Transform Your Smile in One Day: The Ultimate Guide to All-on-4 Implants

A healthy smile makes a great first impression. If you’ve lost most of your natural teeth, you might think that a full set of dentures is your only option. But advances in dental technology have created far better options than were available just a few years ago. 

At Cannon Oral Surgery, we go to great lengths to offer the absolute best restoration options on the market to the Chattanooga, Tennessee, residents who entrust us with their care. For many, that means All-on-4®. 

So let’s take a look at what makes All-on-4 such a wonderful option, and what you can expect from the process. 

All-on-4 can create a beautiful smile

Once you’ve lost most of your natural teeth, feeling great about your smile is a challenge. The All-on-4 system replaces all of your upper or lower teeth with just four implanted posts that anchor an entire arch of artificial teeth. 

Once in place, All-on-4 creates a smile you’ll be proud to share with the world. Whether you’re at a family gathering, meeting new friends, or entering a new career path, you’ll feel great about the message your smile sends to others. 

The preparatory stage is an important part of All-on-4

When it comes to getting All-on-4, the planning phase is arguably the most important part of the process. Dr. Cannon begins by examining your mouth to determine if All-on-4 is a good option for your needs. 

If you have any remaining natural teeth, you’ll need to decide whether to keep them and consider partial dentures or individual implants, or have them extracted to pave the way for All-on-4. This decision depends on the health of your remaining teeth and your goals for your smile. 

If you decide to move forward with All-on-4, digital imaging gathers information about the precise alignment of your teeth. Dr. Cannon also examines your jawbone health. The All-on-4 system anchors the upper or lower arch onto four posts implanted directly into your bone tissue. 

You need to have enough healthy bone to secure those implants. Because the implants are placed at an angle, All-on-4 often works well even for people who don’t have enough bone for individual implants. 

Placing the post portion of All-on-4

On the day of your procedure, an injection of numbing medication prevents you from feeling any pain as the process moves forward. Once the medication takes effect, Dr. Cannon creates an incision in your gums to access the underlying bone. 

He then drills a small pilot hole into your jawbone. This guides the placement of the post portion of the implants. Once the posts are placed, the gums are closed around them to facilitate the healing process. 

In some cases, you’ll need to wait for your bone tissue to fuse to the implanted post. You’d then need to return at a later date to have the full arch of teeth connected to the implanted posts. 

In some cases, we can secure the arch of teeth during the same visit when we place the posts in your bone tissue. That lets you walk out the same day with your restored smile. 

We can help you decide whether All-on-4 is right for you

At Cannon Oral Surgery, we understand your desire to learn about all available options before moving forward with any dental restoration treatment. That’s why we encourage you to schedule a time to come in and meet with our team to explore All-on-4 in more detail. 

We’ll examine your teeth, discuss what to expect from the process, and share information about the timeline and cost. You can set that visit up today by contacting our office online or by phone.