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All-on-4 Dental Implants

Apr 15

Disappointed With Prosthodontist’s Reaction to a Broken All on 4 Implant

By All-on-4 Dental Implants, Prosthodontist

I knew I wanted implants for my dentures and I decided to get 6 regular implants. After listening to my dentist over and over again talk about All on 4, I gave in. I got All on 4 in Feb. 2015 and 2 weeks ago when I was eating I heard an felt one of the implants snap. Now I am told that the implant will need to be replaced. The old one will have be taken off and I can’t get a new one right away. We have to wait until the area heals and there is a possibility that I will need bone grating and maybe one of the other implants will need to be redone too. I am disgusted and this whole thing is ridiculous. I dropped a lot of cash on these implants and you would think that somebody would ensure the implants are in mint condition. The prosthodontist I have is too casual about the whole thing too. It’s just kind of a ‘we’ll fix it’ attitude without any explanation. I want to know what happened. Why would an implant snap? Thanks Romia

Romia – We are sorry to hear about the difficulty with one of your All-On-Four implants. There are several reasons that an implant may snap.

One cause is the skill of the prosthodontist. The implants must be perfectly aligned and accurately placed to evenly distribute pressure on the implants. The slightest inaccuracy can exert pressure on an implant and cause it to snap.

A second possibility is the quality of the implant. Low-quality implants are a fraction of the cost of FDA-approved implants, but they are also a fraction of the quality. The effort to save money can be costly and compromise oral health.

You can ask your prosthodontist why he thinks the implant snapped, as well as what is being done this time to prevent the problem from recurring. It may be wise to consider getting a second opinion from an experienced prosthodontist. After an examination and a digital x-ray, he or she will let you know why the problem occurred and how it should be treated.

This post is sponsored by Naperville board-certified prosthodontist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

Mar 30

Is this a realistic cost for All on 4 dental implants?

By All-on-4 Dental Implants, Dental Implants, Prosthodontist

I lost most of my teeth in a work accident that made a huge blow to my face. My dentist says I’m lucky that my jawbone didn’t break.  My face was disfigured and I have a long recovery. I have been scouting around for dental implants and quickly realized that I can’t afford to replace all of the missing teeth with implants. So I have to accept the fact that I need dentures. I can get all on 4. I found a place that said they will do all on 4 for 7k which is unbelievably low. I am just wondering why so big of a difference from the 3 other implant places I visited which were 4-5 times that cost. Were the other dentists just trying advantage of me? Thanks. Raj

Raj– The higher costs you received are more realistic for the All-On-4 procedure. Depending on where you live in the country and the specifics of your case, the cost will vary.

Some of the costs involved in proper implant placement are diagnostic studies, quality implant fixtures, implant surgery, and the placement of dentures on the implants. The second quote of $7000 raises a lot of concern. That is the quote that really sounds like an attempt to take advantage of you with inferior dental implants. The low cost will likely result in cheap implant fixtures or some type of shortcut that can result in an infection around the implants and complete implant failure.

If you want another valid opinion, we recommend that you see a skilled, reputable implant dentist who provides quality fixtures. The estimate that you receive should be more or less in the area of your initial quotes, but not significantly less. You can look for dentists with extensive training in implant dentistry, or a prosthodontist who perform every phase of the implant process.

This post is sponsored by board-certified prosthodontist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

Feb 11

Advice on getting All on 4 in Cancun

By All-on-4 Dental Implants

Something has to be done with my dentures. My son warned me about this in a nice way before I ever received dentures. Gum disease got the best of my teeth and the few I had left were pulled in January of 2014. I think my jawbone must have been bad before I ever got dentures because I had so many teeth missing. Now I need implants and am pretty much leaning toward All on 4. My dentist referred me to a surgeon and I saw another implant dentist and Clear Choice on my own. Last week I just happened to see a website from Cancun that lets me save more than half the cost of the implants here. That price includes everything, dentures and all. Even after travel and hotel I am still saving big bucks. I would really like to see these Cancun implant dentists in person though and maybe get second and third opinions from them. Can you recommend 2 more? – Earl

Earl – We are unable to recommend All-On-4 implant dentists outside the U.S. We recommend that you find a reliable way to experience, credentials, and education for each of the dentists in Mexico. Don’t depend on a website to give you the real facts.

Keep in mind that to ensure proper healing, all dental implants require multiple follow-up appointments during the weeks and months after surgery. Your dentists needs to check the implants, your gums, and jawbone for proper healing and any signs of complications. Will you return to Cancun for those follow-up appointments, or depend on a U.S. dentist for them? Most dental implants surgeries from a qualified surgeon are successful. If unanticipated problems arise, are you prepared to extend your stay or return to Mexico to see your dentist there?

