Why Are All-on-Four Teeth So Popular?

What are all-on-four teeth?

All-on-four teeth give you permanent teeth on top of 4 implants.

All-on-four teeth is a set of permanent teeth which sit on top of four dental implants. The name itself originates from the concept that an entire set of teeth, typically 12 to 14 total teeth, is loaded onto just four individual dental implants. All-on-four teeth are not to be confused with dentures. They are made from Porcelain or Zirconia and the teeth are fixed, meaning that you can not remove the teeth from your mouth.

Why are All-on-four Teeth so Popular?

All-on-four teeth are made from either porcelain or zirconia.

If you are missing all of your teeth, you have several different treatment options: Complete dentures; Dentures anchored onto dental implants (overdenture); All-on-four teeth; or Full dental implants with crowns & bridges attached. All-on-four teeth are a great compromise of cost and value. Here are some of the reasons why so many patients choose all-on-four teeth over other alternative treatments:

Minimal Number of Dental Implants

While the idea of placing more implants may seem attractive, it is important to note that placing these additional implants is not always as easy as it seems. Placing 6 or 8 dental implant in each arch is typically quite complicated and costly. On the other hand, placing only 4 dental implants is relatively easy, requires minimal recovery time and involves little pain and discomfort.

No Need for Extensive Graft Procedures

All-on-four teeth uses the high-quality bone located in your nasal and chin region. This area typically has very high-quality, dense bone which is ideal for dental implant placement. Placing more than 4 dental implants typically requires a sinus graft or complicated block graft procedures. Not only do these graft procedures cost a lot, but they also take months, sometimes even years, to complete. The all-on-four concept takes advantage of the high-quality bone in the front region to bypass the need for these additional procedures to cut down on treatment time.

Affordable Permanent Teeth

If you don't have any teeth left, there are two options to receive permanent teeth: All-on-four teeth or placing a full set of dental implants plus crowns & bridges. The latter typically requires 8 dental implants and 12 to 14 crowns to restore each arch. When you add up the costs of 8 dental implants and 12 to 14 crowns, in addition to the required grafting procedures, the costs typically ends up being nearly double that of all-on-four teeth. As it turns out, all-on-four teeth is a bargain when it comes to replacing all of your teeth with dental implants. Plus, the end result is nearly the same, a full set of permanent teeth anchored onto dental implants.

Perfect Looking Teeth

Who doesn’t want a set of perfectly white, straight teeth? With all-on-four teeth, you can get a set of perfect teeth exactly the way you want them. You have full control of the color, shape and size of the teeth. Plus, all-on-four teeth are made from Porcelain or Zirconia, so the teeth continue to maintain their beauty and appearance over time.

Easy to Repair

As you know, nothing is every permanent and things can always break. With all-on-four teeth, the most common problem is individual teeth breaking off. Should this occur, your dentist can simply remove the teeth by unscrewing them, send the teeth to lab for a quick repair, and screw them back in place inside your mouth. Easy! Plus, this can all be done within a single day. On the other hand, repairing implants attached to crowns & bridges is much more complex and typically takes weeks or months to complete.

Should I Place More than Four Dental Implants for AO4?

All-on-four on the upper arch and traditional implants in the lower arch.

Many patients ask themselves this question "should I place 6 or 8 dental implants instead of just 4"? The answer to this question varies based on how much stress you place onto the dental implants. Typically, if you have no teeth left, four implants is more than enough to support your bite forces. However, if you have a full set of teeth in one arch but no teeth in the opposing arch, then placing a 5th or 6th implant is certainly beneficial to handling the bite forces. Ultimately, most people do fine with just 4 dental implants but some require a 5th or 6th dental implant to support their bite forces.

How much do all-on-four teeth cost?

All-on-four teeth are expensive, with costs typically ranging between $20,000 to $40,000 for each arch. Why? Because making all-on-four teeth is very technically demanding, requires extensive work and a life-long of follow-up and after care. Plus, the cost of four dental implants, special abutments, Porcelain or Zirconia teeth, all add up to quite a bit. Nevertheless, many patients opt to go for the treatment to receive permanent teeth. When you consider the comfort, convenience, health benefits and boost of confidence that all-on-four teeth offer patients, most find the treatment to be worth the time and money invested.

If you live in Southern California and would like to book a complimentary all-on-four consultation, give us a call today to book your appointment.

Brush 'n Floss Yo Teeth!

Ali John Jazayeri, DDS