Tooth loss can detract from your daily quality of life in several ways. Not only might you feel self-conscious about the changes in your appearance, but you could also struggle to chew food thoroughly or clearly enunciate certain words. This is especially true if you have no natural teeth remaining.
Your dentist can provide All-On-4 dental implants to completely rebuild your arches, but many patients hesitate to proceed because they’re unsure what’s involved in the procedure and recovery. Continue reading to learn more about it!
How Do All-On-4 Dental Implants Work?
Like traditional implants, this treatment involves surgically situating several titanium posts into your jawbone to anchor your replacement teeth. However, it can take three to six months to recover from the standard implant procedure before your restoration can be placed because your jaw must produce enough new bone growth to fuse with the metal material before you can proceed.
With All-On-4 treatment, your new teeth are anchored to the metal support rods on the same day they’re placed. This minimizes your wait time so you can enjoy the benefits of a full mouth of teeth much sooner than you would have otherwise.
How Long Does All-On-4 Recovery Take?
Patients who rebuild entire rows of teeth with traditional dental implants might require up to eight titanium posts strategically embedded in their jawbone to anchor their new teeth. This takes considerably longer to heal than placing only four. Also, your dentures are immediately anchored to the posts following surgery, which helps the bone integrate faster with the metal material to stabilize your restoration.
As a result, many patients who opt for All-On-4 implants return to their normal routine in as few as several days following their procedures, but it’s important to follow your dentist’s post-op instructions to heal correctly without developing complications.
What Post-Op Instructions Should I Follow?
It’s imperative that you closely follow your provider’s directions after your surgery to avoid potential implant failure. Common instructions might include:
- Cleaning your mouth. After the first day, it’s usually safe to gently rinse your mouth with salt water to naturally disinfect bacteria that contribute to infections.
- Don’t touch the site. Try not to touch, bite, or chew anything immediately afterward to avoid irritation.
- Don’t smoke. The suction of drawing on a vape or cigarette can dislodge blood clots that must form for your gums to heal. Plus, they contain nicotine which suppresses your immune system and increases the likelihood of implant failure.
- Watch what you eat. You might be instructed to stick with soft foods and liquids for the first three months to give your new teeth time to heal.
If you’re unsure whether All-On-4 implants are right for you, consulting your dentist is the best way to find out!
About the Practice
At South Florida Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, patients benefit from a team of experts who provide various complex procedures to improve their oral and general health. Our board-certified providers share decades of combined experience, so you can trust that your smile is in skilled hands. Our welcoming and comfortable environment is sure to help you feel relaxed, and we utilize state-of-the-art equipment to deliver accurate treatment results intended to last. If you want to replace missing teeth with All-On-4 implants, you can request a consultation on the website or by calling one of our conveniently located offices!