­All-on-4 compared to traditional implants

 All-on-4 concept is an innovation of the modern era that has pushed the boundaries of dental implantology. In this blog, we explain what is new and improved in All-on-4 concept compared to traditional implantology, as well as its advantages. All-on-4 compared to traditional implants has a significant advantage over traditional implants for edentulous and nearly edentulous patients.

History of dental implants

Throughout history, people have attempted to replace lost teeth using various methods. Archaeological finds suggest the existence of dental implant prototypes dating back around 4000 years. These were carved bamboo pegs used as tooth substitutes in China around 2000 BC.

In ancient Egypt, remains of an Egyptian king from around 1000 BC were discovered. Copper pegs were found hammered into the jawbone, intended to replace lost teeth. Among the Maya, stone implants were found, believed to have been used around 800 AD. Later discoveries show their dedication to refinement, constantly improving their invention. In 1931, an archaeological team found a human skull dating back to 600 AD. At that time, carved seashells were used instead of stone implants for missing teeth.

The first modern implant

The implants we know today emerged in the 1960s, thanks to a Swedish orthopedic surgeon, professor Per-Ingvar Brånemark. In 1957, he studied bone healing and regeneration, discovering that rabbit thigh bone had fused with a titanium rod. This led to the realization that metal could fuse with bones without being rejected, a process he called osseointegration.

Just eight years after this discovery, in 1965, he tested his theory on the first patient, a 34-year-old Swede named Gösta Larsson from Gothenburg. Larsson voluntarily underwent the placement of titanium dental implants and lived for a full 40 years with the implants without any complications. This marked the beginning of a revolution in dentistry. Professor Brånemark founded the company Nobelpharma, known today as Nobel Biocare. Did you know that the US Food and Drug Administration approved the use of titanium dental implants only in 1982? This decision was based on various studies, underlining the safety of dental implants.

History of the All-on-4 concept

In addition to the significant years 1957 and 1965, 1998 is another year that stands out in the history of dentistry, particularly in the field of implantology. The All-On-4 concept was created in collaboration with the renowned company Nobel Biocare, with its conceptual creator – a Portuguese dentist Paulo Maló. He aimed to solve the problem of complete edentulism with a fast, fixed and permanent solution, avoiding expensive procedures like sinus lifting and bone augmentation, which prolong and escalate therapy costs. Through the All-on-4 concept, he achieved this goal completely.

All-on-4 compared to traditional implants

All-on-4 is an implant-prosthetic concept that uses dental implants to replace teeth in fully edentulous or nearly edentulous patients. However, the implants are not placed in the traditional way, nor do we wait 3-6 months for osseointegration before loading them with prosthetic work.

In this procedure, only 4 implants are placed to replace all teeth, and any remaining teeth must be extracted beforehand. Two implants are placed in the front part of the jaw, and two more in the posterior part, each at a specific angle:

• to avoid the sinus depression and sinus lift in the upper jaw
• to avoid the nerve injury in the lower jaw.

Onto these positioned dental implants, abutments (multi-unites) are immediately attached, followed by a dental bridge as a temporary solution. Unlike standard dental bridges cemented to implants, these bridges are screwed onto the implants, making them easy to remove and repair in case of damage.

In this case as well, a 3-6 month wait is necessary for the implants to integrate with the bone. Thanks to the immediate loading of the implants, a temporary bridge can be placed the same day as the placement of the implants, providing both function and aesthetics. While achieving good primary stability of the implant, this can sometimes be done in traditional implantology as well, with a temporary tooth being placed. However, in All-on-4 procedure, this is a standard protocol, and it is the reason edentulous patients receive a fixed functional and aesthetic solution within 24 hours.

Advantages of All-on-4 over traditional implants

• Fixed teeth within 24 hours.
• Avoidance of sinus lifting and bone grafting procedures.
• Immediate functionality of the dental bridge.
• Wile eating, patients feel as if had their natural teeth.
• High success rate, up to 98%.
• Immediate loading of implants.
• Ultimately, a more cost-effective solution compared to total jaw reconstruction using traditional methods.
• In case of bridge damage, it can be easily removed and repaired on the same day.

If you are troubled by edentulism and want a quick and permanent solution, book your free examination to determine if you are a candidate for the All-on-4. A concept which has been quickly restoring our patients’ smiles for years.