The Whole Tooth and Nothing But the Tooth

For years, when people lost all of their upper or lower teeth, they had those teeth replaced with dentures. Dentures are a removable dental device that are typically taken out at night, and that can be secured with a gentle cement, if needed. Some patients do still replace their missing teeth with dentures. However, there's a more advanced option available that people are increasingly taking advantage of. It's called all-on-four implants. 

With all-on-four implants, your dentists inserts four screw-like implants in the jaw bone. A whole row of false teeth is mounted on these four implants. So what are the advantage of this approach over traditional dentures?

All-on-Four Implants Do Not Move Around

One of the biggest pain points among denture wearers is that the dentures can slip and move around as people chew and talk. This may prevent you from eating crunchier and chewier foods, and it may also make it harder for you to speak clearly. With all-on-four implants, though, the false teeth are firmly anchored into your jaw, and they do not shift at all. You can basically eat anything you want once you're healed from the surgery. And you will be able to make sounds and speak just as you do with natural teeth.

All-on-Four Implants Look More Natural

Another big concern with traditional dentures is how they look. Most people will be able to tell pretty easily that you are wearing dentures. All-on-four implants, though, don't look much different from natural teeth. Nobody will know that you have false teeth unless you tell them or allow them to look inside your mouth with a mirror. As a result, you will be more confident in public and in your everyday interactions. You won't have to be concerned about your appearance.

All-on-Four Implants Help Prevent Jaw Bone Loss

If you've ever known someone who has worn dentures for a number of years, and you've seen them without those dentures in place, then you have likely noticed that their jaw bones look sunken in and deteriorated. This is what happens when there are no tooth roots in the jaw bone; the jaw starts breaking down over time. The implants used in an all-on-four device stimulate the jaw bone in a manner similar to natural tooth roots, so the implant will help keep the jaw bone from breaking down.

All-on-four implants are popular for good reason and are often a better choice than dentures. Talk to your own dentist to learn more about dental implants.