Misconceptions

As informative as television advertisements are, they can also create confusion and misconceptions about a safe and highly-innovative teeth replacement dental procedure like the All-on-4® dental implant system.

It is useful for dental patients, bombarded by literature about the All-on-4® dental restoration technique, to be aware of 13 common myths or misconceptions and facts related to All-on-4® dental implants.

Misconception 1: The All-on-4® restorations are exactly like real teeth

Fact: The All-on-4® restorations FUNCTION like real teeth. They are, in fact, upper or lower jaw dentures that are supported by four or more implants inserted into the jaw bone. The wearer doesn’t need to take these dentures out as they work like artificial teeth connected to the jaw using dental implants.

Misconception 2: The All-on-4® procedure is new, and owes its popularity to television advertisements, not research

Fact: Many dentists have 25-year-old dental-models that illustrate the All-on-4® concept – indicating that it’s definitely not a new fad.

With the increasing availability of versatile implants like the angled implants, the possibility of missing nerve bundles in the lower jaw, and farther extension of teeth has also increased. This increase in procedural mistakes makes an All-on-4® procedure more desirable and the preferred option for dental restoration these days.

Misconception 3: All-on-4® clinics are the best places for dental implants

Fact: Clinics offer a myriad of services. Some clinics offer specific services and, therefore, do not perform other implant procedures. For instance, they’ll only perform full extractions, then follow those up with an All-on-4® restoration. Ultimately, the best place to go for any dental procedure is to seek the best available specialist.

Misconception 4: Clinics that perform the All-on-4® procedure advertise this option because many people need the procedure

Fact: The television advertisements for All-on-4® dental implants are made for patient awareness. Every patient who seeks All-on-4® may not be advised to ahead with the same. Specialty clinics have to meticulously screen the patients by performing many tests to check for All-on-4® viability. Only a few of the patients who come in for testing are approved for an All-on-4® dental procedure after verification of their health report, financial capability, anatomical build, and jaw bone quality. Frequently, non-specialty clinics use All-on-4® advertisements to attract patients to visit their clinic and get them to choose other dental procedures.

Misconception 5: An All-on-4® restoration is only performed in a specialty clinic

Fact: Your treatment will usually involve visiting a personal dentist and working with a dental surgeon who will surgically place the implants. Your dentist will recommend a surgeon who’ll design the treatment plan.

Misconception 6: The All-on-4® treatment costs are either too high or low

Fact: The treatment cost of the All-on-4® restoration depends on the treatment plan that’s devised for you, the patient. If your jawbone isn’t viable, the bone will either be removed or restored to ensure that the All-on-4® restoration adheres, and your smile remains radiant. In case the surgeon feels that you need more implants for optimal support, you’ll have to get more implants in place.

The specialty clinic in Dallas Fort Worth offers bundled fee packages as well as individual surgery-based payment options. Usually, a bundled fee package covers all the necessary procedures and is also cheaper than individually charged procedures.

Charges often fall in the ranges given below:

• $25,000 to $30,000 per jaw
• $50,000 to $60,000 for full mouth restoration

Misconception 7: The pricing of a bundled fee package available at specialty clinics will not be fixed as surgeons discover the extent of oral damage during surgery. No patient will, therefore, get competing fee structures from other clinics.

Fact: All dentists are aware of the uncertain fee structures as the procedure leans heavily on oral surgery. If you approach other dentists, they’ll match the fees charged by the specialty clinics.

Misconception 8: After getting All-on-4®, you won’t have to brush and floss

Fact: Implants comprise of fake teeth, not fake gums. Your implants won’t decay, but your mouth is still susceptible to gum disease. The All-on-4® restoration contains a minimum of four implants to provide optimal support. If you develop gum disease, you may lose an implant, which means that you lose a vital part of your dental restoration. To avoid getting any oral disease, including gum disease, you need to brush and floss around the implants.

Misconception 9: Implants are replaceable

Fact: No, dental implants are not replaceable. Implants are affixed to a viable bone. Losing an implant means you’ve also lost or damaged the supporting bone around it. Finding viable bone in the same area again would be rare. Additionally, getting new implants in place of damaged ones takes time and costs money.

You should focus on implant maintenance instead, especially for All-on-4® dental restorations. Moreover, in a typical All-on-4® dental restoration, the older fitting on the top will not fit into the new implant.

Misconception 10: All-on-4® doesn’t really provide “teeth in a day”

Fact: All-on-4® definitely provides “teeth in a day” for patients who qualify for the procedure. For these patients, the teeth extraction and temporary All-on-4® placement will be performed on a single day of surgery. The preoperative appointments for planning the surgery and the postoperative follow-up visits don’t happen on the same day for any patient.

Misconception 11: Getting implant placement, and crown restoration done on the same day is the best practice

Fact: This claim is mostly a marketing ploy designed to make more people consider “teeth in a day.” The implant placement procedure results in surgical scarring, which needs to heal. An immediate crown restoration is not considered as the best approach as postoperative recuperation takes at least three months.

In fact, chewing food after getting a single dental implant on the same day is difficult. With All-on-4®, multiple implants are braced to each other – making the immediate restoration of the crown a painful procedure. Generally, dental surgeons wait for the scarring around the implants to heal before the restoration work begins. The patients temporarily use a denture while they wait for the All-on-4® implants.

Misconception 12: Mini-implants can also be done using the All-on-4® restoration as per television advertisements

Fact: All-on-4® deals with the permanent restoration of teeth, and the implants can be removed only by a dentist. However, mini-implants or small diameter implants (SDI), can be removed by the wearer. They are smaller, so they offer minimal support to the gums, making them easily removable for cleaning.

Mini-implants can also be used when a wider bone surface isn’t available for regular implants to adhere to. They are narrower and can, therefore, be embedded deep into the bone. Additionally, mini-implants are cheaper and more convenient to use than traditional complete dentures. They are easy to use, provide an aesthetic benefit, and cost a fraction of what an All-on-4® restoration ideally costs.

Misconception 13: The All-on-4® restoration procedure is too expensive

Fact: Each All-on-4® restoration patient has to first qualify for receiving the procedure. With increasing publicity, newer implants, and fee bundling, the overall cost of All-on-4® has reduced.

Overall, dentists suggest that you consider the benefits offered by an All-on-4® restoration, regular removable denture, or mini-implants, and choose the most suitable treatment method in consultation with your dental specialist.

At the All on 4 Dental Implant Center in Dallas Fort Worth, Board-certified Prosthodontist Dr. Darian Kaar will help you through the process of receiving the All-on-4® treatment. A highly-experienced and skilled prosthodontist, Dr. Kaar has restored the teeth of many patients with commendable success. Dr. Darian Kaar holds a Master of Science degree in Dentistry and completed his Prosthodontics degree in 2002.

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