Losing multiple teeth used to mean choosing between dentures that slip during meals or a long, expensive series of individual implants. All-on-4 changed that. By placing just four strategically angled implants per arch, the entire row of teeth can be restored in a single procedure, and many patients leave the office the same day with a fixed set of natural-looking teeth.
How All-on-4 Works
Two implants are placed vertically at the front of the jaw, where bone density is highest, and two are angled at roughly 30 to 45 degrees toward the back. The angled placement avoids the sinus cavity in the upper jaw and the nerve canal in the lower jaw, which means most patients can be treated without bone grafting, even if they've had teeth missing for years.
A custom-fitted prosthetic arch attaches to those four implants and functions like a natural set of teeth. Unlike traditional dentures, nothing comes out at night, nothing covers the roof of your mouth, and nothing shifts when you eat.
Who Benefits Most
All-on-4 is designed for patients who are missing most or all of their teeth in one or both arches, or whose remaining teeth aren't healthy enough to save. It's especially valuable for people who've worn dentures and are tired of the maintenance, adhesives, and fit problems that come with them.
Because the technique avoids most bone-graft procedures, it also works well for patients who've been told elsewhere that they don't have enough jawbone for conventional implants.
What to Expect
Treatment typically takes one surgical appointment. After local anesthesia or IV sedation, any remaining compromised teeth are removed, the four implants are placed, and a temporary fixed bridge is attached the same day. Most patients are back to soft foods within 24 hours and resume normal eating within a few weeks as the implants integrate with the bone.
A final, custom-crafted prosthetic replaces the temporary bridge a few months later, once healing is complete. With routine hygiene visits, the result can last decades.
To find out whether All-on-4 is the right approach for your case, schedule a consultation with Dr. Eberle at Weston Center for Plastic Surgery. Call (954) 507-4540 to book.
