All-on-4

Who is not a good candidate for all-on-4?

All on 4 dental implants are not recommended for heavy smokers or patients suffering from bruxism. Pregnant patients should postpone their surgery until after giving birth. This procedure is also not recommended for patients with a weak or suppressed immune system as well as patients who suffered a heart attack recently.

How long is the procedure? 

2 - 3 hours.

What you should do before the surgery?

Patients will first need to have a set of dental X-rays done in order to check for any potential problems related to bone loss in the area. A CBCT scan may also be used for this purpose. If there are any remaining teeth on the maxilla or mandible, they will have to be removed.

How is the procedure performed?

The procedure begins with the dentist administering local anesthesia to the patient. Once the implant area is numb, the dentist will begin creating 4 different incisions in the patient's gum tissue. With the gum tissue out of the way, the patient's bone is exposed – implants then can be screwed into place.

The implants are angled at 30 to 45 degrees – this is done to avoid sensitive areas such as the mental nerve in the mandible or the sinus in the upper jaw. After placing the implants, the dentist will close all incisions with sutures.

Depending on the patient's state of health, a permanent or provisional prosthesis is placed over the implants, and the patient may begin recovering. The procedure generally lasts between 2 and 3 hours.

All-on-4 Recovery Timeline

Most patients can return to work in a few days after undergoing the all-on-4 procedure. The next three months are essential for the success of the surgery – patients will receive a complete guide on what to do and what to avoid during the time necessary for the bone to heal.

Solid food is prohibited for up to four weeks after the procedure – patients can consume liquid food instead. During the first seven days after the operation, most patients will experience discomfort and a lot of swelling.

Side Effects of All-on-4

Patients can expect the following side effects after an all on 4 dental implants procedure: 

• Pain 

• Discomfort 

• Considerable swelling 

• Minimal bleeding 

All-on-4 Success Rate 

All-on-4 reviews set the success rate at 94.8%, 10 years after the procedure has been performed. 

What to expect from All-on-4 before and after?

After the all-on-4 procedure, patients will be able to enjoy natural-looking teeth with no dietary restrictions. Patients will need to maintain good oral hygiene practices in order to maintain the longevity of the implants and prostheses.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

What are the alternatives available? 
All-on-6 and all-on-8 dental implants are available as alternatives for an all-on-4 procedure. Some patients might want to opt for traditional dentures, for example, but the all-on-4 system provides a permanent solution based on a fixed prosthesis.

How long does the procedure take? 
An all-on-four procedure usually takes around 2-3 hours, but it depends from case to case. 

Are angled dental implants safe? 
Yes, a study based on 245 patients with a total of 980 implants revealed a 94.8% success rate, ten years after the procedure was performed. When all-on-four systems are used, any pressure on the prosthesis is distributed among all the implants, so the angle of the implants has no ill effect.

When can I expect to get back to work after the treatment?

3 - 5 days after the procedure. 

This content is written and reviewed by our content team in 2023.