How Many Dental Implants and Stages is Best
When a full set teeth replacement is required, certain dentists and specialists may often recommend six or more dental implants to support the prosthesis, and would undertake the treatment in multiple stages. all on 4 sydney is different in that only four fixtures are used to support the teeth, and the treatment is immediate with the final prosthesis being typically delivered within 24 hours of the surgery. So not only less implants are being used, but also these are immediately loaded, and the natural question arises are we pushing the limits? Would it be better to use more implants and to do it in stages?
Actually, the answer is quite the opposite. Staged, multi-implant systems have been around for many years, but the trend among experienced clinicians has been to use less implants and to undertake immediate loading with the ultimate aim of achieving a better outcome. So all on 4 is actually a product of evolution (see History of All-On-4).
Nonetheless, All-On-4 is an advanced surgical and restorative oral rehabilitation system. It requires not only advanced skills and a great deal of experience, but also integrated dental, surgical and laboratory facilities. As such, not all dentists or specialists are, in fact, able to offer this treatment.
The Ideal Number of Dental Implants
The problem with full set implants is that the more implants we put in the more difficult it is for patients to clean around them because the implants are not actually visible. If you cannot clean them, then they will be smelly and will not last long.
More implants is also less comfortable for patients because of the increased number of screw access holes, which is additionally a known technical obstacle to achieving the best possible aesthetic result.
Four implants is ideal because there are two in the front and two in the back, and because of the way they are tilted not only do they provide the necessary support, but the spread also makes it more comfortable, more aesthetic, and much easier to know how to clean.
There are situations where we might consider placing one or more additional implants. This is very rarely the case in the lower jaw, but may be necessary in a small percentage of upper jaws depending on individual bone situations, biting pressures, and other parameters that we must take into account in our planning. Though in doing so we must always remain focused on our quality standards to ensure simple cleaning, optimal function, ultimate aesthetics and longevity. In some instances we may still be able to revert to using only four supports with a special kind of implants know as Zygomas, even when the jaw bone quality is extremely poor, because these actually rely on the cheekbones for support.
The Ideal Number of Stages
Traditionally, implants were done over a number of stages where after surgery the patients were committed either to a denture or an unreliable temporary restoration until the permanent teeth can be fitted. Over the years numerous studies have shown that apart from being poorly fitting and uncomfortable for patients, these may actually cause inadvertent issues with the healing of the implants because of individual concentrated pressures from movement of the dentures or temporary restorations.