The Complete All On Four Implants Procedure: Your Surgery, Part 2

By Author: Derrick Ashley
Total Articles: 130
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Welcome back to our three-part article series on the procedure involved in getting All On Four dental implants placed. In our previous article post, the first installment of the series, we explained what patients could expect from the first step of their journey to oral rehabilitation: their initial consultation with a dental implant specialist in Houston. In this installment, we’ll focus on the procedure itself and what it entails!
The “All On Four” Dental Implant Procedure, Step # 2: Your Surgery
On the day of your surgery, you will most likely be required to arrive at the Dental Implant in Houston Center at the morning. It is advised that you get a friend or family member to drop you off because, owing to the effects of sedation and anesthesia, you won’t be in any state to drive after your procedure! You’ll begin the day by getting prepared for surgery. If you typically experience anxiety associated with surgery or dental treatment now would be the time to take an oral sedative, although ...
... many patients swallow one in the morning before they arrive for their surgery.
Once you are ready you will be wheeled into the operating room and a general anesthesia will be administered. This is where your lights go off and the specialist’s latex gloves go on! The procedure taken to give patients new teeth can be broken down into two separate steps: (1) the surgery itself and (2) the affixing of the dental prosthesis, which usually takes place once you have emerged from the effects of the anesthesia.
During surgery, the dental implant specialist will thoroughly clean your mouth, taking care to eliminate bacterial infection and diseased tissue. He or she will then extract all of your remaining failing teeth, if you do have any left! Dental implant placement subsequently begins…
Two dental implants will be inserted in the anterior (front) portion of the mouth where the jawbone is more resistant to atrophy and so tends to be bulky enough to support implants.
Another two dental implants (these ones slightly longer) will be inserted at a very precise angle in the posterior (back) portion of the mouth, in the region of the second and third molars. This angulation is done to achieve maximum support from the existing jaw volume, even in cases of advanced bone loss.
The diagram below illustrates the strategic placement and angulation of All On Four dental implants:
Once the implants have been placed, all incisions will be neatly sutured up and you will be allowed to wake up and recover.
The Placement of the Prosthetic Dental Bridge
By the afternoon, you will receive your brand new set of teeth, which is essentially a prosthetic dental bridge that has been custom fabricated from the dental molds you provided during your initial consultation. Your new teeth will be attached to the dental implants (don’t worry, this doesn’t hurt at all) and adjusted for fit, comfort and bite function. Once you are happy, the specialist will hand you a mirror and you will be allowed to see the brand new you for the very first time!
Stay Tuned for Part 3
After your surgery, you’ll return home to enjoy a light meal and get a good night’s rest. Stay tuned for Part 3, the final installment of this series, to find out what you can expect in the post-operative phases of your All On Four dental implants experience.