At some point or another, you’ve likely used the idiom “they don’t make them like they used to.” It implies a pretty discouraging idea: that modern products lack the quality, durability, or integrity of those from the past. Maybe you’ve thought this when that trendy new table you bought doesn’t feel as well-made as one built 50 years ago. But when it comes to stabilizing dentures with dental implants, it’s a good thing that we don’t make them the way we used to! Dentists once had limited options for patients seeking permanent denture solutions, with All-on-4 being one of the few available. But at West Wind Dental, we offer the best All-on-4 for alternatives for those looking for more comfortable, supportive, and budget-friendly options.
We support dentures with mini dental implants, a less invasive option for replacing an entire arch of teeth. With these innovative solutions, you can enjoy a more stable denture without the long healing times, complex surgeries, or high costs associated with All-on-4.
Limitations of All-on-4
Implant-supported dentures have been around for many years. They attach to dental implants, which are anchored in the jaw. This system provides far greater stability and bite force than conventional dentures.
All-on-4 dentures are one kind of permanent implant denture. To support this type of prosthetic, a dentist first needs to perform surgery to place traditional implants. For the traditional implant procedure, the dentist makes a large incision in the gums, lifts up the flap, and screws four implants into place across the arch to hold the denture. Once the gums heal from surgery, the dentist will cement the denture into place.
While it can be a fine option, not everyone is a candidate for All-on-4 dentures with traditional implants. After you lose teeth, it’s normal for your jaw to shrink in size and volume. But if you lose too much bone, your jaw won’t be big enough to hold traditional implants. As a result of this bone loss, you might be told you need bone grafting in order to get implant dentures.
Another reason you might be told you’re not eligible for All-on-4 implant dentures is if you have underlying health issues. That’s because certain conditions may prevent you from being a candidate for oral surgery.
Additionally, while traditional implants work fairly well for patients who can receive them, Dr. Robert Ellis has several reservations about them. For one, he’s concerned about the risk that one of those four implants will fail. Traditional implants are prone to peri-implantitis, or an infection around the implant. When a traditional implant fails due to infection, it can affect all the other implants in your mouth, jeopardizing the entire case.
As a dentist with a background in construction, he also questions whether four points of support are enough. He’d rather have more implants supporting a denture, so that if one fails, it doesn’t mean the others will too.
Unlock Alternatives With Mini Implant Dentures
To overcome the drawbacks of traditional All-on-4 dentures, Dr. Ellis uses mini dental implants to secure your new teeth. Mini dental implants are more than 40% smaller than traditional implants. Because they are so slim, we find that most patients have enough bone to hold them.
To place mini dental implants, Dr. Ellis doesn’t have to make large incisions into the gums. He simply makes a small hole where the implant will go and gently guides the implant into the jawbone.
Thanks to this improved design, we can support dentures with more implants than traditional implant denture options. Depending on the style of denture and your mouth, we might secure your prosthetic onto 6-12 mini implants. Even though you’ll be getting more implants, you should still experience a shorter, more comfortable recovery process because the procedure is so much less invasive than the old-school procedure.
Another reason we recommend mini dental implants over traditional ones is that we find mini implants to be less prone to infection around the implant. And if one mini implant fails, you’ll still have enough support to keep eating and smiling confidently!
Your Best All-on-4 Alternatives
At West Wind Dental, we’re happy to provide alternatives to All-on-4 so that patients can access a better denture solution. If you want a stable denture while enjoying a less invasive implant procedure, mini implant-supported dentures may be right for you.
We offer two roundhouse bridge systems that differ in removability and the number of implants used to support the teeth.
With our Fix-on-Six® system, the roundhouse bridge is semi-removable and attaches to 6-10 mini implants. You’ll never have to take your bridge out at home. Instead, Dr. Ellis will remove it regularly for deep cleanings. In between cleanings, you’ll simply brush the bridge like normal and floss with a water flosser.
If you want something that feels and acts the most like natural teeth, we offer a fixed, fully permanent bridge. With this option, your teeth will be permanently cemented into place on 10-12 mini implants. Patients report that this solution feels and functions the closest to natural teeth. Permanent roundhouse bridges are more expensive than Fix-on-Six, but they’re also the most stable and long-lasting.
Learn About All-on-4 Alternatives in a Free Consultation!
All-on-4 implant dentures were once the only way to lock dentures into place. But at West Wind Dental, we prefer to offer more advanced dental solutions with quality in mind. That’s why we recommend mini implant dentures. They match the natural look and feel of teeth and offer greater support and stability than All-on-4 systems, thanks to a higher number of implants and a more evenly distributed foundation. Plus, the procedure is less invasive, involves a shorter recovery time, and typically costs less than traditional full-arch implant options. For most of our patients, dentures supported by mini implants check all the boxes!
Dr. Ellis comes from a construction background and understands the value of offering reliable designs that will stand the test of time. When you come in for a consultation, he will assess the unique structure of your mouth and tailor his approach to your needs. Book a free consultation today for a better denture experience!
