Comparison Between All-on-4 & Traditional Dental Implants

Choosing between dental implant options can be a difficult decision, especially when considering All-on-4 and traditional dental implants. Both methods offer effective solutions to missing teeth, but differ in their approach and benefits.

The All-on-4 dental implant procedure is a solution that can replace all the teeth in your mouth with just four implants. These implants are permanent and attached directly to the jawbone, making them non-removable.

In contrast, traditional dental implant procedures involve bone grafting, sinus augmentation, and osseointegration to place the implants. While it takes longer to recover from this treatment, it allows for the replacement of individual teeth.

In this guide, we will make an all-on-4 versus traditional dental implant comparison to show the difference between these two methods. You will also learn how these two methods work and which one you should choose.

A. What are All on 4 Dental Implants?

All-on-4 implants, also known as arch implants, are a type of dental implant that use four dental implants to support the upper arch or lower arch within a patient’s mouth. If the dental implants are to be done to support both of the arches, then it uses a total of eight procedures or implants.

All-on-4 implants require fewer dental implants than traditional methods to secure dentures, as they are usually placed within the jawbones. In this method, the implants are positioned at the back of the jaw and angled specifically to efficiently make contact with the bones.

Benefits of All-on-4 Dental Implants

Now that you know what all-on-4 dental procedures are, it’s time to look at the pros and cons of all on 4 dental implants.

Let’s take a look at the key benefits of getting these all-on-4 implants:

• With all-on-4 dental implants, the installation of artificial roots and the replacement of teeth are usually done on the very same day. This method offers a faster alternative to traditional implant procedures.
• Complicated procedures like bone grafting are rarely needed to perform a successful all-on-4 dental implantation treatment. It is yet another reason why patients who are going through the all-on-4 dental implant procedure don’t need to attend multiple appointments.
• It usually takes no longer than a week for the patients to completely recover after they go through the all-on-4 dental implant treatment.
• As it requires no additional surgeries and follow-up appointments, patients who go through all-on-4 implants can save a lot of money compared to patients who choose to go with traditional dental implants.

B. What are Traditional Dental Implants?

In the traditional method, dentists surgically place artificial roots in the jawbone to provide support for dental prostheses such as dentures and crowns.

Traditional dental implant treatments need multiple operations like sinus augmentation and bone grafting to recreate the jawbones before implanting new teeth.

Additionally, prior to beginning the actual implantation procedure, dentists must allow several weeks for healing after sinus augmentation or bone grafting. As a result, this type of dental implant requires multiple procedures and appointments, potentially extending treatment time to several weeks or even months.

Even if you don’t need sinus augmentation or bone grafting, it will still take up to six months for your jaw to fully heal after the traditional dental implant surgery.

This implant method can be used with many other types of restoration procedures, which includes dental crowns, dentures, and dental bridges. These procedures are used to replace an individual tooth, a full set of teeth, or multiple teeth.

To gain in-depth knowledge about dental crowns, be sure to check out our comprehensive guide on dental crowns. But now, let’s return to the topic of traditional dental implants.

Benefits of Traditional Dental Implants

Let’s take a look at the benefits of traditional dental implants:

• Teeth that are implanted through traditional dental implant procedures not only have the appearance of natural teeth but also function similarly. Patients can talk and eat solid foods comfortably.
• Unlike dental bridges, which rely on neighbouring teeth for support, traditional implants fuse with the jawbone, minimising damage or strain to other teeth.
• With proper care, these implants can last a lifetime, without the need for replacement.

C. Comparison of All-on-4 vs. Traditional Dental Implants

Now that you clearly understand both treatment procedures, it’s time to understand what makes those methods different.

1. Costs Of Dental Implants:

While the cost of both all-on-4 and traditional dental implants varies greatly, all-on-4 procedures still cost less money than conventional dental implantation procedures. The traditional dental implant treatment method costs more because of the long treatment time and multiple procedures like bone grafting and sinus augmentation.

2. Treatment Time:

Traditional dental implants require at least two surgeries over the span of several weeks, while the all-on-4 can be completed on the very same day. Similarly, after the traditional implants, your jaw may take up to six months to heal. Meanwhile, if you go through the all-on-4 implants, your jaws can be healed within a week or two.

3. Durability:

Due to the use of bone grafting and sinus augmentation, traditional dental implants tend to be more durable than all-on-4 implants, which usually do not require these procedures.

4. Maintenance:

Taking care of your teeth and gums can be easier with all-on-4 implants compared to traditional dental implants because they involve fewer implants, reducing the risk of complications, and are easier to clean. Additionally, all-on-4 implants are often placed in areas with greater bone density, providing more stability and better long-term outcomes.

Conclusion

As you can see, both of these procedures come with their pros and cons. While all-on-4 dental implants take shorter to implement, they cannot be used for individual tooth implantations. On the other hand, the recovery time of traditional dental implants is much longer than the all-in-4 dental procedures.

Of course, nothing is as simple as it may seem on paper. If you are in the sunshine coast, you can visit a reputed and the best dentist in the sunshine coast for checkups, and they will help you figure out the right implant treatment.

Schedule a consultation with us if you’re looking to consult with professional dentists with years of medical expertise and professional experience under their belts.

Want to learn more about dental implants? Check out our guide that shares essential facts about dental implants.

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