Do you have an incomplete smile because you’ve lost teeth to decay or because of an accident? Have you tried dentures but found them difficult to use? All On Four Implants, a comfortable and long-term solution for patients who have multiple missing teeth, could be just what you’re looking for. This dental device replaces an entire row of teeth, and because it can be implanted in a single day, it is capable of immediately restoring a patient’s smile. Samuel F. Jirik, DDS of Cabot, AR, can help you determine if this cutting-edge implant technology is right for you.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are medical fixtures that replace the root of a tooth. They can be used to secure in place a single tooth or, in the case of All On Four Implants, an entire row of teeth. If you’ve lost one or more teeth, a dental implant is the most realistic and natural replacement option. Today’s dental implant technology represents a significant improvement over the implants of years past, which sometimes required months of treatment.
As the technology behind implants has evolved, they have become the gold standard when it comes to replacing one or more missing teeth. All On Four treatment is especially cutting edge. Patients who have All On Four implants have four small, titanium, screw-shaped posts inserted into the bone beneath the gum on each row of teeth. Those four implants are used to anchor an entire row of prosthetic teeth.
Because the implants are made out of titanium, they’ll naturally fuse to the jaw bone over time, meaning they’ll stay securely in the mouth for years to come. Since there are just four implant screws on each row of teeth, All On Four treatment is minimally invasive and can be completed in a single day.
How Do Implants Differ From Dentures?
Because they are securely screwed into the jaw, implants offer a similar biting strength to natural teeth. Dentures, on the other hand, attach to the gums with an adhesive and can be removed by the patient for cleaning. One of the big selling points of dentures is that they’re generally less expensive, but even the best-fitting dentures don’t offer the biting strength that implants do.
As a result, denture wearers typically face more restrictions in the foods they can eat. Sticky or gummy foods are off limits to denture wearers. Dentures also don’t preserve the jawbone the way that dental implants do.
How Do Implants Differ From Bridges?
Bridges are yet another dental device that can be used to replace missing teeth. With a bridge, a pair of crowns are installed on the natural teeth on either side of a missing tooth. Those crowns hold a bridge to which an artificial tooth is adhered. When you wear a dental bridge, you’re wearing an artificial tooth that is not affixed to the jaw but is essentially held in place by the teeth on either side of the space.
Bridges can keep things in place by preventing neighboring teeth from moving into the gap created by a lost tooth. They also can preserve the shape of the lower face, which can sometimes sink inward when a tooth is lost. But they cannot provide the bite strength of implants, and they gradually wear down the teeth they’re connected to.
Do Dental Implants Require Special Care?
The implants themselves can’t develop cavities, but patients are still at risk for gum disease, so it’s important to keep up good oral hygiene habits like regular brushing and flossing. Patients who have dental implants should also keep up with regular cleaning appointments with the dentist. Once you’ve undergone implant treatment, we’ll give you specific instructions on maintaining your dental device.
What Are the Advantages of All on Four Implants?
All On Four Implants offer a number of advantages, including fast, convenient treatment and the ability to support dental health.
Fast and Convenient
This type of implant can completely replace an entire row of teeth almost immediately, and often in a single office visit.
Greater Security
Once this type of implant is in place, it’s usually more secure than a traditional denture. Patients will be able to bite and chew without worrying that the dental device will slip out of place.
Sturdy Tooth Replacement
These Implants are a durable prosthetic that mimics all of the functions of a natural tooth. Once this implant is in place, patients can even bite into apples, corn on the cob, and other sturdy foods much like they do with natural teeth.
Supports Oral Health
This type of implant is good for dental health. It helps reduce bone loss along the jawline and recession in the gums.
Are All on Four Implants Right for Me?
To determine whether or not you’re a good candidate for this type of implant, Dr. Jirik will meet with you to review your oral health and your dental needs. But there are several signs that this technology could be right for you.
You’re Missing Numerous Teeth
Patients who are already missing — or in danger of losing — most or all of their upper or lower teeth are good candidates. Patients who have numerous teeth that are damaged, cracked, or broken may also benefit from this type of implant. Individuals who have lost just a single tooth are better suited for other types of treatments.
Your Bone Structure Is Healthy
This type of dental technology requires that the patient has sufficient bone structure and gum tissue in the jaw area to support — and serve as an anchor for — implants. When evaluating you for this treatment, our practice will use x-rays to help determine whether or not you have sufficient bone structure.
