What Are the Differences Between Traditional Implants and All-on-4® Implants?

Missing teeth can be embarrassing, but besides affecting your self-esteem, did you know tooth loss can predispose you to oral health issues like tooth decay, gum disease, and bone loss? Thankfully, you can rely on All-on-4® implants in Kissimmee to restore your smile and oral function to their original state.  

Traditional dental implants were the method of choice for replacing missing teeth for years, but when All-on-4® became available, the interest shifted. What makes All-on-4® different from traditional dental implants, and why do people love them?

All-on-4® Versus Traditional Dental Implants

1.     Number of Implants Used  

The most obvious difference between traditional dental implants and All-on-4® is the number of dental implants used. With traditional dental implants, your oral surgeon will use one dental implant for every missing tooth. The procedure is longer and more expensive. It also requires a significant amount of jawbone. Meanwhile, All-on-4®, as the name implies, only need four dental implants to anchor an entire arch of teeth.  

2.     The Placement of the Implants  

All-on-4® dental implants are typically angled at 30 to 45 degrees and are placed toward the back of your mouth and the anterior maxilla. These are the areas that have high bone density. Traditional dental implants are embedded vertically to maximize the bone available. All implants are angled differently because it offers greater stability and support for your artificial teeth.  

3.     The Need for Bone Grafting  

If you opted for traditional dental implants and you don’t have enough jawbone structure to support the implants, your oral surgeon will recommend you undergo bone grafting.  

Bone grafting is a separate procedure that involves transplanting bone to repair and rebuild the jawbone structure to make it strong enough to anchor the implants securely. This additional procedure will cost you time and money. In contrast, All-on-4® dental implants can work with your existing bone eliminating the need for another surgery.    

4.     Placement of Teeth

Another advantage of All-on-4® dental implants is you can get your new artificial teeth right away. This means the artificial teeth are attached on the same day once the implants are embedded. Meanwhile, with traditional dental implants, you must wait several months before your artificial teeth can be attached.  

5.     Cost

The price difference is also worth mentioning. Traditional dental implants are significantly more expensive than All-on-4® dental implants because they need more dental implants and may need bone grafting. You can save more with All-on-4® since you’ll only require fewer dental implants, and your oral surgeon will work with your existing jawbone.  

6.     Recovery Time

The recovery time is also different. Traditional implants require an extended recovery period, during which patients must follow strict dietary restrictions and avoid putting pressure on the implant site. Meanwhile, All-on-4® implants have a shorter recovery time, and patients can resume their normal diet and activities within a few days.

Find Out if You Qualify for All-on-4® Implants Kissimmee

Traditional and All-on-4® are great ways of replacing missing teeth, but they have differences. At Kissimmee Family Dentistry, we will assess your oral health and explain the procedures that might suit you. We take pride in our years of experience in the dental industry providing quality dental care for all our patients. Contact us for a consultation.  

Nobel Biocare, NobelProcera, NobelGuide and All-on-4 are trademarks of the Nobel Biocare group.

‍