How Long Do All On 4 Implants Last?
Dental work can be a significant investment, and All on 4 implants are certainly up there with the more costly treatments. With such a large financial commitment, it’s only normal to be concerned about the treatment’s longevity.
Fortunately, All on 4 Implants have a high success rate and, in most cases, last for many years. However, to have confidence in how long All on 4 implants will last, it helps to understand the treatment, the materials used and additional factors that can influence their success.
Dental work can be a significant investment, and All on 4 implants are certainly up there with the more costly treatments. With such a large financial commitment, it’s only normal to be concerned about the treatment’s longevity.
Fortunately, All on 4 Implants have a high success rate and, in most cases, last for many years. However, to have confidence in how long All on 4 implants will last, it helps to understand the treatment, the materials used and additional factors that can influence their success.
If your teeth make you self conscious, or making it hard to enjoy your favourite meals, it’s time to schedule a complimentary implant Assessment with Dr. Spyrakis.
Understanding The All On 4 Treatment
All on 4, like traditional implants, comprise of two key parts. First, a small titanium screw that is fitted inside your jawbone, and, second, the crown or dentures that connect to the titanium screw. What sets All on 4 apart from traditional implants is that, to replace a full arch of teeth, instead of eight or more implants, only four are needed. The treatment offers many advantages over conventional techniques:
- Quicker and much less invasive procedure
- Faster healing and rehabilitation process
- More flexible design and fit
- Less bone density required to secure the implant
As All on 4 implants are cleverly angled at 45 degrees, they are able to avoid bone-deficient areas in the jaw while retaining strength. In fact, the implants will give your jaw a renewed function and encourage it to maintain the bone level around the implant.
How Long Do All on 4 Implants Last?
While every case is different, you can gain a lot of confidence from the statistics surrounding the success of the All on 4 treatment. Regarding the long-term use of All on 4, data shows that both the titanium screws and the dentures offer an excellent success rate.
The first patient was treated with the All on 4 method in 1998, so there are only twenty years of data that can be used as proof of their longevity. Studies to date include:
A Retrospective Clinical Study
including 242 patients, showing a 98% success rate after five years.
A Three Year Clinical Trial
of 32 patients, resulting in a cumulative prosthesis survival rate of 100% after ten years.
As the All on 4 was designed to be superior to traditional implants, it has been created to withstand demanding conditions. The implants’ unique angle allows them to support an entire arch of teeth and very few experience failure.
How Do All On 4 Compare to Traditional Implants
Traditional dental implants have been used as a treatment option for a lot longer than All on 4. As such, there is more data to go on in terms of longevity. On average, traditional implants last over 15 years. With the studies to date on All on 4, there is nothing to suggest that they should be anything different. In fact, they should last even longer.
How Do All On 4 Compare to Traditional Implants
Traditional dental implants have been used as a treatment option for a lot longer than All on 4. As such, there is more data to go on in terms of longevity. On average, traditional implants last over 15 years. With the studies to date on All on 4, there is nothing to suggest that they should be anything different. In fact, they should last even longer.
Reasons Why Dental Implants Fail
When All on 4 implants don’t last as long as predicted, it is often the case that they fail within a short time of the procedure. When an implant fails the patient will likely encounter discomfort, swelling of the gums and movement of the implant within the mouth. There are several key reasons why dental implants fail:
Incorrect Positioning
The All on 4 implant technique is an advanced treatment that requires a highly-skilled dental professional. It can be challenging to position the implant so that it’s fully surrounded and supported by bone. Sometimes the ideal position in the bone isn’t the ideal position for the implant, and the two can end up misaligned.
Inadequate Impressions
Crowns are made from impressions that are moulded by the dentist. The impressions need to be extremely precise if the teeth are to fit perfectly. When crowns don’t fit, the remaining gap between the crown and gum can affect both the look and the function of the teeth. If bacteria leads to infection, the implant may need to be replaced.
Peri-impantitis
Unsuccessful Osseointegration
One of the vital elements of dental implants is the integration of the implant with the surrounding jawbone. The process can take anything from a few weeks to several months to happen. However, if there is insufficient bone, the implant can become loose.
