Full Arch Teeth Replacement In Greenwich
The ‘All On 4’ same day dental implant procedure.
In previous blogs, we have looked at how individual dental implants are placed. Where a patient has lost all of the teeth on either the upper or lower jaw though, the replacement of each missing tooth with an individual implant would not be practical. Fortunately, there is no need to undergo such extensive treatment to replace a missing arch of teeth.
One of the most effective ways to achieve this is the use of an All on 4 procedure. This procedure, also sometimes known as ‘Teeth In A Day’ is a highly effective and successful treatment that minimises the number of dental implants that need to be placed.
Consultation and examination
An important first step in this treatment is to have an initial consultation at the Confidental Clinic in Greenwich where we will check to see if you are a suitable candidate for this treatment. As most people are, this consultation will allow us to discuss this procedure in detail and answer any questions that you may have. We can also discuss the financial aspects with you, explaining the various finance plans that we offer.
Preparation
Once you have decided to go ahead with treatment, the next thing to do is to ensure that the mouth is healthy, for example treatment for any gum disease that may be present and removing any remnants of natural teeth. Even where bone loss has occurred, the treatment can often proceed without the need for a bone graft or sinus lift.
X-rays and scans will also be taken at this stage to determine the exact positioning of the implants and to avoid the nerves in the jaw bone.
Implant placement
The All on 4 procedure (sometimes all on 5 or 6) involves the placing of two specially designed implants towards the rear of the mouth. These are placed at an angle to offer better security. Two (or more) regular dental implants are then placed, as they would be for an individual implant procedure, towards the front of the mouth.
Unlike individual implant procedures, where a three month period would usually be necessary for the osseointegration (bonding) process to occur before a crown is attached, in many cases your implants are instantly ready for us to attach a fixed bridge of teeth to them. Once these have been attached and checked by our Greenwich implant dentist, your procedure is complete and you are free to leave our practice. The actual All on 4 procedure takes between two and four hours, leaving you with a full set of replacement teeth in a very short time. Of course there will be a healing period and you will need to avoid harder foods initially, introducing them slowly, for your own comfort. You will also be given full instructions about aftercare.
If you would like to discuss either a full arch replacement or multiple or individual dental implant placement with us, please call the Confidental Clinic in Greenwich on 020 8858 1422.