All-on-4® in Charlottesville Virginia

In the past, patients who wanted to upgrade to dental implants from traditional dentures may have faced challenges due to bone loss that prevented the successful placement of dental implants in certain areas of the jaw. A newer approach known as All-on-4 overcomes these barriers, making this treatment accessible to a larger number of patients.

The All-on-4 procedure can usually be completed in a few hours, meaning that patients can leave our office with a beautiful, fully restored smile. This is one of the many benefits associated with this treatment option.

Is All-on-4 a good option to restore your smile? Visit us for an initial consultation to find out. We are happy to provide any information that you may need or answer any questions that you may have to help you make the best treatment decision for your unique situation.

How All-on-4 Restores A Complete, Beautiful Smile

All-on-4 can secure a denture using just four specially designed dental implants that are placed near the front of the patient’s jaw. The inner two dental implants have a typical orientation, while the outer two are tilted 45 degrees to support the weight of the rear portions of the denture.

The bone near the front of our jaws is thicker and wears away more gradually after tooth loss than the thin bone underneath the sinus cavity at the back of the jaw. Therefore, bone loss is rarely severe enough to preclude the placement of dental implants for All-on-4.

Dental Implant-Supported Fixed Dentures

The All-on-4 Treatment Process

All-on-4 involves three primary appointments at our office, including:

Consultation
Imaging and treatment planning
Dental implant placement surgery

At the consultation appointment, Dr. Ibanez will assess your current oral health status, review your medical history and evaluate your facial anatomy.

The imaging and treatment planning session includes a CT scan of the jaw, along with models of the teeth and jaw. This three-dimensional depiction of the surgical environment helps Dr. Ibanez to plan for a more accurate and efficient surgical procedure.

When it is time for the surgical placement of the four dental implants, the procedure is typically completed in 2-3 hours per jaw. The implants are often able to be loaded immediately, which means that the patient leaves our office with a fully restored smile.

After your dental implants are placed, you will visit our office periodically for follow-up appointments in which Dr. Ibanez monitors your ongoing healing to make sure that everything is proceeding as expected.

Benefits Of All-on-4

Because All-on-4 only requires four dental implants, all of which are placed near the front of the jaw wear bone wears away slowly, most patients will be eligible for this treatment even if they’ve experienced bone loss in the rearmost portion of the jaw.

However, this is just one of the advantages associated with All-on-4. In comparison to traditional dentures, All-on-4 is more:

Stable
Secure
Functional
Comfortable

With all of these benefits, it’s plain to see why so many patients are pursuing All-on-4 either to replace their dentures or for initial treatment to restore their smiles.

Common All-on-4 Questions

What is All-on-4?

All-on-4 is an innovative treatment approach for full-smile restoration that utilizes just four dental implants to secure an entire denture. The two outer dental implants are angled below the gum line, which gives them the strength needed to support the entire weight of the rear component of the denture. Many patients will be eligible to be fitted with an appliance the same day that the four dental implants are placed, making this treatment both effective and efficient.

Am I a candidate for All-on-4?

With All-on-4, the dental implants are positioned toward the front of the jaw. The jawbone is thicker in this area, and any bone loss that occurs following tooth loss is much more gradual than the rearmost section of the jaw, which is much thinner. Therefore, the All-on-4 approach virtually eliminates the need for bone grafting before placement of the implants. That being said, there may be certain scenarios in which All-on-4 is not immediately feasible, so you should visit our office for an evaluation to confirm that you are a good candidate for All-on-4.

Is this procedure covered by my insurance?

Different insurance providers cover different treatments, and we will be able to tell you what we expect your coverage to be after reviewing your insurance. We have an experienced and knowledgeable billing staff that works tirelessly to leverage any coverage that you may have so that your out-of-pocket responsibility can be as low as possible.

What is the recovery time for All-on-4?

Barring any post-operative complications, most All-on-4 patients will be able to go back to school or sedentary work within two to three days. If you have a more active job, you may need to wait a few more days to avoid disrupting the healing process. Keep in mind that issues like infection can extend your recovery timeline, so it’s important to follow all of the instructions that we provide for self-care of the surgical site after your All-on-4 procedure. Doing so will greatly reduce your risk of complications, allowing you to get back to your routine sooner.