Dental implants are the best permanent solution for missing teeth. Unlike dentures, which are removable, a dental implant is attached directly to your jawbone, with a crown that looks and functions exactly like a natural tooth.
But what if you have an entire row of missing teeth, or you even need to replace all your teeth? Will that require a painstaking process of installing one dental implant after another? Until recently, the answer was yes.
Until the arrival of the all-on-X dental implant changed the game. With this new technology, you can replace an entire row of missing teeth with as few as four implants. Let’s explore this revolutionary treatment and how it could be the solution you need.
All-on-X dental implants are known by a few different terms, including full-mouth dental implants and full-arch dental implants. You may also hear different numbers referring to the procedure: All-on-4, All-on-6. These numbers refer to the amount of implants that your dentist recommends.
When installing a single dental implant, your dentist first may need to prepare the jawbone with a bone graft. Your teeth actually help to maintain the strength and shape of your jawbone because when you chew, your teeth press on the bone. When your teeth are missing, your jawbone starts to atrophy. The bone needs to be strong enough to support an implant, so a bone graft may be necessary to restore its strength.
Next, the implant is inserted into your gums and allowed to fuse with your jawbone, a process called osseointegration. This takes 4-6 months, but once the process is finished, the implant feels like a natural part of your body. The final step is to attach the crown to the implant. The crown is the visible portion of the whole apparatus, basically an artificial tooth. It can be customized to your preference of color and shape.
In an all-on-X dental implant procedure, four or more implants are inserted at the same time. Unlike a standard implant, which goes in straight, all-on-X implants are inserted at an angle, utilizing more of the jawbone for a strong, sturdy foundation.
Once osseointegration is complete, an entire row of artificial teeth is attached to the implants. Instead of painstakingly installing artificial teeth one by one, all the teeth are installed at once, saving on costs and procedure time. You’ll be able to walk out of the dentist’s office with your smile fully restored. As long as you keep caring for your implants like you would your natural teeth, they can last for decades.
Contact Shervin M. Louie, DDS for more information on All-on-X dental implants. Dr. Louie has been practicing in Los Angeles for almost 30 years, serving many celebrity patients and becoming a fixture in the community. Dr. Louie is here to help you achieve your brightest smile. Schedule a dental implant consultation and begin your journey to restoring your full set of sparkling, beautiful teeth.
Sports and physical activity are great for overall health, but they do come with a…
After dental implant surgery, most patients are focused on healing and getting back to normal…
When we talk about veneers with patients, one of the first concerns that comes up…
Dental implants are often viewed as a long-term investment in oral health. Because of that,…
Patients sometimes schedule dental treatment shortly before a trip, and it is not unusual for…
Dental implants are designed to feel stable and secure, very much like natural teeth. When…