All-On-4® specifically replaces a full arch of teeth, not just a single tooth. To be clear, this concept goes by many names. They all mean the same, but this can also be called: All-On-four, Teeth-in-a-Day, hybrid, hybrid bridge, fixed bridge, implant-supported bridge, or fixed denture. The All-On-4® term got its name when dentists saw great success supporting a full arch of teeth with as few as 4 dental implants, hence the term “all on four” as in “your full arch of teeth all on 4 dental implants”. Prior to this, it was believed you had to have 6-8 implants.

The reason the All-On-4® concept took off had very little to do with the cost of fewer implants. It has everything to do with a balance between 1) sufficient bone to support the implants and 2) support and stability to the teeth. By using just 4 dental implants, you can put the two toward the front of your mouth more straight up and down (like your tooth’s roots were), but do something unique with the back two.

In the upper jaw, you usually have plenty of bone in front of your sinuses. But in the back where your sinuses are, there is usually very little. To avoid having to graft the sinus, these back two implants can be placed at an angle that follows where the bone goes, just in front of your sinuses.

What if you don’t even have sufficient bone in front of your sinuses…well, don’t give up. If traditional implants are truly not a possibility, we have options for you. In extreme cases, we utilize zygoma implants, that are able to reach other areas of bone that everyone has.

In the lower jaw, we have the same solution for a different problem. There is a very large nerve running through your lower jaw. It is almost the width of a pencil, so it often gets in the way of placing back implants…especially if you’ve been without your back teeth for over 5 years. The nerve ends about where your premolars are/were. By angling these back two implants in your lower jaw, you can get better stability to your full set of teeth, while steering clear of that nerve.

Now that you understand why we often use 4 dental implants to support an arch of teeth, know that if you have enough bone, we are happy to place more than four dental implants. And these extra implants will not raise the cost of your new smile…it’s a package deal.

Because every jaw is different with a unique history, we won’t know how many implants are right for you until we can evaluate your bone. Something truly wonderful we have in our Mesa office is a CT scanner. This gives us a three-dimensional view of your jawbone and comes free with your consultation. It has never been easier to quickly know how much bone you have for an All-On-4® set of teeth.

Having a three-dimensional view allows us to not only measure the volume of bone, but to also take it one step further…and often another step more. We have software that allows us to put implants right into that 3D view of your jaw. We can instantly know what implants will fit it your jaw. This virtual plan can be 3D printed on our printer and used as a guide during surgery.

The short answer to this question is yes.

After the surgery, as long as the implants were tight enough upon placement, we are able to attach teeth to the implants immediately. This is possible because the load is spread across all the implants which are placed throughout the entire arch. Much like 4 legs on a chair provide adequate support, well spread out implants provide ideal support to your new teeth.

It is important for you to understand that this set of teeth given to you the day of surgery is a temporary set. Because you just had surgery, we need to wait until the bone and the gums heal. After the bone has fused to the implants (typically just a few months), we can build your final teeth. Wearing the temporary set gives you a chance to evaluate your new teeth so that we can customize the final teeth to your liking.

Unlike most dental offices and implant centers, at Revive Dental Implant Center, the lab is part of the practice.

Here’s a great summary on some of the All-On-4® highlights we’ve been discussing throughout this page. We know this comes with a large cost and want you to understand why this investment is worth the cost.

• Looks and functions like natural teeth
• Porcelain looks like enamel
• Confidence to eat whatever you like (yes, even meat and apples)
• Ability to enjoy food because you can taste it
• Fully customized smile
• Receive a new smile in just one day
• Replaces all the teeth on fewer implants
• Teeth don’t move or fall out
• Helps keep the bone you have
• Maintain up to 95% of chewing ability
• Preserve your facial structure
• Can last a lifetime

If you have read this whole page, you already know the answer to this question, but here it is again in a concise format. Comparing the All-On-4® concept to a denture is like comparing apples to oranges. But only one allows you to easily eat both.

• Dentures are bulky and often uncomfortable
• They can fall out or move when talking, laughing, coughing, sneezing, or anything else you do
• Limit the foods you can eat or how you enjoy them
• Often cause soreness on your gums
• Accelerated bone loss, especially in the lower jaw
• Over time require remakes and refitting to adapt to the changing bone underneath
• Usually require adhesives to hold in place (though this doesn’t always work)
• Struggles with speech due to the feeling of a full mouth with moving parts