- Posted on: Feb 13 2019
Grand Rapids, MI
If you have suffered from tooth loss in Grand Rapids, you probably have been searching for a replacement for your missing teeth. Replacing those missing teeth is vital to the health, function, and comfort of your mouth. Plus, replacing them also means you can feel confident about your smile! The most long-lasting tooth replacement option in Grand Rapids is dental implants.
Implant dentists in Grand Rapids at A Life of Smiles offer two different implant procedures to rebuild your smile – the All-on-4® implants and traditional dental implants. You may not be sure which option is right for you, although a consultation with us is the best place to start. However, we would like to provide you with some basic information concerning each option to help you decide which one you might want to get.
Both types of implants use titanium posts that are surgically placed in the jawbone to serve as an artificial tooth root. Atop of the implants are custom designed porcelain crowns that are attached to the implant via an abutment. While both procedures sound similar, there are a few differences to be aware of between the two.
All-on-4® Implants utilize at least four different implant posts that are strategically placed in the jawbone. Only these four implants are necessary to support an entire arch of replacement teeth. Since there are only four implants, the replacement teeth are fused together, although they retain the illusion of separate teeth.
The cost of All-on-4® Implants generally is less expensive than replacing every missing tooth with separate dental implants. So, we’d like to say that All-on-4® Implants tends to be more cost-effective if placing dental implants to replace an entire arch of teeth.
Bone strength is another factor that makes All-on-4® Implants a better option for most patients that are considering dental implants. This is because with All-on-4® Implants, we use shorter implants that are placed in the front part of the jawbone, and therefore the procedure does not require a substantial amount of jawbone to be present.
One of the most significant differences is that the All-on-4® system can be installed in a single day, unlike with dental implants that require at least six months of healing time before the final restorations can be placed.
Traditional implants require individual implant posts for each tooth that is being replaced. Therefore, traditional implants are generally best for patients who need only one or two teeth replaced at a time. Because each tooth being replaced requires a separate implant, the cost can be significant if we were to replace an entire dental arch of teeth, about 14, instead of just one or two.
When it comes to traditional implants, they require a healthy level of jawbone to be present in order for the implants to fuse properly to the bone. For some patients, this may require an additional procedure known as a bone graft before the implants can be placed. This not only adds to the cost of the procedure overall but extends the timeline.
In general, if you need to replace an entire dental arch of missing teeth, the All-on-4® Implants are the best solution.
All-on-4® Implants offered in Grand Rapids
If you would like to learn more about All-on-4® Implants or to see if they are the right choice for you, please call A Life of Smiles at (616) 458-0631 to schedule a consultation.
A Life of Smiles welcomes patients of Big Rapids, Grand Rapids, and Holland.
Posted in: Dental Implants