What to Expect From All-On-4® Treatment
Changing Lives With Four Dental Implants
Dental implants are the fastest-growing solution for tooth loss, with over 500,000 Americans getting them each year. A new implant technique called All-On-4 uses dental implants to secure a single prosthetic, completely restoring an entire arch of teeth. This remarkable procedure is an ideal solution for people who currently use dentures.
Even better, if you weren’t a candidate for dental implants due to a lack of jawbone density, implant dentist Dr. Stockdale can help you avoid bone grafting. Instead, we can secure the four implants wherever the bone is strongest. We’ve created this step-by-step guide to help our patients understand the All-On-4 process. Keep reading to learn more.
Step 1 — Initial Consultation With Dr. Stockdale
The first step toward a stunning and fully functional smile is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Stockdale. You can do this by calling our Rancho Cucamonga dental office at (909) 297-1967.
When you arrive at our dental practice for your consultation, Dr. Stockdale will start by analyzing your medical and dental history. He’ll ask you about your lifestyle (e.g., are you a smoker?), medications you’re taking, or anything else that could directly affect the success of your implants.
The last part of your consultation will consist of a thorough examination of your oral structure. After that, Dr. Stockdale will answer any questions you may have about the treatment, such as the risks and complications or the expected timeline of this treatment. If everything looks good and you’re still interested in the procedure, we’ll schedule your implant placement appointment.
Step 2 — Implant Placement
You’ll come back to our office for your implant placement procedure. Before the procedure, we’ll provide local anesthesia to numb the surgical site and your sedation option (if you opt for it) to ensure you’ll be comfortable and won’t feel pain. Dr. Stockdale will place all four dental implants in your jawbone where its mass is the most substantial. Despite the fact that each patient’s experience is unique, most of them find that the surgery is much less painful than expected.
Placing dental implants requires extreme precision for the best results. Dr. Stockdale is an expert implant dentist and will make sure that your procedure goes smoothly. Since he’s placing multiple implants at once, the average treatment time is two and a half hours per arch.
Step 3 — Adjustment & Osseointegration
After your implant placement, you’ll start your healing period. As you adjust to your implants, they’ll bond with your jawbone through a process called osseointegration. This natural bonding process creates a stable, long-lasting foundation for your restoration.
During your healing process, which can take around three to six months, we’ll give you a temporary set of teeth to wear while our local dental laboratory designs and manufactures your permanent new smile.
Step 4 — Attaching Your Permanent Restoration
When you arrive for the final part of implant placement, Dr. Stockdale will remove the temporary restoration and examine your implants. After making sure that the implants have healed correctly, he’ll secure your permanent restoration.
The permanent restoration is a full arch of porcelain teeth — porcelain is a durable, tooth-colored, ceramic material. This full arch will be attached to all four implants by their abutments. Although these teeth won’t decay, they’ll still need daily cleaning and routine checkups with Dr. Stockdale, just like your natural teeth.
Step 5 — Follow-Up Appointments
Since you’re receiving four implants and an entirely new arch of teeth with All-on-4, the whole process takes anywhere from four to eight months to complete. After we place your implants in step two, you’ll periodically visit Dr. Stockdale for follow-up checkups.
If you have any questions or concerns about the treatment, these routine checkups are an excellent opportunity to voice them. Dr. Stockdale will do everything in his power to see that the process is stress-free and that you leave our dental office with the smile you’ve always wanted.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you clean All-on-4?
All-on-4 dental implants can be a long-term solution to tooth loss with proper oral hygiene. Thankfully, caring for your All-on-4 restoration is easy — all you have to do is brush and floss your dental implants, just like your natural teeth.
Along with routine brushing and flossing, Dr. Stockdale recommends visiting our Rancho Cucamonga office every six months. We’ll perform a professional deep cleaning and inspect your All-on-4 implants at your semiannual visit. If you notice a problem with your implants, call our office at (909) 297-1921 to schedule an appointment.
Are All-on-4 implants painful?
At Renaissance Dental Care, we pride ourselves on providing highly personalized care for all of our patients. That’s why we offer dental sedation options along with local anesthetic, so you’ll feel no pain no matter which option you choose.
You may feel some discomfort in the days following your All-on-4 implant procedure. However, you can manage your pain using over-the-counter pain medications such as ibuprofen. Follow our post-operative guide to ensure your implant sites heal as comfortably as possible.
What do All-on-4 dental implants feel like?
All-On-4 dental implants act, feel, and function just like your natural teeth. They’re designed to be comfortable since they don’t press down on your gums as traditional dentures would. You’ll be able to bite down with increased force and experience the normal sensation of enjoying all your favorite foods.
How much do All-On-4 dental implants cost?
The cost of All-On-4 depends on several factors such as needing extractions, if you opt for sedation, and insurance coverage. Most dental insurance companies should be able to cover a portion of the cost. We recommend speaking to your insurance provider beforehand to learn more about your coverage plan.
If the coverage isn’t enough, we offer flexible financing options to ease your financial worries. If you have any questions about financing, call our Rancho Cucamonga office at (909) 297-1921 to speak with one of our knowledgeable staff.
Your Dream Smile Awaits With All-on-4 From Dr. Stockdale
If you have missing teeth and want to have a complete, healthy smile, All-On-4 may be for you. Dr. Stockdale proudly offers his years of expertise in implant placement with All-On-4 to patients in the Rancho Cucamonga area as well as the surrounding areas including Riverside, San Bernardino, and Diamond Bar, CA.
To get started, call our Rancho Cucamonga office at (909) 297-1921 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Stockdale. You can also fill out our convenient contact form below and one of our staff will be happy to assist you shortly.