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All-on-4: hybrid bridge or prosthesis on implants

Lack of a larger number of teeth can cause a number of discomforts and even serious health problems. One of the highest quality solutions for edentulousness is All-on-4, an implant-prosthetic solution, which combines prosthetic appliances and dental implants.

What will you learn in this article?

In this article, read about the following topics:

What is an implant prosthesis, All-on-4?

As the name suggests, “All-on-4” is a solution that relies on 4 dental implants, and replaces all the teeth of one jaw.

These implant solutions are a combination of a dental bridge or denture on the one hand, and dental implants on the other, and are characterized by exceptional stability.

All-on-4 is evolving and is has been used in various variants for 50 years. The company Nobel Biocare, a world leader in the development of implant solutions, played the biggest role in the development of the All-on-4 solution.

The Apolonija Dental clinic is a partner of the company Nobel Biocare, whose dental implants of a premium quality we have been using for many years.

Stomatološka poliklinika Apolonija, Zagreb centar: proteza na implantatima All-on-4.
Implant bridge, All-on-4

Sometimes we will use more than 4 dental implants for implant dentures, most often 6 or 8, so in this case we also distinguish All-on-6 or All-on-8 dentures on implants.

When do you need All-on-4?

A dental implants bridge, All-on-4, is the ideal solution for edentulous jaws, i.e., for situations where the patient is left with only non-functional remains of the teeth which need to be taken out.

Lack of teeth does not have to be a permanent problem.

We have helped many patients and performed thousands of successful implant placements.

Have trust in us and contact us in case you need advice or have a question.

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Various solutions for lack of teeth

The lack of teeth can be solved in several ways, depending on the condition of the jaw bone of the patient, their dental and general health and their desires and expectations.

We are talking about already common solutions, such as dental crowns, dental bridges, dental implants with one or more crowns, and dentures.

When it comes to lack of a large number of teeth or completely edentulous jaw, we need a solution that can replace all teeth at once. There are two approaches for that:

  • classic denture
  • dental bridge on implants

In addition to All-on-4, prosthetic appliances for implants also includes semi-fixed locator-retained dentures and dentures on bar attachments. All implant-based solutions for edentulousness have a large number of advantages compared to classical dental prosthetics.

Advantages of All-on-4 compared to classic dental orthodontic appliances

A classic denture uses as a support the remaining teeth, gums and the palate, while the implant-prosthetic solution, All-on-4, uses dental implants for support.

This gives the All-on-4 solution incomparably greater stability, and it is much more similar to natural functioning of teeth and roots.

For this reason, systems on dental implants do not cause decay of the jaw bones as is the case with dentures.

Although a classic denture also performs its function and is ultimately more affordable, the All-on-4 has the following important advantages:

  • More stability compared to a classic denture: no wobble, falling out when speaking, laughing and chewing,
  • Longer durability of the prosthetic appliance: with proper maintenance, All-on-4 can last much longer than a prosthesis that must be lined every few years
  • A more natural feeling when speaking and chewing: dental implants allow for faster habituation and are stable like a natural tooth and will not cause blisters like dentures.

A classic denture uses a large surface, adhesion and possibly denture adhesive for stability. It covers a much larger area – in the upper jaw it covers the entire palate – than an implant bridge.

However, these solutions fill a person with self-confidence in speaking, laughing, or chewing to the extent that dental implants can achieve.

Because of all the above, there are a large number of patients who after many years of using classic dentures decide to replace it with an implant bridge, All-on-4.

All-on-4 is a stable solution to which you will quickly get used.

We have helped many patients and performed thousands of successful implants.

Have trust in us and contact us in case you need advice or have a question.

Get a professional checkup without leaving your home!

We offer you a virtual dental examination. Learn more!

All-on-4 placement procedure

The procedure of placing a prosthesis on implants, All-on-4, takes place in several phases:

  • 1. Assessment of the general and dental health condition of the patient and the implant plan
  • 2. Planning a temporary prosthetic appliance
  • 3. Implantation and the placement of temporary bridge
  • 4. Recovery after implantation
  • 5. Placement of the final prosthetic appliance.

Phase 1: general and dental health of the patient

To install dental implants, it is necessary to first assess whether obstacles exist in terms of the general health condition or life habits of the patient.

We will advise you about everything, and possibly talk to your specialist physician as well.

Implant planning

After that, a 3D X-ray and analysis are conducted, with which we will first determine the condition of the jaw bone.

If there is a lack of bone, it can be upgraded with various surgical techniques.

The next step will be the implementation of preimplant therapies or procedures, if necessary.

We will check for signs of inflammatory conditions that need to be repaired beforehand, and in addition we will take all non-functional remaining teeth of the jaw onto which we install the All-on-4.

Stomatološka poliklinika Apolonija, Zagreb centar: dijagnostički snimci za planiranje implantiranja
3D CBCT imaging allows accurate diagnostics

Are you a suitable candidate for placement of All-on-4?

There is almost no indication that would represent a permanent obstacle to modern dental medicine for the placement of dental implants, including All-on-4.

These may possibly be conditions of extreme bone resorption when other solutions such as zygomatic (Zygoma) or pterygoid implants are used.

For all medical conditions or stages of treatment, there are conditions under which they do not constitute an obstacle to implantation.

