Understanding the All-on-4/All-on-X Process

What are All-on-4 Dental Implants? 

The dental industry has made great strides in the last decade, and part of that progress has been possible due to technological changes and vast improvements in the types of equipment now available. As with any new technology, understanding the process, capabilities, and limits of the technology is vital to ensuring the best possible treatment for each patient.

New technology has changed how we deal with dental care and treatment. Gone are the days when crooked teeth could only be fixed with braces, and losing teeth meant uncomfortable and often ill-fitting dentures. While knowing we have more options is exciting, the sheer variety of treatments can make it hard for people to know what treatment will work for them.

We at Meza Dental realize that building trust in a new process often requires a better understanding. So, we’d like to explain your options, so you have enough knowledge to choose the dental treatment best suited to your situation and needs.

In many cases, the most viable new procedure for people needing a full arch replacement is All-on-4. You will also see it listed as All-on-X because the “x” in this case stands for the number of dental implants required, which depends entirely on the structure and health of a patient’s jawbone. For this article, we will refer to it as All-on-X.

So, What Are All-on-X Implants?

It is a process by which patients who require extensive work, such as a complete arch replacement, to restore functionality to their mouths can do so without the time and expense of many individual implants.

Instead, based on the strength and health of your jawbone, the dentist will determine the best placement of 4-8 implants per arch (top, bottom, or both) and use those implants to fix a prosthesis to them permanently. This prosthesis will rest against these implants where it isn’t visible and provide the look of both teeth and gums when you smile. This prosthesis is built to order and based on exact measurements to ensure proper functionality and to create a smile that looks amazing.

Once perfectly fitted, it will be permanently attached to the implants put into your jaw, so there is no need to remove them except for repair or maintenance. This type of prosthesis provides patients with a sturdy chewing surface that is stress-free and can be maintained much in the same way as your natural teeth. Unlike traditional dentures or bridges, your permanent prosthesis will be made from highly durable zirconia and fitted to your mouth for the most comfortable chewing possible.

Am I a Candidate for the All-on-X Procedure?

If you are missing a few teeth but otherwise have good dental health, the All-on-X procedure would not be the best option for you, and here is why.

The All-on-X procedure requires the removal of all of your teeth. This doesn’t make sense for someone whose teeth are fully functional. No matter how advanced the technology gets, keeping your natural teeth is always the best option. That is because your natural teeth are held in place by ligaments that act like little shock absorbers, helping to gauge how hard they bite down, thus protecting your teeth from breakage.

However, suppose you have multiple missing or broken teeth, are experiencing a lot of pain, and have already tried a partial bridge or dentures. In that case, you might need this treatment to restore your smile to its original state.

If you have lost bone density or some of your jawbones are not thick enough to hold individual implants, the All-on-X treatment allows the dentist to find the most viable places within your jaw, place the implants there, and then build the prosthesis to match.

Think of the prosthesis as a bridge. The more pilings the bridge has, the stronger the structure.

So, how do you know if you have enough bone structure? Modern advancements in technology mean that dentists have access to digital imaging equipment that is worlds away from the X-ray machines of the past. While X-ray imaging is still valuable for many procedures, radiographic images, such as CT Scans, allow your dentist to see how thick and dense your jaw bone is. This helps them find the best possible locations for those all-important implants.

What is “Teeth-in-a-Day?”

Perhaps the most common question about this type of procedure is, “How long will it take?” There are a wide variety of opinions on the topic.

Today’s standard procedure for the All-on-X method is “Teeth-in-a-Day.”

So, what is it?

“Teeth-In-A-Day” is a procedure that allows patients with teeth extracted to have their implants placed on the same day, and restorations are done immediately. In other words, these offices will provide you with a complete set of permanent prosthetic teeth on the same day as your extraction.

While many dental practices offer “Teeth-in-a-Day” services online, this procedure has some extensive drawbacks. Here are a few:

• Your jaw and gums must be fully healed for your prosthesis to fit properly and provide full functionality in the most comfortable way possible. Healing takes time, up to 4-8 months!
• Improperly fitted pieces may allow the introduction of harmful bacteria, which leads to infections and potential damage to the underlying bone.
• Improperly fitted pieces break.
• Ensuring that your permanent prosthesis fits perfectly takes time

Why Meza Dental Seldom Uses the “Teeth-in-a-Day” Method

At Meza Dental, we aim to ensure that the job is done right the first time so that your new smile lasts as long as possible and provides you with the best possible comfort and functionality. The idea that you can get a significant dental surgery done in a day and walk out with a brand new smile can be tempting, we understand. Believe it or not, most people don’t enjoy going to the dentist!

