All-on-x Implants in Balcatta

All-on-x implants are an excellent way to fully rehabilitate the loss of all teeth. This revolutionary method of teeth replacement has several benefits.

1. Close resemblance to natural teeth.
   All-on-x implants can provide teeth replacements that look and feel like natural teeth. The translucency and colour of the denture mimic real teeth that no one will even notice that they’re artificial teeth.
   
   
2. Shorter installation times compared to conventional implants
   Many patients get discouraged in getting dental implant therapy when they find out that they need to wait 3-6 months before having their dentures installed after dental implant placement. With all-on-x implants, there is no need to wait because it allows the installation of a fixed temporary bridge right after implant placement.
   
   
3. Incomparable stability
   Denture retention has always been a significant concern for patients. All-on-x implants replace missing teeth with dentures that are anchored firmly to the jaw bone using four or six implants. These implants provide incomparable stability making the denture sturdy. With all-on-x implants, you no longer need to worry about moving or slipping dentures when you eat, drink or talk.
   
   
4. Prevents further bone loss
   One of the effects of having teeth pulled out is the shrinkage of the jaw bone after extraction. This decrease in bone mass is called bone resorption. All-on-x implants prevent bone resorption. The implants that are screwed into the bone prevent bone loss by continuously stimulating it with the pressure from the patient’s bite as he uses the denture.
   
   
5. Utilizes the existing bone without the need for bone grafts
   One of the criteria for having conventional dental implants is to have a healthy bone that can provide enough support to the implant. In the event that the implant cannot be adequately supported by bone, it is augmented with bone grafts to stimulate bone growth. Unfortunately, this warrants another surgical procedure.

With all-on-x implants, there is no need for bone grafting. This dental treatment utilizes the existing bone with a technique that strategically places the implant in areas with maximum implant-to-bone contact. This way, firm attachment can still be achieved even without bone grafting surgery.

All-on-x implants are a long-term alternative to dentures. It is one of the exceptional options for tooth replacement due to the solid anchorage that implants provide. However, as successful as this dental procedure is, there are still some disadvantages in getting it.

1. The patient must stick to a liquid diet for the first two weeks and slowly transition to soft food afterwards.
   One of the most significant advantages of all-on-x implants is being able to immediately attach a temporary acrylic implant bridge to the implant after placement. However, patients must refrain from applying too much pressure on the denture despite the immediate installation. During the implant’s healing period, too much movement of the implants can disrupt the bone growth around the implant. This can lead to implant loosening. This is why a diet restriction is implemented after the surgical procedure.
   
   
2. There is a learning curve in speaking with all-on-x implants.
   Having newly-placed implants can cause discomfort and difficulty speaking for the first few days but more so if a temporary bridge is immediately installed over the implants. This is the case for all-on-x dental implants. The patient finds it hard to speak normally for the first few days, but the speech will return to normal with practice.
   
   
3. All-on-4 implants can only be placed in areas with light biting force.
   All-on-four dental implant procedure is limited to the incisor to premolar area only. This is due to the lighter biting force that is exerted in this part of the jaw. It is not advisable to place all-on-four implants in the molar region due to the high biting force in this area. Instead, if an implant is needed in the molar area, the patient has to have sufficient bone at the back portion of the jaw to accommodate additional implants. In scenarios where there is insufficient bone, all-on-four dental implants are limited to areas with light biting forces only.

All-on-x implants have been developed to help patients with severely resorbed jaw bone problems. After tooth extraction, the jaw bone shrinks and reduces in size and height. This is called bone resorption. This effect of extraction has made it more challenging to retain traditional dentures since it causes them to loosen. It also poses difficulty in dental implantology because adequately-sized bone is needed to support dental implants. Because of the variations in the degree of tooth resorption, all-on-four and all-on-six techniques have been developed.

Patients with mild to moderately resorbed jaw bone ridge, especially in the back area of the mouth, are good candidates for all-on-six implants. As the name implies, this implant therapy requires six implants to support the denture and is usually called full-arch fixed implant bridges. This implant therapy allows the placement of implants in the molar area, which is responsible for bearing the load in that heavy biting force.

Patients with considerable bone resorption of the jaw bone, especially in the back area of the mouth, are also good candidates for an all-on-four implant. With this treatment, only four implants are utilized to support the denture, and they are only embedded in the incisor to the premolar area only, the front region of the jaw bone.

All-on-x implant treatment begins with thorough screening. It is vital to ensure that the patient does not have any underlying health problems that can complicate the surgical procedure and to clear them of any medical treatment that can cause changes in the bone. It is also essential to ensure that the patient can maintain good oral hygiene to prevent any oral infection that increases the risk of implant failure.

Once the dentist determines that the patient is a good candidate for implants, x-rays, CT scans, and an impression will be taken for thorough examination and treatment planning. Upon approval of the personalized treatment plan, the patient can now undergo implant placement.

The surgical placement of implants will begin with anesthetizing the entire jaw where the implant will be placed. Once the area is numb, the dentist will incise the gums and drill four holes in the jawbone – two in front and two at the back. This is where the implants will be inserted. The two front implants will be drilled 90 degrees to the bone, while the other remaining implants will be inserted 35-45 degrees. The slanted position of the back implants enhances the implant-to-bone contact. This results in a firmer attachment of the implant to the bone, which translates into a more stable denture anchorage. After implant placement, the gums will be sutured, and a temporary acrylic implant bridge will be immediately attached to the implants.

After implant placement, the bone and the gums are given time to heal. Sufficient time must be given for the bone to grow around the embedded implants to have a strong bond between the bone and the implant. This process is called osseointegration, and it can last up to 3-6 months. After this healing period, you will be asked to return to the clinic, and once the dentist confirms stable attachment of the implant to the bone, the fabrication of the final denture can begin.

The cost of dental implant therapy varies due to several factors. These factors include the number of implants that will hold the denture in place, the materials used for the implant and the denture, labour costs, the complexity of the patient’s case and other factors. The cost for  all-on-x implant’s cost starts at $24,000. 

If we compare the all-on-x implant’s cost to having each missing tooth replaced by a single implant and a single crown, the all-on-x implant turns out to be the more cost-effective solution. Not to mention that this treatment option rarely require bone grafting, which can also add to the cost. If you want to have a more accurate estimate regarding the implant cost, visit our dental clinic for assistance.