A Patient's Guide to All-on-X Implants

Dr. Monil Shah • May 30, 2023

Are you looking for the right dental implants for your needs?Here is a patient's guide to All-on-X implants to find out if they're right for you.

Did you know that 17% of adults over 65 are missing all their teeth? Of course, many younger people also have missing teeth, but there is no reason to live without all your teeth.

If you lose a permanent tooth, a dentist can replace it. Dentists can also replace teeth for those missing all of them. You can do this through dentures, but All-on-X implants are the better choice.

All-on-X implants aren't for everyone, but they work well for many. You can visit a dentist in Cicero, IL, to determine if they're right for you. You can also read this guide to learn more about them.

Basics of Dental Implants

A dental implant is a helpful tool dentists use to replace missing teeth. They can perform implant surgery to replace just one missing tooth or multiple.

One benefit is that they can use them to replace any tooth, regardless of location. An alternative to an implant is a dental bridge. Unfortunately, dental bridges have limitations, especially regarding a tooth's location.

Implant surgery is the first step in installing an implant. The dentist places a small device into the person's jawbone. This device is an implant. As time passes, the bone fuses with the implant, providing the strength it needs.

Once this occurs, the dentist can complete the procedure by installing a titanium post and crown. The procedure takes several months or longer. However, it's permanent.

The implant should last for the rest of the person's life. It should also function just like a natural tooth, allowing the person to eat all foods.

You must take care of an implant through routine dental care appointments. You must also brush and floss the tooth as you do with your natural teeth.

Features of All-on-X Implants

Understanding what implants are can help you learn the concept of All-on-X implants. All-on-X implants offer a way to replace an entire arch of teeth.

Everyone has two arches - the top and bottom. Each arch contains multiple teeth, and some people lose all their teeth. The most common reason people lose teeth is poor oral care habits.

When you lose an entire arch of teeth, you'll have trouble chewing. You might also be embarrassed by the way it looks. Fortunately, you can replace them through dentures or implants.

The key feature of All-on-X implants is they offer a full-arch replacement with only four implants. A full arch normally has 16 teeth when a person has them all.

A dentist strategically inserts the four implants into the person's mouth to hold all the replacement teeth. Thus, it requires four implants instead of many.

If you need to replace both arches, the dentist inserts four implants on the top and four on the bottom.

After the implants fuse to the bone, the dentist inserts an arch of teeth. This arch attaches to the four implants, holding it securely in place.

How to Know If You're a Good Candidate

All-on-X implants offer numerous benefits, but they're not for everyone. Visiting an implant dentist in Cicero, IL, is the best way to know if you're a good candidate.

The dentist will examine your dental health and tooth situation. Then, they'll create a plan. A good candidate is generally someone missing all their teeth on one arch or both.

If you have a few remaining teeth, the dentist might suggest removing them before getting implants.

All-on-X implants aren't necessary for people with most of their teeth. For example, a dentist might suggest a few individual implants if you're missing a few teeth throughout your mouth.

What to Expect at an Initial Consultation

Having teeth is important. You need your teeth to eat. You also use your teeth to speak and enunciate words and sounds.

Additionally, your teeth affect your looks. You might not like how you look without them. As a result, you should consider visiting an implant dentist to learn more about All-on-X implants.

When you arrive for the visit, the dentist will welcome you in to begin the appointment. The appointment begins with a discussion about your teeth, needs, and oral health.

Next, the dentist will perform an examination of your teeth. This examination will include x-rays. The x-rays help the dentist see your jawbone.

Dentists place implants into the jawbone. If you don't have enough jawbone to support the implants, you might need an additional procedure. The additional procedure is a bone graft, which adds bone to your jaw.

Finally, the dentist will make recommendations. They will suggest All-on-X implants if they consider you a good candidate. If not, they might have other suggestions for replacing your teeth.

Alternative Options for Replacing All Teeth

All-on-X implants are ideal for people who are missing all or most of their teeth. However, there is one alternative option: dentures.

Unfortunately, dentures aren't equal to implants. Dentures are removable, which means you might have trouble keeping them in place.

Additionally, dentures can interfere with eating. You might not be able to eat everything you want. Dentures will fall out when eating some foods, such as hard or sticky things.

Finally, dentures don't look as good. Implants look natural. When people see your implants, they won't know they're fake. Conversely, dentures have a fake look.

Visit an Implant Dentist in Cicero, IL

All-on-X implants are ideal for people who are missing all their teeth on one arch or both. They offer a permanent solution for people missing a lot of teeth. The best part is that they look and function like natural teeth.

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