Dental implants are a hugely beneficial treatment for thousands of patients the world over, restoring function and pleasant aesthetics to countless smiles.
Depending on the needs of the patient, there are numerous options available. Two that are frequently used are traditional implants and all-on-4 dental implants – but what is the difference between the two?
When it comes to dental implants, Chelmsford patients have been benefiting from the services of Advance Dental Clinic for many years. So continue reading as the practice’s experts break down the similarities and differences between the two techniques – and which could be most useful to you.
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What are traditional dental implants?
Dental implants in their most basic form revolutionised tooth replacement treatment, and have been doing so for decades now.
A fixture (commonly made from titanium, thanks to its biocompatibility) is surgically inserted into the mouth and fused with the jawbone. Then, an abutment and crown are placed atop the fixture, presenting the look of a natural tooth.
What are all-on-4 dental implants?
Rather than being used to replace just one or two teeth, all-on-4 implants are used to replace full arches of teeth; ideal for patients with extensive damage or structural tooth issues across multiple teeth.
The key differences between traditional dental implants and all-on-4 implants
Number of implants
Traditional dental implants are placed on a tooth-by-tooth basis. Meaning if a patient required multiple teeth to be replaced, these would be done one at a time, each with their own dedicated implant.
All-on-4 implants, on the other hand, can achieve a full arch replacement with just 4 implants; 2 verticle and 2 angled (for support). Making it perfect when many teeth need to be replaced at once.
Implantation method
Traditional implants are placed directly into the jaw vertically. Because of this, they often require greater bone volume and even bone grafting (more on this in a moment)
As mentioned above, some of the all-on-4 implants are placed vertically to offer maximum bone contact and support, while avoiding catching nerves, which could be quite painful for the patient.
Bone grafting
If a patient has suffered significant bone loss in the jaw, they may need to undergo bone grafting to support traditional vertical implants.
This isn’t usually the case with all-on-4, though, as the angled placement of part of the implants offers enough support to negate the need for excess bone structure.
Recovery time
With both all-on-4 and traditional implants, full recovery time can be up to six months to account for initial healing, osseointegration and placement of final dentures.
However, if you’ve endured bone grafting with traditional implants, this could be up to six months longer.
Price
Even though more teeth may be replaced using all-on-4 dental implants, they’re often cheaper than traditional implants because so many teeth are being taken care of in one fell swoop.
Because traditional implants must be completed one at a time, this can drive up the price.
Are you in need of dental implants? Speak to the experts
If you’re concerned that your teeth are beyond repair and you need an all-encompassing solution that gives you your beautiful smile back, dental implants are likely the way to go.
We’ve already mentioned Advance Dental Clinic and their staff of dental experts who are ready and waiting to help. But if you’re based a few minutes outside of Chelmsford and are still interested in dental implants, Hornchurch is another option. Highland View Surgery is highly recognised and well-equipped to deal with your dental implant needs.
