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Tooth loss can be devastating, no matter how many teeth you lose. But for patients who have experienced drastic tooth loss, determining a tooth replacement treatment can be difficult. Traditional dentures offer greater affordability, but many patients don’t want to deal with embarrassing “slipping” that could occur when eating or speaking. Luckily, there is a treatment option that offers full-mouth tooth replacement with the security and stability of dental implants. It’s called All-on-4® and for the right candidates, it can restore a bite and smile that are extremely lifelike. So, are you a good candidate for treatment? Learn more about the details of this restorative treatment and if it could be the best option for you following extensive tooth loss. Candidacy for All-on-4® The first and most important thing patients should understand about All-on-4® treatment is that it can only be performed once all natural teeth have been lost or extracted. This means that for patients with one or more natural teeth, a dentist or oral surgeon will need to perform extractions before the treatment can begin. This is because All-on-4® is a full-mouth tooth replacement option. For patients wishing to retain any remaining teeth, partial dentures or dental bridges could be additional options to discuss with your dentist. In addition, patients must: Possess sufficient jaw bone tissue density. Sometimes after a patient loses one or more teeth, the jaw bone becomes weaker around the cavity left behind by the lost tooth root. This leads to softer, weaker bone tissues which can make it difficult for a prosthodontist to place dental implants for the All-on-4® treatment. In some cases, weak bone tissue is supplemented by a bone graft where natural or synthetic bone tissue is applied to the area and allowed to fully heal so that it integrates fully with the jaw. This preliminary procedure will delay the All-on-4® procedure but can improve the likelihood of candidacy. Have no existing periodontal disease. It’s important that patients have good oral health before receiving treatment. This will not only improve the recovery process and increase the chances of a successful All-on-4® load, but will ensure that the All-on-4® dental implant load lasts for a lifetime. Any existing periodontal disease or other oral infection or decay must be treated and eliminated before treatment begins. Not smoke, or be able to stop smoking during recovery. Smoking is detrimental not just to your oral health, but your overall health. Smokers have an increased chance of experiencing implant failure. For this reason, and for a myriad of other health reasons, it’s recommended that you quit smoking before receiving All-on-4® treatment. If unable to quit smoking, most prosthodontists recommend that you at least stop smoking during the early stages of recovery to increase the chances of a successful treatment. Have no pre-existing conditions that could inhibit recovery. Some health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, or other conditions could affect your ability to heal following surgery. Some medications may also alter your mouth’s ability to heal properly. Each patient’s individual case will be examined by the prosthodontist before ruling whether or not a medical condition or medication makes them unsuitable for surgery. In some cases, pausing medication for a brief period or using alternative implant methods may help improve a patient’s candidacy. All-on-4® Treatment in Skokie, IL Dr. Abraham Stein of The Stein Center for Advanced Dentistry has completed over 1,500 All-On-4® immediate load implant cases during his career. Many of the patients he treated had very complex anatomical and physiological issues that had to be overcome. If you are looking for the best All-on-4® provider in the greater Chicago area, contact our practice to schedule a consultation with Dr. Stein, the All-on-4® expert!
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prosthodontist, All-on-4, full mouth tooth replacement, tooth loss, dental implants, restorative dentistry,
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