The All-on-4 Timeline: From Your First Consultation to Your New Smile

Deciding to move forward with the All-on-4® dental implant system is an exciting step that brings you closer to a healthy, beautiful, and durable smile. It’s normal to have questions regarding the treatment timeline. 

While there are several factors that can affect your treatment timing, let’s go over the basic steps for the All-on-4 treatment concept. At Cannon Oral Surgery in Chattanooga, Tennessee, we are always happy to share information and help you feel confident in your treatment decisions. 

All-on-4 treatment is a process, not a one-time event

Let’s begin with full and fair disclosure: All-on-4 is not a one-time treatment that lets you walk out of the office with a fully restored smile in just one visit. It’s an investment that delivers a permanent solution to missing teeth, and not a process that can be rushed. 

That’s because All-on-4 uses four dental implants to anchor each arch of teeth. So if you have a full mouth restoration using this system, that means four implants on the top and four on the bottom. 

Implants are a form of oral surgery, and your body needs time to heal before we can safely move forward with the next step of the process. 

We understand that it’s difficult to be patient. After all, you’ve probably waited a long time to move forward with this restoration. But we promise that the results are well worth the wait. 

Your initial visit is a busy one

During your initial visit, you’ll discuss the ins and outs of All-on-4 to determine if this is a good fit for your treatment goals. Dr. Cannon examines your teeth and orders full mouth digital imaging to assess your bone tissue. 

If everything looks good, he’ll administer anesthesia and place the titanium posts into your jawbone tissue. You’ll be numb during the step, and Dr. Cannon will explain what to expect from your recovery process for the days following your procedure. 

Temporary artificial teeth are provided during this visit, allowing you to eat and speak normally as your healing progresses. 

Your second visit completes the All-on-4 treatment

If you don’t encounter any delays, you’ll return to Cannon Oral Surgery in around six months for your final All-on-4 visit. During this appointment, Dr. Cannon checks to see how well your bone tissue has fused with the titanium implants. 

If the implants are securely seated, he attaches the permanent artificial teeth to the implanted posts. This completes your treatment, and you’ll leave with a beautiful, natural-looking smile. A degree of soreness is normal for a few days after completing this step, as your body adjusts to the new arch(es) of teeth. 

Here are some issues that can prolong your treatment timeline

Everyone has a unique experience with dental implants. The six-month timeline outlined above may differ for you depending on your specific needs. 

For example, if you have active gum disease or need multiple teeth pulled before getting All-on-4, Dr. Cannon may recommend that you address these issues before having your titanium posts implanted. This is especially true if you have a health condition that compromises your immunity. 

One of the biggest benefits of the All-on-4 system is the ability to treat patients who’ve lost bone tissue from missing teeth. But you still need enough bone to securely anchor the implanted posts. So some people will need bone grafting before getting All-on-4.

It’s rare, but there are cases where the implanted posts take more than 6 months to fully fuse with the jawbone. If this occurs, you may need to wait a bit longer for your implants and come back in to have your progress checked more frequently. 

Every path to All-on-4 is different, but we’re always here to help

No matter the challenges you face or the simplicity or complexity of your treatment path, the team at Cannon Oral Surgery is always here to offer highly customized treatment planning. 

We’re here with you from start to finish, offering personalized consultations and treatments aligned with your unique needs. Once your All-on-4 system is complete, we’re thrilled to celebrate your new smile with you. 

When you’re ready to book your visit, we can be reached by phone during normal business hours. We also offer online booking as another convenient option.