All-on-4 Dental Implants
If you have difficulty chewing and speaking because of missing teeth, dental implants can make your life easier. However, bone atrophy bars some patients from receiving traditional implants.
Dr. John Starr can restore your full smile with All-on-4® dental implants placed at his Columbus and Starkville, MS, offices.
See for yourself how just four implants placed at Golden Triangle Periodontal Center can support a full denture.
What Are All-on-4 Dental Implants?
Like traditional dental implant-supported restorations, the All-on-4 method uses dental implants, titanium rods that are surgically inserted into your jawbone. The advantage of All-on-4 is that only four implants are needed per full arch, unlike traditional dental implants which require six, eight, or even more implants. Even if you’re missing all of your bottom or top teeth, you will only need four strategically placed dental implants per jaw.
The Advantages of All-on-4 Implants
Fewer Implants
If you choose a traditional implant-supported denture, you may need several implants to restore your smile. All-on-4 uses just four implants to support a full arch of teeth. The implants are placed at strategic angles and in areas with the highest bone density for maximum support.
Faster Procedure
All-on-4 requires only two dental appointments that are scheduled a few months apart. We can coordinate with your dentist to fit a quality temporary denture on the same day as your implant surgery so that you never have to go without teeth.
No Preparatory Procedures
Traditional dental implants require dense jawbone tissue. Patients who do not have sufficient bone tissue may have to undergo a bone graft procedure before they can receive dental implants. All-on-4 implants can often avoid preparatory procedures since they can be placed even if you have jaw atrophy.
Better Fit Than Traditional Dentures
Your All-on-4 prosthetic is more secure than a traditional denture, giving you much better dental function. Traditional dentures are held in place only by dental adhesive and suction, and are prone to slipping or falling out.
Tooth Loss Is Common in Older Adults
About 17% of adults age 65 or older have lost all of their teeth. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Trust a Dentist Who Specializes in Dental Implants
Contact Golden Triangle Periodontal Center Today
If tooth loss is keeping you from smiling or if you’re unhappy with traditional dentures, All-on-4 can solve these issues for you.
Dr. Starr specializes in dental implants, having performed thousands of successful dental implant cases since 1989. As a periodontist, Dr. Starr will use his advanced dental training to ensure your implant procedure creates the foundation for a strong, lifelike smile.
Contact our Columbus or Starkville, MS, office today to see if All-on-4 is the right treatment for you.
Call
(662) 329-2696
Praise for Golden Triangle Periodontal Center Serving Columbus and Starkville, MS
"Dr. Starr and his staff were so kind! I am a nervous wreck when I have to have dental work. He and Hope made sure to make me feel as comfortable as possible. I would recommend them to anyone!" Katie Lang
Benefit From Guided Surgery and Our Advanced Technology
Placing dental implants is already a safe procedure with a high success rate, but we go a step further in making it effective. Our team uses a 3D CT scanner to create a model of your mouth. With this model, Dr. Starr can determine the most effective areas in your dental arches to place your implants. Dr. Starr can then use custom-made stents to guide your implants into the proper positions.
You May Be a Perfect Fit for All-on-4 Dental Implants
In most cases, patients with teeth that are missing, severely damaged, or decayed are candidates for All-on-4 dental implants. Dr. Starr will review your health history during a consultation at his Columbus or Starkville, MS, office. Here are some factors he will consider:
Jawbone Atrophy
All-on-4 implants can be fitted to patients with some jawbone atrophy, which is common with tooth loss. While candidates for All-on-4 implants may not need bone grafting, a minimum amount of bone tissue in the jaw is still needed to support the four implants.Good Health
Implants require surgery, so patients must have good overall health. Patients who smoke, have chronic illnesses like diabetes, or have gum disease have to address these conditions before their oral surgery.Dissatisfaction With Dentures
Traditional dentures can slip or fall out of place, causing embarrassment and frustration. Implant-supported restorations can eliminate these issues, giving you a fixed bite.Significant Tooth Loss
Dr. Starr will always try to save a natural tooth. However, teeth that are infected or too decayed may have to be extracted to preserve your oral health. All-on-4 dental implants can replace the extracted teeth.Treatment Might Not Be Right for You If You’re Only Missing One or a Few Teeth
Making Treatment Comfortable With Sedation
Dr. Starr will always administer local anesthesia before surgery to minimize pain at the treatment site. In addition, he can help keep you relaxed with one of our three sedation options:
Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous oxide, also called laughing gas, is a light form of sedation. It is administered through a nose mask to keep you awake, yet comfortable, throughout treatment. The effects of the sedation wear off shortly after the nose mask is removed, meaning you can safely drive yourself home after your treatment.
Oral Conscious Sedation
Oral conscious sedation is a pill that is prescribed to you by your dentist. It is taken about an hour before your surgery and will put you in a drowsy state. You'll be awake but relaxed throughout treatment. Because it can take a few hours for the effects to wear off, you will have to arrange for someone to drive you to and from your appointment.
Intravenous Sedation
IV sedation is a fast-acting sedative that is administered directly to the bloodstream. This deeper form of sedation won't put you to sleep completely, but many patients don't remember their procedure afterward. IV sedation is a great choice for patients who are undergoing dental implant placement surgery, as it's a multi-step procedure.
A Closer Look at How the All-on-4 Technique Works
A Typical All-on-4 Implant Procedure
Patients will have a full smile the day their All-on-4 implants are placed. The procedure involves several steps:
Our Columbus and Starkville dental offices offer sedation options if patients are nervous about oral surgery.
FAQ
When should I choose All-on-4 over traditional implants?
Traditional dental implants require a certain degree of jawbone density to securely hold the implants in place. The All-on-4 method may be better for your situation if you have jawbone atrophy and aren't a candidate for bone grafting. Dr. Starr will make recommendations based on your goals, lifestyle, and budget during your consultation at our Columbus or Starkville office.
What if I need more than four implants?
If you need more than four implants to securely support a denture, we offer the All-on-X solution. This technique places as many dental implants as a patient needs to securely hold a denture in place.
We Thank Our Patients for Supporting Our Dental Offices
"We had a very pleasant experience with Dr. Starr and all of his staff when he performed gum surgery on our son. He is very personable, made sure that our son was comfortable and understood exactly what he was going to do." Karen Fitch
