You may have heard of the traditional all on 4 dental implant procedure for replacement of a full upper or lower set of missing or broken teeth. This technique traditionally uses 4 dental implants to support a fixed set of teeth. At our practice, we believe that every mouth is unique. While in some cases, 4 dental implants may be enough to support a new set of teeth, in some instances, more support may be required and is actually better in the long term. We charge the same cost whether your treatment requires 4 or 6 or 8 implants as we want this investment of yours to be in there for a long time to come! At your free dental implant consultation and CBCT (3D x-ray assessment) we will determine the appropriate number of dental implants required for your unique case.
The “hybrid” style new set of teeth is typically made of acrylic supported by a titanium bar for strength. Although the titanium bar does not wear down, the acrylic teeth over top over time do start to stain and wear down. Necessitating replacement of the acrylic teeth every 5 or so years. This acrylic material is also known to be harder to clean and overall less hygienic as it is a porous plastic. One of the most significant disadvantages is the bulk of the prosthesis. Because it is a weaker material it requires more thickness. This is not only more uncomfortable in the mouth but the space for this bulk almost always comes from sacrificing jaw bone. In the hybrid technique more of the natural jaw bone must be reduced in order to have space for the required material thickness.
At our practice, we use an alternative made of zirconia which has a few special properties: it looks more lifelike, does not stain, or wear down and it is stronger! With this strength we are able to create far less bulky, and more natural feeling bridges while also preserving the natural jaw bone. The material will not wear or break and will not require periodic maintenance or replacement. It is important to ask your dentist if the final bridge you will be receiving is made of acrylic or is zirconia based. Furthermore, our onsite dental lab and technician are able to design your smile transformation from start to finish without having to visit multiple locations.
For more information please contact our office today for your free dental implant assessment. Stay tuned to our next blog where I will be discussing the difference between the natural smile restoration procedure as shown above and traditional all on 4 procedures and why not every patient needs to fit this mold.
Dr. Mark Bishara DDS
Smile again today!
Comments