The immediate dentures you receive when All-On-4 is first placed are not your permanent dentures. After the healing period, impressions will be taken to ensure your permanent dentures fit correctly. The new dentures will be secured to the implants. Another visit to the country where the implants are placed will be required.

We recommend that you factor in travel expenses for multiple follow-up appointments, an extended stay, or incidentals that may come up during or after the implant surgery. Specifically ask each dentist how many follow-up appointments are required. Remember that those appointments are estimates, provided everything goes well.

Carefully weigh the complete cost, as well as your pros and cons before you make a final decision.

This post is sponsored by board-certified prosthodontist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

Dec 22

Can all on 4 implants be removed?

By All-on-4 Dental Implants

I want to have my dentures locked down and I saw 2 different dentists who recommend all on 4. I saw a 3rd dentist who just recommended regular dental implants. She said that she would secure the dentures with 6 to 8 dental implants and I still don’t need bone grafting. The dentists who recommended all of 4 said the advantage was a faster placement time. It would just about be done and over while I would still be waiting for 6 to 8 implants to heal. I have done some research on both types of implants of implants. I am wondering if I decide to go with all on 4 and I don’t like it, can the implants be removed and can I then switch to the 6 to 8 implants? Thanks Ezra R.

Ezra – Based on your question, we recommend that you ask for more information from each implant specialist to get clarification on the differences between standard dental implants and All-On-4 implants. Ask questions to ensure that you understand the process and healing for each. Ask about the differences in stability for All-On-4 versus standard implants.

An understanding of the differences between the procedures can help you make a decision on which treatment you prefer. When an implant procedure is completely properly, there is no reason for you not to like it.

If you have a skilled implant dentist, regardless of the procedure you decide to receive, your implants should not need to be removed and replaced with a different type of implants. This is a situation that you want to avoid. Replacing dental implants is costly—in time and money. After implants are removed, a healing period is needed before new implants are placed. This scenario can be avoided by finding a skilled implant dentist to help you decide which treatment is best for your case.

 

This post is sponsored by board-certified prosthodontist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

Nov 08

1 of my all on 4 implants came out

By All-on-4 Dental Implants, Prosthodontist

I got all on 4 implants in late September. Last week, 1 of them came out completely. Right away I went to the surgeon that put the implants in. Now he says that my jawbone needs some grafting and I have to wait until the original implant spot heals. Does this sound right or can he just put the implant back in and sew it down until it heals? – Uwe

Uwe – Dr. LaVacca needs to examine your implant and jawbone before a second opinion can be provided. Although the All-On-4 procedure was used to anchor your dentures, it is possible that the implant that came out was incorrectly placed.

The size and length of the implants used can determine how stable they are. If implants are too short, or if they are not strong enough, they can dislodge.

Since jawbone grafting is being recommended, it may be that your jawbone needed to be built up before you received implants. If bone grafting is needed, then a healing period at the original implant site is needed.

All-On-4 Implants Second Opinion

In order to receive a satisfactory and accurate answer to your question, we recommend that you get a second—and if necessary, a third—opinion from experienced implant surgeons or prosthodontists. Just as with the All-On-4 placement, your medical history will be reviewed. The implants and jawbone will be examined, and diagnostic studies will be used to help determine what caused the implant to dislodge.

If you have current, post-operative diagnostic studies (x-ray or MRI), bring a copy with you. An implant specialist from whom you receive a second opinion may decide that a new imaging studies are needed.

When an implant fails, the resolution isn’t as simple as immediately replacing it. The cause of failure needs to be determined first to prevent the problem from recurring.

Carefully weigh the options presented to you from each of the specialists you visit for a second opinion, before you choose a provider to correct the issue.

This post is sponsored by board-certified prosthodontist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

 

Sep 13

Does 1 set of all on 4 really cost as much as a car?

By All-on-4 Dental Implants

There are 2 things I wanted within the next 2 years, all on 4 and a new car. I did a little research and found out 1 set of all on 4 costs as much as a new car and not a smart car either. Are those $20K plus figures right? Theo

Theo – Depending on the dentist and where you live in the country, All-on-4 dental implants on average can cost about $30,000. If you visit some well-known and highly advertised, mega dental implant centers, the cost for All-on-4 can be significantly higher.

Although financing and payment plans are available, the All-on-4 procedure is not for every patient. And there are less expensive options that will secure your dentures. Find a few experienced implant dentists or prosthodontists to find out which options can be used for your case. Compare your options, the pros and cons, and the cost before you make a final decision.

Remember that quality dental implants are an investment that is required for long-lasting results. So cost alone should not be the only factor you consider when deciding which implants to receive or the dentist from whom you receive them.

This post is sponsored by Naperville implant dentist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

 

Jul 22

Why would a dentist recommend all on 4 if I can afford single implants?

