All-on-4 Dental Implants in Santa Clarita

All-on-4 dental implants are a specific type of fixed implant denture that replaces an entire arch of missing teeth using just four dental implants, according to Cleveland Clinic. An implant-supported denture replaces several teeth at once and attaches to the jawbone through dental implants instead of resting on the gums. A full arch, meaning all of your upper or lower teeth, usually sits on four to six implants. All-on-4 is the fixed version on four implants; All-on-6 uses six. Our office provides both.

Implant dentures come in two kinds. A removable implant denture snaps onto the implants and comes out every day for cleaning. A fixed implant denture, sometimes called a hybrid denture, attaches permanently and is removed only by your dentist for maintenance; you brush it like natural teeth and clean underneath it with floss threaders and small interproximal brushes. All-on-4 is the fixed kind. Which suits you depends on your jawbone, your medical history and your preference, and that is decided at the consultation, not from a brochure. For a single missing tooth or a short span, see dental implants.

A candidate for full-arch implants is usually someone missing most or all of their teeth who has enough bone in the jaw to hold the implants, according to Cleveland Clinic. Where bone has been lost, a bone graft can often add volume and density. Your health is more of a factor than your age; the minimum age is typically 18, with no upper limit.

Implants may not be the best option with active or untreated gum disease, extensive tooth decay, severe bone loss in the jaw, unmanaged diabetes, poor oral hygiene, or bone disorders and some autoimmune diseases. Smoking or vaping can disrupt healing, and smoking may decrease an implant's long-term success. Your overall health is an important factor in whether you are a candidate, how long healing takes and how long the implant stays in place.

Teeth in a day, sometimes called same-day dental implants, means leaving the surgical visit with a set of teeth attached rather than a gap. The ADA explains the two routes: some patients wait until the implants have fully integrated with the bone, up to several months, before replacement teeth are attached, while other patients can have the implants and replacement teeth placed all in one visit. Temporary teeth may be worn over the implant sites. In appropriate cases, patients here can begin using their new All-on-4 restoration quickly.

Before implants are placed, any decayed or damaged teeth are extracted and bone is grafted where it has been lost. At our office, Dr. Robert P. Hedvat places the implants and does the bone grafting, and the surgery is planned on an in-office 3D cone-beam CT scan, which gives a detailed view of the teeth, jawbone, sinuses and nearby nerves. For comfort, the anesthesia options for implant surgery include local anesthesia, sedation and general anesthesia; here that means nitrous oxide, twilight sedation where appropriate, or IV sedation under the care of a Dental Anesthesiologist. If you are sedated, plan to have someone take you home.

Healing time for All-on-4 implants is about three to six months for the implants to fuse with the jawbone, according to Cleveland Clinic. That fusing is called osseointegration, there is no shortcut around it, and it can take longer if bone grafting was part of the plan. The American Academy of Periodontology gives a range of two to six months for the implants and bone to bond, with the gum stitches removed in seven to ten days.

Once the implants have healed, impressions of both arches are taken and sent to a dental lab to craft the final denture, which is then attached to the implants. At our office those impressions are taken with an intraoral scanner, a three-dimensional model of the mouth without bulky impression trays. The temporary teeth you wore during healing are the bridge to that point, not the finished result.

Bone grafting comes up with All-on-4 when the jawbone is not thick enough or is too soft, because, as Mayo Clinic explains, the powerful chewing action of the mouth puts great pressure on the bone, and if the bone cannot support the implant the surgery would likely fail. When only minor grafting is needed, it can be done at the same time as the implant surgery; larger grafts may need several months to grow new bone first.

Dr. Hedvat does the bone grafting here. Full-arch implants also matter for the bone itself: because they replace some of the tooth roots, the bone is better preserved, whereas under a conventional denture the bone that once surrounded the roots begins to deteriorate.

Titanium and zirconia are the two main implant materials: the FDA says most dental implant systems are made of titanium or zirconium oxide. Titanium and ceramic implants are both considered safe and biocompatible. We offer both titanium and metal-free zirconia implants, and Dr. Robert explains the advantages and limitations of each so the material is selected to the patient's health, anatomy and preference.

Whichever material you choose, ask your dental provider what brand and model of implant system is being used and keep that information for your records.

The cost of All-on-4 treatment depends on several factors. The cost of dental implants can vary greatly depending on which and how many teeth are being replaced, according to AAOMS. To understand the cost, consider that a single dental implant typically costs around $3,500 per tooth.

Our team helps patients understand their benefits and financial options clearly before proceeding. We accept most PPO dental plans, along with CareCredit and other financial arrangements. Benefits and network participation vary by plan, so our team will gladly verify your coverage before treatment.

The downsides of All-on-4 dental implants, according to Cleveland Clinic, are that the overdenture on top should be replaced every 15 to 20 years even though the implants can last a lifetime with proper care, that a fixed denture cannot be removed at home for cleaning, and that the surgery carries risks of infection, nerve damage, injury to the mouth and sinus perforation. You clean under a fixed denture with floss threaders and interproximal brushes, and you keep up regular exams and cleanings.

Implant failure, usually meaning a loose or lost implant, can happen soon after placement or much later, and may be more likely with uncontrolled diabetes or smoking. Most dental implants are successful, and AAOMS puts the overall success rate at 95%. If an implant ever feels loose or painful, tell your dental provider right away.

Cleveland Clinic says most people feel normal within one week and can return to routine activities in two to three days, avoiding strenuous exercise for at least 48 hours. The usual after-effects are swelling of the gums and face, bruising, pain at the implant site and minor bleeding, with soft foods while the site heals.

Day to day, full-arch implants need only the same daily brushing and flossing recommended for natural teeth, with no overnight soaking. Clean the denture at least twice daily, brush a fixed denture with a soft-bristled toothbrush and nonabrasive toothpaste, brush and floss around the implants, and keep regular exams and cleanings. Call the office for severe bleeding, pain that does not improve with medication, pus near an implant, or a fever of 101 degrees or higher.