Quick Answer: All-on-4 is a technique that replaces a full arch of missing teeth using just four dental implants as anchor points, with a fixed row of prosthetic teeth attached on top. Unlike a removable denture, it stays in place permanently once fitted, and it’s typically considered for people missing most or all of their teeth in one jaw.
What Is All-on-4?
All-on-4 gets its name from the number of implants used to support a full arch of replacement teeth, four, rather than placing one implant per missing tooth. The back two implants are usually angled into denser areas of the jawbone, which often means the treatment can be considered even when there’s been some bone loss that might otherwise rule out a straightforward implant.
Once the implants have healed, a fixed prosthetic arch is attached on top. This is what makes it fall under the broader category of denture implants, an implant-supported denture, rather than a standard removable denture.
Denture Implants vs Dental Implants: Clearing Up the Terms
These two terms are often used interchangeably, but they mean slightly different things. “Dental implants” is the general term for any implant used to replace a tooth or teeth. “Denture implants,” including All-on-4, specifically describes using implants to anchor and support a full or partial denture, rather than placing an individual implant for a single tooth.
In other words, all denture implants are a type of dental implant, but not all dental implants involve a denture.
How All-on-4 Differs from Removable Implant Dentures
Not every implant-supported denture is fixed in place. Some are designed to be removable, clipping onto implants so we can take them out to clean, similar to the overdentures covered in our guide to maintaining implant retained dentures, which also explains whether these need to be removed at night.
All-on-4 is different. The prosthetic arch is fixed onto the implants and isn’t designed to be taken out day to day. That’s a meaningful difference to weigh up, since it changes how cleaning, adjustments and long-term maintenance work compared with a removable option.
Who Is Usually Involved in All-on-4 Treatment?
All-on-4 typically involves two stages carried out by different professionals working together: the surgical placement of the implants, usually carried out by an implant dentist or oral surgeon, and the design and fitting of the prosthetic arch itself. Our article on the difference between a dental prosthetist and a dentist explains how these roles differ and where each one fits into denture care.
The General Process, from Consultation to Fitted Arch
While the exact steps vary from person to person, All-on-4 generally follows a similar pattern: an initial consultation and assessment, surgical placement of the four implants, a healing period while the implants integrate with the jawbone, and then fitting of the permanent prosthetic arch once healing is confirmed. Our guide on wearing a denture after implant surgery covers what that healing and adjustment period tends to involve.
Does All-on-4 Help with Bone Loss?
One of the reasons people consider implant-supported options is concern about ongoing bone loss under a standard denture. We’ve covered this question directly in relation to snap-in dentures and bone loss, and the same underlying principle applies here: implants that integrate with the jawbone can help maintain bone density in a way that a standard denture resting on the gum doesn’t.
How Does All-on-4 Compare to Standard Lower Dentures?
For people who’ve struggled with a loose or unstable lower denture, All-on-4 is often raised as an alternative worth understanding. Our comparison of implant supported dentures against standard lower plates goes into this in more detail, since stability is usually one of the biggest factors in this decision.
How Long Does All-on-4 Last?
Implants themselves are designed to be a long-term solution, though the prosthetic arch attached to them, like any denture, will need periodic checks, adjustments and eventual replacement over time. Our general guide to how long dentures last covers the factors that affect longevity across different types.
Caring for All-on-4 Implants
Because the arch is fixed rather than removable, cleaning an All-on-4 arch involves different techniques to a standard denture, more like caring for natural teeth, alongside regular checks of the implants themselves. Our denture cleaning and maintenance guide covers general principles, though we’d always tailor specific advice to the individual once treatment is underway.
Is All-on-4 Right for Us?
All-on-4 isn’t the right fit for everyone, and whether it’s suitable depends on individual factors like bone density, overall health and personal preference between a fixed and removable solution. The best starting point is a conversation with our team at our Launceston denture clinic, where we can talk through whether this or another option makes sense. Get in touch to arrange a consultation.
FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions
Is All-on-4 the same as a full denture?
No. A standard full denture rests on the gum and is removable, while All-on-4 is fixed onto four implants and stays in place permanently once fitted.
Can All-on-4 be done if we’ve had bone loss?
The angled placement of the back implants in All-on-4 is often able to work with existing bone in ways a straight implant placement can’t, though suitability always depends on individual assessment.
Do we need to remove All-on-4 dentures at night?
No. Because the arch is fixed onto the implants, it isn’t designed to be removed, which is one of the key differences from a removable implant-retained denture.
How is All-on-4 different from getting individual dental implants for each tooth?
Individual implants replace one tooth at a time and require an implant for each missing tooth. All-on-4 replaces a full arch using only four implants to support one connected prosthetic arch, which is generally a different scale of treatment.