66% of Britains have had at least one tooth extracted. 16% of adults needed to see an emergency dentist in the last 12 month. Almost half of those cases were due to tooth decay.
Even missing one tooth in your mouth is bad for your health. It can cause your other teeth to move towards the open area. This affects your ability to chew and clean your teeth properly.
It can also lead to bone loss as well as psychological and social issues. If you’ve lost more than one tooth, the problem becomes greater.
Which is why all on four dental implants are often recommended. However, you may also have the option of all six dental implants.
If you’re wondering what the difference is between all on four and all on six dental implants are, keep reading. We’re sharing with you everything you need to know to make the right decision.
Facts About Four Dental Implants
If you’ve lost a significant number of teeth, you may already be wearing dentures. But there are problems with dentures such as:
- Difficulties with speaking and eating
- Dentures move around in your mouth
- Mouth and gums irritated
- Mouth infections
You may be looking for a more comfortable and permanent solution.
Benefits of All in Four Dental Implants Near Me
Many people opt for all on four dental implants because there are myriad benefits such as:
- You get a whole new set of teeth in only one visit
- There’s only one surgery involved
- The implant is securely placed deep in the jawbone to prevent shifting or loosening
- Bone grafts are rarely necessary
- Restores your entire smile
All in four dental implants also tend to be more affordable than other treatment alternatives. But you may also want to opt for all on six implants.
What to Expect With Both Types of Implants
The procedure for all on four and all on six implants is the same. Prior to the day of surgery, your dentist will take x-rays, photos, and impressions.
This will help the surgical dentist recommend the best option based on the health of your current teeth, gums, and bone density. This will also help her or him determine the best placement for your implants.
The dentist measures bone density and quality. They’ll also take measurements of the shape and protrusion of your sinus cavity. This helps to ensure the titanium rods fit properly.
What to Expect On the Day of the Implant Surgery
Any remaining teeth in the area will be extracted.
Next, an NHS dentist will surgically place dental implants in your jaw. These are bridges that are supported by either on four or six dental implants. The implants are made from your choice of materials.
Types of Materials Implants are Made From
Often it’s acrylic fused to porcelain, titanium or monolithic zirconia which is then stacked to a cobalt-chromium frame. Costs vary depending on your choice of materials.
However, most patients choose titanium because of the following reasons:
- Strong
- Lightweight
- Non-toxic
- Resistant to corrosion
Titanium also has a high long-term success rate and has been used in the medical industry for decades.
How the Implants Help
The implants help support fixed or removable dentures. The implants will also help to maintain the structural integrity of your jaw after tooth loss.
Both all in four and all in six dental implants take between two and three hours to complete. The patient usually receives general anaesthesia during either procedure, which is especially helpful for those patients suffering from dental anxiety.
Implants Bond With Your Jaw
The implants then bond with the jaw. This mimics the pressure placed on the jaw by your natural teeth.
Both procedures are known as “All On” because the removable or fixed denture fastens to either four or six implants rather than requiring an implant for each tooth that’s missing.
Thanks to this new approach, there’s no longer a need for jaw bone grafting. There’s also less healing time and temporary dentures are typically installed at the time of the surgery.
You Have Options With Your Permanent Dentures After Implant Surgery
Permanent dentures usually take three months to prepare and then they are installed. You can choose several forms of permanent dentures.
Some options are fixed and permanently attached. Other options can be removed for cleaning and are known as overdentures.
The Difference Between Four on One and Six on One Dental Implants
The biggest difference between these two types of implants is that six on one dental implants provides you with two extra implants. This provides the patient with better strength and stability.
Most patients find it results in a more comfortable and longer-lasting smile. By placing two additional implants, the pressure when you bite down is dispersed more evenly.
How Much of Your Teeth and Gums You Have Left
Other factors are how many teeth and root you have left. Patients who are missing most of their top or bottom teeth often select four on one implants.
Those who only have the right teeth or tooth roots remaining are often recommended to invest in all on six implants.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants
The best cosmetic dentist London will exam your teeth, jaw, and gums to assess whether you are a good candidate for all on four or all on six dental implants. However, there are a few factors that make certain patients good candidates for this type of surgery.
- You’re missing a lot of your natural teeth
- Most of your remaining natural teeth are in bad condition
- Your dentures are uncomfortable
- You’re suffering from bone loss, gum disease, and have unstable teeth
However, talk to your dentist and learn everything you can about the procedure. Knowing what to expect both during the surgery and after will help you make the right decision.
How to Find the Best Cosmetic Dentist in London
The all on four procedure was clinically proven, developed, and patented by the company Nobel Biocare. They’re a world-leading company based in Switzerland.
There are other types of implants available on the market, but these are the best. Nobel Biocare also offers a lifetime warranty on their products.
What You Need to Know Before You Get Dental Implants
Dental implants aren’t for everyone. And you need to be aware of a few facts before you get them so you can prepare yourself.
While your new teeth are placed on the same day as the surgery, they are not your permanent teeth. You won’t be able to test these temporary teeth for their comfort, appearance or bite. You can only do that when you receive your permanent teeth.
You cannot get all in four implants in the molar areas of the mouth because the bite force is too great. You also need a high level of bond in order to hold your implants in place.
Difficulting Adapting to Bridge Gap
Expect that there will be a different feel to an all on four bridge than with natural teeth.
With natural teeth, you feel the soft tissue and then your teeth. With all on four bridges, you feel real soft tissue, then fake soft tissue, then your teeth.
Difficulty With Speech
The bulkiness of the bridge may make it a little difficult to speak as you once did. While it may seem minor to others, it may feel like a big difference to you.
That’s because implant-supported bridges need to vertical and horizontal bulk for strength. Often bone and soft tissue volumes must be replaced, even if the natural bone and soft tissues are healthy.
That results in the portion of the bridge next to the soft tissue being bulkier than your natural teeth and gums. Speech sounds such as “D,” “N,” “S,” and “T” may be affected.
Proprioception
Proprioception is the awareness or perception of the movement and position of the body. Teeth become sensitive to low forces due to periodontal mechanoreceptors (PMRs), which are present in the periodontal ligament.
It will now take about 10 times more force to register the same amount of proprioception as a natural tooth. It’s similar to a tooth being affected by local anaesthesia.
The result is that you may end up biting down harder because you’re not getting the same feeling when you bite down as you did before the surgery. This could lead to fracturing the restoration or even bone loss.
Parafunction
Parafunctional habits are things like clenching, irregular chewing cycles, and bruxism. All of these bad habits may impact what procedure you decide to have done.
It may be necessary to replace all of your teeth if parafunction is present. Your NHS dentist may recommend a bar-supported overdenture.
You can remove your overdenture at night and replace it with a flat-planed night guard. This extra prosthesis helps you protect the supporting implants and bone by reducing strain.
Contact Us
If you think you’re a good candidate for all on four dental implants or all on six dental implants, the next step is to talk to a qualified NHS dentist. Go over the procedure, consider the costs, and then decide what’s best for your situation.
We can help. We’re here to help you achieve your best and healthiest smile. Click here to contact us to schedule your consultation.