By All-on-4 Dental Implants, Dental Implants

I am one of the people who is fortunate enough to have enough savings for single implants. It is a blessing from God that I don’t take for granted. The dentist I saw prefers to do all on 4 instead of single implants. I even suggested doing 8 implants instead of 4 but she keeps referring back to all on 4. I am not understanding why this is happening. Can you give me a clue? Thanks. Violet

Violet – We cannot be certain as to why All-on-4 dental implants are being recommended for your case. It is possible that you lack enough jawbone density for individual implants. The All-on-4 procedure eliminates the need for bone grafting to build up your jawbone.

In any case, you should be given options and explanations of the pros and cons for each of them. A second opinion from a skilled implant dentist may help you to understand why your dentist recommends All-on-4. Or you may learn that individual implants are a good option for you.

If you can receive them, individual implants will provide the most natural-looking and natural-feeling results. You will feel as if you have all of your natural teeth again. The final decision is yours, but a second opinion—and a third opinion, if necessary—can give you the information you need to make a confident decision about your treatment.

 

This post is sponsored by Naperville implant dentist and board-certified prosthodontist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

May 27

If I can’t afford a luxury car how can I afford all on 4?

By All-on-4 Dental Implants, Dental Implants

If I can’t afford a luxury car, how can I all of a sudden afford All-On-4 implants? I would need upper and lower implants and now I am finding out how much it really costs. Where I live it is over $60k. I saw 3 different implant dentist and their story about what I need done and how much it will cost is pretty much the same. There is no way ever I could go into debt that much. I feel helpless. Can I get this done cheaper elsewhere? This is really making the quality of my life difficult. – Elon W.

Elon– If you visited three different implants dentists and were quoted comparable rates, you were given a reasonable quote for All-On-4 implants, based on where you live in the country. If you find a dentist who will do the procedure for considerably less, be concerned about the quality of the implants and the quality of the procedure.

There are other options. Find an experienced implant dentist to discuss them with you. If All-On-4 implants are not within your budget, you may be a candidate for implant-supported dentures with as few as two dental implants.

You can speak with the same dentists with whom you discussed the All-On-4 implants, or you can find other qualified implant dentists and explore your options.

This post is sponsored by board-certified implant dentist and prosthodontist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

Mar 20

Can more implants be added to All on 4?

By All-on-4 Dental Implants, Dental Implants

I like the All on 4 idea, but I am wondering if I can add 2 to 4 more implants so that it would be really All on 6 or All on 8? Thanks Donovan

Donovan – All-on-4 implants are an affordable way to secure upper and lower restorations with four highly angled implants. Four is the minimum number of implants used, but you can choose more.

Six to eight implants per arch will give your new smile even more stability. They will also increase the area in which jawbone shrinkage is prevented. The additional implants can be placed right away, or you can choose to wait and have them added later.

This procedure is not for everyone. It must be performed with care and precision to avoid implant mistakes. Speak with a board-certified prosthodontist to find out if All-on-4 implants are right for your case, and to discuss your interest in increasing the number of implants that are placed.

This post is sponsored by board-certified prosthodontist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

Jan 28

1 of my all on 4 implants is loose

By All-on-4 Dental Implants, Dental Implants, Second Opinion

I got all on 4 implants last October. 1 of the implants is loose. I know it because I feel the movement around it that I didn’t feel before. Is the All on 4 going to fail? Kyle

Kyle – A loose All-On-4 implant doesn’t necessarily mean implant failure, but you do need to notify your implant dentist of the problem right away.

There can be several causes of a loose implant. Some possible causes are listed below:

  1. Infection – Infection in the surround gum tissue or bone can cause implants to loosen.
  2. Failure of bone to fuse the implant (osseointegration) – If this fusion does not occur, dental implants will become lose. The implant can be removed, repositioned, if necessary, and replaced. Before it is replaced, your jawbone density will be reassessed to ensure proper placement. There are several things that can cause an implant not to fuse. A skilled implant dentist can identify the cause.
  3. Insufficient implants – In some cases, the load on the four implants is too heavy, putting the implants under stress. Additional implants may be needed to support your restoration.
  4. Improper hygiene – Poor oral hygiene, as well as smoking can delay or interfere with the healing process. Patients must be diligent about oral hygiene and avoid smoking during the entire healing process.

An examination is required to determine the cause of the loose implant. You can consider receiving a second opinion on the cause of the loose implant and what needs to be done to correct it. If you choose to seek a second opinion, find a skilled implant dentist. A prosthodontist has two years of post-graduate training specific to the replacement and restoration of teeth. An experienced prosthodontist has placed many types of dental implants and will be able to discuss a variety of options for you.

This post is sponsored by Naperville implant dentist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

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