In modern dental medicine, the placement of a dental implant has become a simple and quick procedure.

We have helped many patients and performed thousands of successful implants.

Have trust in us and contact us in case you need advice or have a question.

Get a professional checkup without leaving your home!

We offer you a virtual dental examination. Learn more!

In some situations, it will be necessary to wait with implant placement and ask for an examination and opinion of your specialist doctor.

Under these conditions, we see the placement of All-on-4 as an excellent solution for:

  • patients who want to replace their classic dentures with a stable solution,
  • patients with severe tooth deficiency in one or both jaws,
  • patients who, although they have their own teeth, suffer from dental diseases due to which the existing teeth cannot be repaired and need to be removed,
  • patients who, in addition to a previously expressed desire for dental implants, have too little bone in the rear part of the jaw

Phase 2: Planning a temporary provisional bridge

In the planning phase, we will also make a scan or print to make your temporary bridge.

The temporary bridge will be made of acrylate, and you will wear it during the phase of recovery, until the placement of the final prosthetic bridge which can be made of more durable and aesthetically high-quality materials.

Stomatološka poliklinika Apolonija, Zagreb, centar: planiranje i izrada privremenog protetskog rada.
Planning and production of a temporary provisional bridge

You will receive your temporary fixed bridge already the following day after installing All-on-4.

So, in patients who already have their dentures as well as in those who need teeth extracted before implant placement, the procedure is the same – the following day the patient has their new temporary fixed teeth that both functionally and aesthetically meet all requirements.

This temporary bridge also serves as a “trial version” for the patient because both the patient and the dentist have a starting point from which it is much easier to communicate what to keep in the permanent bridge and what to change.

Phase 3: Dental implants for All-on-4

For All-on-4 we place two dental implants in the front region, in place of teeth number two, and two in the rear region, most commonly at the site of the premolars.

The latter are installed at an angle of 45°, which achieves a higher stability: this method of placement guarantees the capture of a larger mass of the jaw ridge, which in turn guarantees better adhesion of the implant (osseointegration).

The placement of dental implants is performed with local anaesthesia or under sedation and it is completely painless for you.

The whole procedure lasts a few hours, and you can return to your daily activities the next day after fixing the temporary prosthetic appliance.

State-of-the-art implantation with Navident

At the Apolonija Dental Clinic, we perform implants using the Navident system. It is the most modern technology of precision , computer-controlled implantation in the world.

Stomatološka poliklinika Apolonija, Zagreb centar: implantiranje uz pomoć Navidenta, navigacijskog implantološkog sustava
Navident system interface for navigation implantation

Thanks to this system, there is practically no possibility of error when positioning the implant. In addition, the invasiveness of implantation is minimal, and the result is less trauma and faster recovery for the patient.

Find out more about Navident on our website “Navident, navigation implantology system”.

With Navident, a computer-guided implantation, we guarantee you maximum implant success.

We have helped many patients and performed thousands of successful implants.

Have trust in us and contact us in case you need advice or have a question.

Get a professional checkup without leaving your home!

We offer you a virtual dental examination. Learn more!

Phase 4: recovery after dental implant placement

4 to 6 months of recovery will be required to achieve adequate osseointegration (adhesion of a dental implant to the bone). During this period, you will occasionally come for check-ups.

Will you be able to eat during your recovery?

Of course! Since we have planned your temporary prosthetic appliance in the first phase, it has been in the meantime manufactured and is ready to use.

Therefore, we can say that with All-on-4 you only need 24 hours from complete edentulousness to new teeth!

Stage 5: setting up the final prosthetic appliance

After quality recovery and osseointegration, we will make the scan or impression needed for production of a final, permanent prosthetic appliance.

Stomatološka poliklinika Apolonija, Zagreb, centar: finalni protetski zubni most, All-on-4.
Permanent bridge All-on-4

It is being made by a dental laboratory and will be completed in 5 to 10 days from the day of taking a scan or impression.

The permanent bridge is most often made of harder materials such as zirconia or metal and ceramics. The process of creating a permanent appliance is significantly more complex and because of this it is possible to create much more aesthetic details in the permanent appliance that match the character of the patient.

In the meantime, you are still using the temporary prosthetic appliance so waiting for you has no impractical consequences.

The All-on-4 placement process allows you to have new teeth in as little as 24 hours.

Don’t suffer due to lack of teeth anymore!

Have trust in us and contact us in case you need advice or have a question.

Get a professional checkup without leaving your home!

We offer you a virtual dental examination. Learn more!

Price of implants bridge, All-on-4

The price for All-on-4 is formed based on the quality of the dental implants and material of manufacture of the final bridge.

At the Apolonija Dental Clinic, we use only top quality dental implants by Nobel Biocare. These dental implants, in addition to following maintenance tips, have a lifetime warranty.

The material of the final prosthetic appliance can be affordable acrylate, or something more expensive, but a material with better quality and durability such as dental ceramics or zirconia.

Have you found everything you wanted to know?

In this article, you learned a lot about the implant bridge, All-on-4. You may also be interested in other topics, such as:

At the Apolonija Clinic, we are proud of the superior diagnostics and implantation process.

We have helped many patients and performed thousands of successful implants.

Have trust in us and contact us in case you need advice or have a question.

Get a professional checkup without leaving your home!

We offer you a virtual dental examination. Learn more!