Missing Teeth

When it comes to All on 4 dental implants, the benefits are clear. This life-changing implant treatment offers an effective tooth replacement solution for patients who are missing all or most of the teeth in their upper or lower jaw (or both).

But like all dental procedures, it does come with a few downsides. That’s why it’s important to consider all of the All on 4 pros and cons before committing to this treatment.

By carefully looking at both the benefits and drawbacks of All on 4, you’ll be able to make a more informed decision about whether it’s right for you. To help you, we’ve put together this article weighing up the pros and cons of All-on-4 dental implants.

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Let’s breakdown the All on 4 pros and cons

Check out the table below for a quick snapshot of the All-on-4 dental implants pros and cons.

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In the next sections, we’ll explore these All on 4 pros and cons in detail and see how they compare.

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What are the benefits of All on 4 dental implants?

As mentioned earlier, the All on 4 treatment has proven life-changing for hundreds of thousands of patients worldwide. And that’s not just because they get a beautiful, natural-looking smile back — they get their quality of life back too.

Here’s an overview of the main benefits All on 4 has to offer:

New teeth in as little as 3 days

Arguably the biggest benefit of All on 4 is the speed at which patients can get their smile back. Thanks to this innovative treatment, patients can go from severely deteriorated or no teeth to a full arch (of up to 12 teeth) in as little as 3 days after implant placement. Before All on 4, it wasn’t possible for a tooth bridge to be placed on dental implants so soon after surgery. This meant patients had to wear a removable denture for months before their tooth bridge could be connected. Now, the initial tooth bridge can be fitted in just days — and in some cases, it can even be fitted on the same day as your dental implant surgery.

Securely fixed

All on 4 dental implants are fixed in the mouth and can only be removed by your dentist. Once the tooth bridge is attached to the implants, it will stay put and won’t slide around. This means you’ll never have to worry about awkward denture slip-ups mid-conversation or mid-meal.

Looks and feels like natural teeth

‍Not only does All on 4 feel secure and comfortable in the mouth like natural teeth, but they look just like the real thing too. At Illumident, our All on 4 tooth bridges are carefully hand-crafted here in Australia from the highest quality materials to ensure you get the most natural-looking smile that perfectly suits you.

Restores oral function

‍The titanium implants act as artificial tooth roots, which not only secure the prosthetic teeth to the jaw bone but also make eating and speaking just as easy as with natural teeth. All on 4 implants are strong and durable, designed to withstand the same biting and chewing pressure as real teeth. Plus, they don’t move around or cover the roof of your mouth, so you can speak and pronounce words with confidence.

Rarely requires bone grafting and prevents jaw bone loss

‍The innovative placement technique of the All on 4 procedure uses two straight implants at the front of the jaw and two angled implants at the back of the jaw. In most cases, this overcomes bone deficiencies, meaning that even patients with jaw bone loss can be treated without bone grafting. No bone grafting means a more straightforward procedure, shorter treatment time and less costs. Plus, once inserted into the jaw, the implants stimulate the jaw bone just like natural tooth roots, promoting bone growth and preventing further bone loss. For patients, this means they don’t have to worry about their cheeks and lips sinking inward over time as the facial structure remains full and supported.

High success rate

‍The All on 4 treatment concept, created by Nobel Biocare, uses the clinically-proven Malo Protocol, which has a 98% success rate backed by over 25 years of clinical data. When planned and performed by experienced dentists (like Dr Holmes and Next Smile Australia), All on 4 is one of the most successful dental procedures available today. 

What are the downsides of All on 4 dental implants?

Let’s face it: no medical procedure is all pros, no cons — and All on 4 is no exception. As a patient, it’s all about comparing the benefits with the potential disadvantages and seeing how they stack up for you.

When considering the cons of All-on-4 dental implants, it pays to be aware of these few downsides:

More expensive than removable dentures

Yes, All-on-4 is a major investment but it’s an investment in your quality of life. The initial cost of dental implants may be high, but it will pay dividends in years to come. Look at it this way: do you want a more cost-effective (but less secure, less comfortable and less natural-looking) option that you have to pay to replace every 5 or so years? Or do you want a tooth replacement solution that looks, feels and functions just like natural teeth and will stand the test of time? (P.S. our payment plans take the stress out of paying for your All-on-4 treatment and some patients may even be able to access their super to cover treatment costs.)

Requires surgical procedure

‍All on 4 implants are inserted into the jaw during one surgical procedure. Some patients may be apprehensive about getting surgery — and rightly so, it can be a daunting prospect. But rest assured, you’ll feel completely comfortable and cared for every step of the way. During the On-4 procedure, local anaesthetic is used to ensure you won’t feel any pain. Most patients will also receive treatment under general anesthesia (GA), meaning they will be ‘asleep’ with no awareness of what’s happening during the dental implant procedure and no recollection of it afterwards. After surgery, you may have some mild discomfort and swelling for a few days but this is easily managed with over-the-counter pain relief.
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May take up to 6 months for jaw and gums to completely heal

‍Recovery times vary for each patient and it can take around 3 to 6 months for your jaw and gums to heal after surgery. During the healing period, the jaw bone also grows around the dental implant, making it strong and sturdy. But don’t worry — you won’t be without teeth during this time. You’ll wear your temporary tooth bridge, meaning you can still eat, speak and typically return to life as normal.

Small risk of implant failure

‍Like all dental procedures, All on 4 dental implants come with some potential risks and complications. One of these risks is implant failure, where the dental implant fails to fuse with the jaw bone. But rest assured, implant failure is very rare (less than 5% of cases). In most cases, the implant can be successfully re-inserted into the jaw once it has had time to heal. Remember, All on 4 has a very high documented success rate (98% in this recent study) across many clinical studies, with generally positive patient outcomes and a low risk of complications.

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Are All on 4 implants worth it?

Now that you’re armed with all the info on All on 4 pros and cons, that’s for you to decide. But we’re always here to answer your questions and help you in your decision-making process. If you’d like to talk through the pros and cons of all-on-4 dental implants in person, book your free implant consultation with Dr Holmes by calling our Mount Gambier practice on (08) 8725 2441 or our Port Fairy practice on (03) 5568 2577.