Nerve Damage
Allergic Reaction
The Importance of Choosing the Right Dentist
While there are several reasons why dental implants fail, the majority of them can be mitigated by choosing the right dentist. It’s vital to choose a dentist that is specialised in performing the All on 4 procedure and has the right balance of training and experience.
An experienced dentist will carry out the necessary planning, including a full assessment of each patient’s medical history, to ensure that every factor is considered. With the right person planning and performing the procedure, it is very unlikely that any issues with positioning, osseointegration or nerve damage will occur. What’s more, by choosing an All on 4 specialist, you’ll be confident that only the highest quality materials are being used. This minimises any risks with stability and fit that could come from inferior materials.
How to Keep Your Implants Healthy
After choosing a qualified dentist and having your All on 4 implants fitted, the next thing that influences how long they last is down to you. As with your natural teeth, you’ll need to take care of your implants and dentures. This involves brushing them twice and day and carefully cleaning around them. Your dentist will advise you as to how to best care for them. You’ll also want to plan regular checkups so any issues can be resolved before they become more serious. And finally, your overall health will influence how long your implants will last. All on 4 implants depend on your bones which need the correct nutrition to stay healthy.
Bones also depend on regular stimulation to grow and maintain their density. Eat a varied diet of nutritious foods, and your implants should stay strong for many years to come.
As All on 4 implants are specifically designed to avoid areas of low bone density, they should keep your bones and gums healthy. As long as you look after them, they could easily last 20 years or more. If that’s not enough, Bexley Dental offers a lifetime guarantee on teeth, implants and titanium bar. You’ll have to agree to attend regular check-ups and cleans, but your All on 4 implants will be guaranteed to stay good as new well into the future.
Meet Dr. Theo Spyrakis, All On 4 Expert at Bexley Dental
Dr Theo Spyrakis, our principal dentist, has been practising in the Bexley community since opening Bexley Dental in 1990. Since 2006, Dr Spyrakis has focused his continuing education solely on Implant Dentistry, and All On 4 dental implants.
He has travelled the world to study with the Implant Dentistry’s most respected clinicians–including Professor Paolo Malo, of the world renowned Malo Clinic in Portugal, the founder of the All On 4 dental implants technique.
With Dr. Spyrakis primary focus on Implant and All on 4 Dentistry, it would be hard to find yourself in better hands.
Today, while Bexley Dental operates as a full service practice, Dr Spyrakis is largely focused on the Implant and All On 4 treatment, and performs over 500 implant procedures every year. This means that Implant dentistry isn’t just an aside service that is offered at Bexley Dental, it’s a field of dentistry that Dr Spyrakis has specialised in since 2007.
Meet Dr. Theo Spyrakis, All On 4 Expert at Bexley Dental
Dr Theo Spyrakis, our principal dentist, has been practising in the Bexley community since opening Bexley Dental in 1990. Since 2006, Dr Spyrakis has focused his continuing education solely on Implant Dentistry, and All On 4 dental implants.
He has travelled the world to study with the Implant Dentistry’s most respected clinicians–including Professor Paolo Malo, of the world renowned Malo Clinic in Portugal, the founder of the All On 4 dental implants technique.
With Dr. Spyrakis primary focus on Implant and All on 4 Dentistry, it would be hard to find yourself in better hands.
Today, while Bexley Dental operates as a full service practice, Dr Spyrakis is largely focused on the Implant and All On 4 treatment, and performs over 500 implant procedures every year. This means that Implant dentistry isn’t just an aside service that is offered at Bexley Dental, it’s a field of dentistry that Dr Spyrakis has specialised in since 2007.
Dr Spyrakis is proud to be recognised as one of the most experienced All On 4 dental implants dentists in Sydney, and even more grateful that something he loves to do is having such an impact on so many patients’ lives. To book an implant consultation with Dr Spyrakis and discuss the possibility of having the procedure, call us today on (02) 9567 4151