All-on-4 Dental implants in Tunisia: The solution for completely edentulous people

All-on-4 is a dental implant procedure that can replace all your upper and/or lower teeth with only four artificial roots instead of one implant for each tooth. This dental implant method makes the procedure itself and follow-up easier. Patients who replace their dentures with All-on-4 dental implants can care for their teeth as they would for natural teeth, by brushing and flossing. Unlike dentures, All-on-4 implants are permanent, so they stay in your mouth and attached to your gums. Traditional dental implants use one screw to anchor each individual tooth, but All-on-4 dental implants use only four screws to anchor your entire set of teeth. Using only four artificial roots instead of one per tooth makes the procedure itself less invasive. In addition, patients who were not candidates for dental implants due to insufficient bone density to support an implant may benefit from this option.

All-on-4 is usually supported by four to six dental implants and is considered the best treatment option for edentulous people.

The difference between removable dentures, All-on-4, and individual dental implants

The removable denture :

The traditional removable denture is a solution for completely edentulous people but this solution has its drawbacks.  The loss of roots for a toothless person causes bone loss that will subsequently induce discomfort at the denture’s door and require regular adjustments.

All-on-4 Implant :

This option consists of placing four or more implants (All-on-four) in your jaw and attaching a permanent denture. Your denture is held in place by screws that secure it to the brackets. It does not touch the gum tissue, allowing you to clean under the denture without removing it. This denture will replace all your missing lower teeth and will not be removed except during maintenance visits. Although cleaning under your denture without removing it takes longer, many patients who want a permanent denture prefer this option. This is the most popular option for replacing all your lower and even upper teeth.

Dental implants :

The last option is to have all your teeth individually replaced. And this method gives a result very similar to the appearance of your natural teeth. This option usually requires eight or more implants. Artificial roots will be placed and crowns for each missing tooth will be placed. A bone graft is usually done to restore bone loss. Overall, this is the most expensive option because it requires the most implants and the fabrication of individual replacement teeth, however, it will give you the most natural look and feel of your teeth.

Traditional dentures vs. All-on-4 implants:

Conventional dentures do not fit well above the gums and can slip or even fall out. The All-on-4 Implants technique provides permanent dentures to avoid the discomfort and embarrassment of traditional dentures. With All-on-4 Implants, the dental surgeon will place four dental implants in each arch and use these implants to permanently and comfortably attach your new permanent dentures.

Who is it for?

All-on-4 dental implants are very appropriate for anyone who is facing complete tooth loss in their upper or lower jaw, or both jaws and wants to have a permanent set of good looking teeth. All-on-4 implants offer people a chance to live a healthy lifestyle by replacing teeth with implants on removable dentures.

The ideal candidate for All-on-4 dental implants is someone who already has dentures or is already missing several teeth and would prefer to find an alternative and more permanent method of replacing their teeth.

In addition, it is an ideal procedure for someone who does not have the bone density to support a full set of individual implants, the time to place individual implants, or the budget to pay for them. The All-on-4 implant placement procedure is faster and more affordable.

This procedure is very well tolerated by most people and may be suitable for patients with osteoporosis or diabetes who may not be suitable for traditional dental implants.

Bone loss and All-on-4 dental implants:

One of the side effects of missing teeth is bone loss. When teeth are missing, the jawbone begins to deteriorate. Traditional dentures do nothing to stop or slow this deterioration, but dental implants provide the stimulation needed to help you maintain your jawbone. If you have been wearing dentures for some time, your jawbone has already started to deteriorate. The advantage of the All-on-4 implant technique is that it allows dental implants to be placed where the bone is strongest, reducing the need for bone grafting.

All-On-4 dental implants are a very affordable solution for anyone wishing to replace their prosthesis with a fixed crown of teeth. Med Assistance Tunisia uses only high quality dental implants in progressive periodontics and implant dentistry.

Before, several dental implants were necessary to secure a complete arch of teeth. With conventional dental implants, it is often necessary to use between 6 and 10 implants to support a complete arch.

This can mean that the cost of treatment is out of reach for many. Conventional or traditional dental implant treatments also increase the likelihood of needing dental bone grafting before placing implants. With All-on-4 dental implants, only four dental implants are needed to secure the full arch of the lower teeth, while six dental implants are usually required to secure the full arch of the upper teeth.

The All-on-4 dental implant procedure

An initial consultation with the dental surgeon is necessary to determine whether you are suitable for the All on 4 treatment. The dental surgeon will discuss the procedure with you in more detail and will need to know your medical history.

The procedure usually takes about two hours and 30 minutes per arch.

The process of obtaining All on 4 dental implants can be described in four steps:

The first step:

A detailed examination where we will review your records, existing conditions, whether you have a prosthesis, what your facial structure needs, and any other factors that may come into play during the placement of your dental implants.

The second step :

The next step is to perform a 3D scan that will show your jaws, muscles and other facial structures in detail. This will allow the dentist to take a close look at the condition of your jaws and assess the quality and quantity of bone available.

This particular treatment requires patients to have good bone density towards the front of the mouth, where the bone naturally tends to be thicker and stronger, which is why the treatment can be so beneficial for patients who have lost significant amounts of bone over the years.

With the help of the CT scanner, the dental surgeon will be able to accurately plan the position of each implant.

The third step :

This involves creating a computer simulation of the implants, which we digitally place in the jawbone in the appropriate place to give you the most support for your replacement teeth. We can adjust the implants as needed and fabricate your new teeth for your needs.

The fourth step :

Finally, the most important step is oral surgery. A surgical guide is produced before the dental implants are inserted, allowing the doctor to accurately place the implants with minimal incisions. Once the implants are in place, a temporary prosthesis will be put in place so that you can eat and talk without fear of embarrassment and we take great care to ensure that they will look good.

After the dental implants have healed and integrated with your jaw, you can return to our dental office to have them fitted for your permanent teeth.