treatment can completely restore an entire dental arch, giving you back the appearance and functionality of your original teeth.
Midland Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery has supported our community for over 45 years with advanced treatment options. Our doctors are surgical specialists with extensive training who works in partnership with general dentists. We frequently perform All-on-4 procedures for patients who want greater comfort, better aesthetics, and improved quality of life.
What Is All-on-4?
Your general dentist may recommend that you explore All-on-4 if ongoing oral health problems are keeping you from having strong, sturdy teeth and a great smile. You may also want to consider All-on-4 if dentures are causing you discomfort, slipping as you speak, or limiting the foods you can eat.
As part of the treatment, your doctor will remove your remaining upper and/or lower teeth and place four-to-six dental implants in each dental arch. The implants will connect to a new, fixed set of prosthetic teeth which are fixed in place. The implants are meant to hold the new teeth in place permanently, and we generally expect them to last a lifetime.
Why All-on-4?
If you have been struggling with an unhealthy dentition or ill-fitting dentures, All-on-4 can completely restore your smile. The procedure is well-established, effective, and significantly more comfortable than ongoing dental work.
Unlike with traditional dentures:
- Your new All-on-4 teeth will give you more strength and stability, acting like your original teeth. You should be able to speak and chew foods without the risk of denture slippage.
- Dental implants will preserve the bone beneath your gums. This will help prevent the loose feeling that people often experience with dentures as they lose bone.
- The new teeth will cover less of the roof of your mouth than your dentures: making them more comfortable to wear and improve your ability to taste and enjoy food.
What to Expect with Midland OMFS
One of the goals of our practice is to provide a supportive, informative, and transparent experience. You’ll start with an initial consultation, during which your doctor will discuss with you all of your treatment options including the All-on-4 treatment and answer any questions you may have.
As part of your visit, Dr. Poupard will also closely examine your teeth and bone structure. Our practice has invested in CBCT (Advanced Cone Beam CT Technology) which allows us to more accurately assess and diagnose patients more in order to develop effective treatment options for you as an individual.
As part of your treatment options, we provide in-office IV sedation. As specialists, we can provide safe IV sedation to keep you in a state of deep relaxation throughout the procedure. When patients wake up, they’re usually surprised that their surgery is already over. Dr. Poupard will go over the day-of experience when discussing your individual treatment plan.
The All-on-4 Process
Midland OMFS individualizes treatment for each patient. Your doctor may recommend some or all of the following steps.
Bone grafting. A careful examination during your consultation will help us determine if you have enough bone to support All-on-4. If not, we may perform a bone grafting procedure to build up this foundation.
Tooth extraction. Your doctor will remove your remaining teeth to make room for All-on-4. Some patients will receive dental implants during this same procedure. Other patients will need a healing period of 2-4 months. In either case, we will provide a temporary restoration so that you always have a full set of natural-looking teeth.
Dental implant placement. Your doctor will place four-to-six dental implants in your upper and/or lower jawbone. The number will depend on the health and condition of your underlying bone.
Prosthetic placement. After your implants are placed, you will likely wear a temporary fixed denture for some time. This allows for healing. The timing, how long and when you will transition to a permanent fixed denture will be a part of the discussions you have with your dentist and oral surgeon.
After All-on-4, you can expect to have a completely restored smile. Treatment should give you back the ability to chew and speak naturally and eliminate the discomfort of ill-fitting dentures.
Explore your options with All-on-4. Contact Midland OMFS online or by phone at (989) 839-9979 to schedule an appointment.