You Have Oral Issues That Can Benefit From Implants
Patients who have oral damage sustained during a car accident or a fall can sometimes be helped by implants. This type of implant can also be a good option for patients suffering from jaw decay or other types of oral decay.
You’re in Good Overall Health
The best candidates are in good overall health and have a healthy immune system. Uncontrolled diabetes, alcoholism, periodontal gum disease, and cancer can affect how implants fuse to the bone.
You’ve Unhappy With Dentures
Dentures are an easy and inexpensive way to fix the problem of missing teeth. But some patients find that dentures are uncomfortable and difficult to adjust to. All On Four Implants, on the other hand, are a comfortable long-term fix. These implants will stay securely in place in your mouth for years, making eating, drinking, and speaking comfortable and easy.
You Want a Natural-Looking Smile
This type of implant offers a number of aesthetic benefits. The prosthetic teeth will look natural and will immediately restore your smile. In addition, simply having a full set of teeth will improve the cosmetic appearance of your lower face. When multiple teeth are missing, the face can appear shrunken and the lips and chin begin to lose their shape. Having a full set of teeth in place corrects that problem. Most patients who have had this type of treatment report a boost in their self confidence. You’ll be amazed at how good it feels to have a full, healthy smile.
What Other Implant Options Do I Have?
Advancements in dental implants have made it easier to restore one or more missing teeth. Our practice offers a number of different options, depending on the needs of the patient.
Immediate Implants
Immediate implants, which are generally used to replace a single tooth, can be placed in the jaw and topped with a crown, all in one day. The immediacy of this type of treatment means that patients don’t have to go without a tooth while they wait for the mouth to heal after implants have been inserted. Like the All On Four implants, immediate implants also fully meld with the jaw over time, eventually becoming a permanent and secure fixture in the mouth.
Endosseous Implants
Endosseous implants are one of the most commonly used implants. These implants are inserted directly into the jawbone and fuse with it over time. This type of implant can be used to replace a single tooth or multiple teeth.
Subperiosteal Implants
If you’ve gradually lost bone in your jaw, perhaps as a result of years of denture-wearing, you may not be a candidate for Endosseous implants. But subperiosteal implants, which are inserted above the jaw bone under the gum tissue, might be an option. As few as three appointments may be all that is needed for this type of implant.
Bone Grafting
Implants are most successful when they are surrounded by healthy, thick bone. Patients who don’t have enough bone to support implants may be candidates for bone grafting, which can replace atrophied or missing bone.
Which Implant Is Best for Me?
We know the array of implant options out there can be dizzying. Fortunately, this isn’t a decision you have to make on your own. Our practice can work with you to assess your oral needs, sort through the options available, and determine the best one for you. If you’re interested in pursuing this type of implant, the first step will be to schedule a consultation, where we’ll review your x-rays, your medical history, and your oral health. We’ll develop an individualized treatment recommendation for you. After that, it’s just a matter of scheduling your treatment.
An All On Four treatment will begin with the extraction of any remaining teeth to make way for the full replacement. An x-ray may also be done to determine the best placement of the four dental implants, which are then placed during oral surgery. Once the implants are in place, the full row of prosthetic teeth can be snapped into place.
Who Will Oversee My Treatment?
Your treatment will be overseen by Dr. Samuel Jirik. Dr. Jirik received his Bachelor of Science degree in Health Science from the University of Arkansas in Little Rock. His dental degree was obtained from the University of Tennessee Center for Health Sciences.
An Arkansas native and a long-time Cabot resident, Dr. Jirik has been practicing dentistry since 1986 and has been placing and restoring dental implants since 1989. He is a pioneer in cosmetic bonded porcelain veneers and porcelain crowns, treatments he has been using since 1987. Dr. Jirik is also a Board Examiner for the American Board of Oral Implantology.
Why Choose Our Practice
Are you ready for a comfortable and long-term solution for your missing teeth? Our practice offers advanced dental technologies in a comfortable environment. We offer cosmetic, implant, and reconstructive dental services to patients of all ages, creating customized treatment plans for each individual. Call Samuel F. Jirik, DDS of Cabot, AR and ask about All On Four Implants.
