When researching dental implants, you have likely come across two popular methods of replacing teeth, all on four or all on six implants. When researching dental implants, you have likely come across two popular methods of replacing teeth, all on four or all on six implants. If you’re considering these options, it’s essential to make an informed decision about your oral health—check out this dentist in leominster ma for expert guidance and personalized recommendations tailored to your needs.
Some surgeries encourage all on four dental implants, while others prefer all on six.
But which is best?
Alternatives to dental implants
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The best reason to get all on 4 or all on 6 dental implants is to get rid of dentures or stop the need for many individual implants.
Dentures can be unsightly and messy, can make eating difficult and can irritate the gums and mouth. This means that people are significantly less likely to wear their dentures and problems are exacerbated when they are worn.
It creates a vicious cycle for the wearer.
Individual implants are not suited for patients who have lost many teeth. This is because the jaw can only support so many screws and if an individual has many missing teeth, the jaw may not be able to support the number of screws necessary to replace each tooth.
It is also a lot of surgery and trauma for the mouth and would cost a great deal of money.
As such, a replacement was needed for patients with more extreme tooth loss. This is where all on 4, or 6, dental implants came from.
Dental implant benefits
All on 4 dental implants were created to solve the problems caused by dentures or multiple single implants.
The associated benefits are:
- Fewer screws are used to replace more missing teeth, replacing the need for potentially 20 individual implants. All on four or all on six functions as a type of permanent, fixed denture.
- Patients recover the ability to eat again as implants work like normal teeth.
- Full arch implants are invisible if implanted correctly.
- Implants stop the change in face shape when teeth are lost, for example, the sunken jaw effect which can be ageing.
- Most implants last between 20-30 years, but this can be increased with good oral hygiene.
- Installation and healing time are greatly reduced.
Full arch dental implants
There is a great deal of professional discussion in the industry around full arch dental implants and the optimal number of screws needed to secure them.
Some believe all on six dental implants are preferable to all on four implants because the more screws you have, the more the jaw is strengthened. This gives extra support to the face, so face shape is maintained, and bite pressure is more evenly supported.
Similarly, the consensus is that if you have many missing teeth, the additional screws in the all on six implant are generally best but if there are fewer missing teeth then all on four dental implants are preferred as it also has the distinct benefit of fewer cases needing bone grafts.
However, with technological advancements and as surgeons become more skilled, the decision around the number of screws is now commonly settled on a patient-by-patient basis. This decision is based on the condition and strength of the jaw, rather than following a prescribed commonly accepted methodology.
While this is more confusing for potential patients who are researching full arch dental implants, it is better for patient care, as decisions are made based on the result of scans and tests rather than generalisations. This is certainly the case for clinics such as EvoDental, which take a patient-led, holistic approach to procedures.
While the ideal outcome will be decided in consultation with your dental professional, some considerations for both methods are worthy of reflection.
All on six implant considerations
- Not all patients have bone strength for 2 extra screws as this method requires more bone and bone strength.
- A bone graft is more common with this procedure.
- There will be two extra screw sites and as such will require more healing time.
- There is an extended procedure time as there are further holes drilled.
- All on six implants remain harder to clean.
- It is likely to be more expensive.
All on four implant considerations
- Specific cleaning strategies are needed to maintain the arch and implants.
- There will be healing time, although it will be less.
- It is likely to be more affordable.
- Procedure time will be shortened.
Importantly, all procedures and options for you personally are best discussed with a dental professional during a consultation. No amount of research online will replace the years of experience a dental surgeon has. As such, it is best to take your ideas to a dental expert and share your thoughts with them. Some dental clinics, such as EvoDental, even have free initial consultations. This allows you to gain specific, tailored advice without the worry of a consultation fee and can help you understand the procedure you are about to undertake.
