Most people consider dental implants to be a modern procedure. But in actuality, ancient forms of dental implants have been documented as far back as 4,000 years ago.
From pegs carved out of bamboo in China, to copper in Egypt, and iron teeth in Western Europe, all have been used through history as primitive forms of dental implants.
So it’s safe to say that even our ancestors knew the importance of replacing missing teeth! Without a tooth in place to replace the missing one, the empty space can cause a host of other unfortunate issues including bone degradation, speech problems, premature wrinkling around the face, and oral infection, just to name a few. Problems like these make dental implants such an important, progressive, and popular procedure.
Today, the modern dental implant consists of three parts:
- The implant itself, made of medical-grade titanium, and is placed right into the jaw and acts as the replacement tooth root;
- An abutment is attached to the top of the implant and performs like an anchor between the implant and the crown;
- A crown, which is the last piece, is placed on top of the abutment and appears and functions like a natural tooth
Advances in modern dentistry have made it so that dental implants have an incredibly high success rate (96%). For patients who are missing several (or even all) of their teeth, a multiple dental implant solution may be the best choice. Instead of implanting each dental implant one by one, the All-On-Four procedure is a type of dental implant technique that is a perfect solution for those who have decaying or missing teeth. It is one of the most popular solutions that provide the quick, long-term results that patients are looking for.
The All-On-Four procedure works with the basic principles of a single dental implant but instead it accommodates the full upper and/or lower arch of teeth. It is considered an efficient, strong, and permanent solution to a full and complete dental restoration. After a short surgical procedure and a minimal recovery time, many All-On-Four patients are very happy they chose the All-On-Four.
For more information about the All-On-Four procedure and to determine if you’re a candidate, please schedule a consultation with our office today.