The All-on-4® placement system is a tried and true method for replacing teeth that has been around for about 25 years. This method uses conventional dental implants to support a denture, providing a beautiful new smile! However, the problem lies with the number of implants required and the type of implants used in an All-on-4 procedure. This placement method may not be suitable for those who have suffered jawbone resorption—or the loss of bone mass and volume. When it comes to replacing a smile, many people need accessible and effective All-on-4 alternatives. Fortunately, Brent Bradford, DDS, offers Fix-on-Six® using mini dental implants as a way to restore your smile!
With over 25 years of experience restoring the smiles of patients like you, Dr. Bradford provides quality dental care that you can trust!
Why Use All-on-4® Alternatives?
The All-on-4® placement system replaces a full arch of teeth on either the upper or lower arch of your smile. It uses four conventional dental implants, two supporting the front of your arch and two supporting the back, providing a strong and durable solution to tooth loss. The implants in your mouth’s posterior—or the back region—are positioned at a 45-degree angle to more effectively utilize your jawbone. At an angle, these implants can be longer and access denser bone to provide better stability.
After placement, the All-on-4 method allows your implants to support a temporary restoration! Depending on a thorough examination of your jawbone and your specific case, the restoration may be functional or non-functional. Post-operation, following your dentist’s instructions to prevent any complications with your new smile is incredibly important. Usually, within 4-6 months, your implants will be ready to support a final restoration!
Unfortunately, this process has two main downsides that can cause many issues for a patient.
The Number of Implants
For an All-on-4® procedure, four implants are placed in your jawbone to support the entire restoration. While this does provide a stable foundation, it also poses some risks.
Titanium dental implants, both conventional and mini, have around a 95% success rate. In most cases, your implants will bond with your jawbone over time, integrating and becoming incredibly stable. However, this is not always the case. Certain factors such as peri-implantitis, poor oral hygiene, or insufficient bone density can lead to implant failure if not remedied immediately.
In the case of an implant failure, the implant must be removed, leaving three conventional implants to support your prosthetic. With implant failure in an All-on-4 case, there is potential for a complete restart of the restorative procedure. This is not affordable for most patients, as each conventional implant has multiple pieces to pay for, and restorations are often expensive to replace. All-on-4 Alternatives like Fix-on-Six® use more implants, ensuring added stability even in the rare case of implant failure!
The Type of Implant
In an All-on-4® procedure, conventional dental implants support the prosthetic.
These implants are around 5 millimeters in diameter with multiple pieces held together by a screw. To place these implants, an incision is made in the gums to access the jawbone. Then, a series of larger and larger drills creates a hole big enough for the implant to fit. Once the conventional implants are in place, your temporary restoration will be secured on top!
This procedure requires a minimum of 5 millimeters in bone width and 8 millimeters in bone height, which those with reduced bone density may not meet without a bone graft. This significantly reduces the number of people eligible for an All-on-4 procedure, which must be graftless and immediate. Additionally, the multiple parts of a conventional implant have joints between them where bacteria can gather, which may result in peri-implantitis.
Mini dental implants, however, are one solid piece that needs much less bone, making them the ideal option for most patients!
All-on-4 Alternatives: Introducing Fix-on-Six®!
Fix-on-Six® is an implant placement method that utilizes mini dental implants rather than conventional ones for their many incredible benefits!
This method involves Dr. Braford strategically placing 6-10 mini implants around your jaw to support your restoration. Despite the increase in number of implants we use, this procedure is less invasive and much more comfortable!
Dr. Bradford uses a minimally invasive technique to place mini dental implants requiring no incisions. Instead, he creates a tiny pilot hole in the gums and jawbone and carefully screws the implant in place. After placing these implants, Dr. Bradford can secure a temporary, or sometimes final, restoration the same day! Mini dental implants integrate into your jawbone quickly, and without an incision, your gums heal much faster!
The Fix-on-Six method also provides the added benefit of extra support in the rare case that an implant does fail! With an All-on-4® placement method, you only have three remaining implants to support your restoration. This can cause a lot of added stress and pressure on your remaining implants. In extreme cases, added stress can cause more implants to fail. With the Fix-on-Six method, the rare case of one implant failing leaves you with at least five more implants to support your restoration. This ensures more support for your bite, even if your placement process goes awry!
Book a Free Implant Consultation for All-on-4 Alternatives!
All-on-4® is a respected placement method for replacing teeth with conventional dental implants, but it’s often not the best option! Try Fix-on-Six® as one of the more comfortable and stable All-on-4 alternatives! Many patients would benefit from Fix-on-Six using mini dental implants instead of All-on-4 for the variety of benefits they offer. Using a minimally invasive procedure and a more secure approach, Dr. Bradford can place these implants in your jawbone and secure a restoration on top that is both functional and beautiful.
Schedule a free implant consultation today to discover if the Fix-on-Six method works for you!
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