Chandler All-on-4 Dental Implants

All-on-four implant dentures are an entire arch of replacement teeth attached to four dental implants. This technique works well for people who may not have enough healthy bone in their jaw to support traditional implants. Often those patients need bone grafts before implants will be successful. The all-on-four technique lets Dr. Walden place dental implants without preliminary bone grafts.

What makes an all-on-four denture so secure? The secret is the angle of the implants:

• Two implants secure the front of the arch and are inserted vertically.
• The remaining implants support the back of the arch and are inserted at an angle.
• This configuration is more secure than four vertical implants.

Getting All-on-Four Dentures

At your first appointment, we will take 3D digital scans of the interior of your mouth and digital x-rays of your mouth and sinuses. Then, we’ll use these scans to design your new implant dentures.

You will need to have four implants surgically inserted for each arch of teeth. If you have no remaining teeth, that means you’ll have four implants in your upper jaw and four in your lower jaw. Sedation is available for your surgery. We can provide nitrous oxide, oral sedation, or IV sedation, depending on your preference. Dr. Walden places hundreds of implants each year and was one of the first general dentists in Arizona to offer sedation to his patients.

After your implants are in place, you’ll wear a temporary denture until the tissue heals completely. That can take 3 to 4 months. During this period, the implants fuse with the surrounding jawbone—a process called osseointegration. This important step ensures the implants are strong when your permanent denture is attached to them. Until osseointegration is complete, you’ll need to eat soft foods so you don’t damage the healing implant sites. After Dr. Walden confirms that healing is complete, he can affix your permanent teeth to the implants.

Preventing Bone Loss with Implants

When you lose your teeth, your body begins to resorb the bone in your jaw. This is natural. Your body is very efficient. If it doesn’t think you need the jawbone to support teeth anymore, it will make use of those minerals elsewhere.

The presence of implants signals to your body that your jawbone is still necessary. The longer you are without teeth, the more shrinkage will occur at your jawbone.

Once your new teeth are in place, you’ll need to maintain them carefully. Just like natural teeth can become infected, so can infection build around dental implants if you’re not careful. However, with good care, all-on-four implant dentures can give you a lifetime of satisfying meals and confident smiles.

If you would like to make an appointment with Dr. Walden and find out if all-on-four implant dentures are a good solution for you, please call our office at 480-755-1661 or fill out our appointment request form, and we will call you. You may also schedule a short complimentary consultation if you’re not ready to commit to a paid exam. That will give you a few minutes to discuss your needs with Dr. Walden and learn about your options.