Many patients have asked about heavily marketed dental  implant options such as Teeth-in-an Hour, All-on-Four, or Teeth-in-a- Day.  This a procedure where a person with a denture is able to have four dental  implants placed and walk away wearing an implant retained denture replacement.  Dr. Gibbs recently attended an update seminar on these concepts, so let me share my assessment:
1)  Most marketing efforts on these concepts show a person chewing an apple right away.  In the vast majority of cases they are using a temporary restoration with the permanent restoration being made in 3 to 4 months.
2)  Placing an dental implant supported restoration immediately is great, and I can do this in many cases, however, it adds considerably to cost, with no additional long term benefits.
3)  All though there is a high success rate once the permanent restoration is finished.  For the very high price of All-on-Four (one large “chain” of dental implants charges about $30,000 per arch), I personally like additional stability with more support than four implants (think table legs).
4)  Avoiding bone grafts by placing implants at an angle is appropriate, in instances where implants are long enough and cross-splinted for mutual support.
5)   Immediate placement restorations cannot be placed in areas where tooth have just been extracted.  Temporary restoration and bone healing must occur first.

6)  Special caution should be exercised before thinking that complex implant problems can be solved in “cookie-cutter” solutions such as All-on Four.”  The number of implants required is HEAVILY dependent on other factors such as parafunction (clenching, grinding), shape of the jawbones, nature of opposing teeth (dentures vs. natural teeth, individual facial aesthetic, bone density, systemic disease, and many other factors.  Both patient and practitioners should use caution not to over-simplify.
7)   The  most important aspect of these restorations is the use of sophisticated software that uses CT bone scans to image the bone in 3D.  This allows more accurate placement, less healing time, and more comfort for the patient. For you “techies” out there go to my website and look at how we do this for complex cases under the implant or advanced technology sections!
All technology has uses, abuses, and limitations.  I do use this technology, but I do believe some mass advertising of this is misleading-ask us if you questions!

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• IV Dental Sedation & Dental Implants–Man from Elmhurst
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• Dentures and Facial Wrinkles–Use of Dental Implants