Thinking about restoring your smile with All-On-4 dental implants? Not sure what to expect?
Let’s discuss the basics of what you can expect from All-On-4 surgery now, so that you can learn a little bit more about the process.
Pre-Implant Consultation
You will need to come to OMSNashville for a pre-implant consultation. This is when your oral surgeon will take three-dimensional images of your jaw bone and teeth, and begin creating your surgical treatment plan.
In addition, you’ll work with your oral surgeon to design your new set of teeth, and discuss the color, shape, alignment, and other details about your smile. Once you’ve communicated your preferences, your surgeon will work with a dental lab to create your All-On-4 prosthesis.
Implant Placement Surgery
First, your mouth will be cleaned and disinfected, and completely numbed. You can also be sedated, if you wish. Then, the surgery begins. There are four basic phases of All-On-Four surgery.
- Extractions – If necessary, any remaining teeth will be extracted during the All-On-Four implant placement process. Your dental prosthesis won’t fit properly unless all of your remaining teeth have been removed.
- Jaw bone contouring – Your jaw bone will usually need to be contoured by your surgeon to remove sharp edges and create the proper shape to support your new set of teeth.
- Implant placement – Once the teeth have been removed and your jaw bone has been contoured, your dentist will place four dental implants into your jaw bone, based on the surgical treatment plan created during your consultation.
- Attachment of prosthetic teeth – This is often done immediately, but may also be done within 24 hours. This is known as “immediate loading,” which means that the implants and teeth will begin working right away.
Post-Surgery & Recovery
After your surgery, you will have a new smile, but you still have a lot of healing to do. You will experience moderate pain and discomfort for the next 7-14 days. Your oral surgeon will provide you with a set of comprehensive recovery instructions, which you’ll follow to ensure you recover properly after your surgery.
Even after your mouth heals and feels more normal, you will need to eat a diet of mostly soft foods for up to 6 weeks. This is because your implants need to “osseointegrate” and bond with your jaw bone before they can withstand the forces of chewing harder foods.
Know What To Expect From All-On-4 Surgery!
All-On-4 is a great option if you’re missing most or all of your teeth and want an alternative to traditional dentures that are permanent, stable, and look and feel more natural. So don’t wait. Contact OMSNashville now at (615) 822-8403 to see if All-On-4 is right for you.
The information and content on our website should not be used as a substitute for medical treatment or advice from your doctor.