Still, the adage, “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is,” definitely applies in this case, and here is why:

• Many teeth-in-a-day procedures you see on the internet will remove all your teeth, place implants, and create a prosthesis in one visit. Still, in many cases, the final prosthesis is made from low-grade materials such as PMMA, a polymer, simply because it’s faster to produce. These materials won’t hold up for long under normal conditions and require much more maintenance and repair. The multi-step process allows you to switch this temporary prosthesis for a permanent one made of more robust materials after your mouth has healed (about six months)
• The Teeth-in-a-Day method requires repeated fittings/follow-ups (every two weeks), which isn’t practical for international patients.
• Another issue with this type of service is that removing your teeth is major surgery and will result in much swelling. Any measurements taken to fit your prosthesis can’t be accurate. The healing process can take months, depending on the work done and your overall health. While you heal and the inflammation fades, the size of your gums/jaw will shrink, changing the fit and potentially creating stresses that will damage your new teeth.
• Implants are attached by using a drill that has threads and screwing the implant into the hole in the same way you would a bolt. While the implant is fresh, those tiny threads only hold it in place. Over time, the bone regrows around the implant, cementing it into place and providing additional support. This means the prosthesis can better handle the load you put on it when you chew. If you put too much strain on it before it is fully healed, the implants can loosen and move, changing how your new smile fits and functions and potentially causing breakage.

What is the Process Used by Meza Dental?

Meza Dental prefers to take the time to do the job right. A properly made and fitted permanent prosthesis is created to your measurements (after the jaw and gums are healed) out of zirconia, a material so strong and durable that it can last 10-15 years. That’s the kind of smile we want to offer our patients. The kind that lasts! No one wants to spend their retirement dealing with repairs every few months or struggling with ill-fitting teeth. That’s why we prefer to work on a two-part process.

Now, don’t worry. We won’t send you home toothless and expect you to gum it while you heal. The first part of our process is the same as the smile-in-a-day process. Your teeth will be extracted, and your implants will be placed in a single visit. You will be fitted for a custom-made set of temporary teeth to maintain your smile and your ability to function while you heal, which is essential to your quality of life.

*Note—this procedure does not replace all 28 teeth. Instead, you will have 10-12 teeth per arch depending on your needs.

The main difference is that we ask you to come back for a second visit once your jawbone and gums have fully healed so that we can accurately measure your mouth in its normal state. At that point, we can use a new scan to create the smile you’ve always wanted digitally, and then we can build a prototype out of plastic so that it can be inserted, tested for fit and aesthetics, and adjusted as needed. This step takes time, but the result is worth it!

Once we are delighted that it’s perfect, we will create your permanent prosthesis out of zirconia. Zirconia is ideal for this type of work because it is durable and robust, and its surface is so smooth that it helps prevent bacteria growth!

The beauty of dental tourism is that while we work on creating your perfect smile, you’re free to explore the beauty of a tropical paradise. We have staff dedicated to helping you plan the perfect trip. They are experts in their field, and you can trust them to help you create an experience you will never forget.

Once the prosthesis is complete and installed and you’ve had your final follow-up, you can expect to enjoy your smile for years to come with minimal maintenance. We will send you home with plenty of information about caring for and maintaining your new smile so you can forget all about it and get back to enjoying life the way it was meant to be enjoyed.

A Final Word About the All-on-X Procedure

As we’ve mentioned before, your smile is as unique as you are. While the All-on-X Procedure isn’t for everyone, it is the kind of treatment that was impossible to imagine not so long ago. In the 24 years since this procedure was first used, there have been countless advancements in dentistry, and advancements continue to be made.

The very best thing you can do, the first step to finding your perfect smile, is talk to a qualified dentist. Tell them your concerns. Talk about your dental history. You may be surprised at how many possibilities exist in digital dentistry.

If you have a trusted dental care provider, contact them. If you’d prefer, our staff is always ready and willing to answer your questions. Just click the link below for a consultation. We are happy to provide a free estimate, with no obligation so that you can start your journey to healthy, functional, beautiful teeth.