Are you looking to replace a significant amount of your natural teeth? The new "all on 4" dental procedure may be ideal for you. The "all on 4" dental procedure involves a rack of natural-appearing teeth which are secured to the gum line using only four securing points. 

1. "All on 4" Is Minimally Invasive

This procedure does not involve as many screws as an ordinary dental implant. Most dental implants are done with one post per tooth -- if you need to replace six teeth, you need six posts. But with the "all on 4" procedure, your teeth can all be replaced either on the top or the bottom with four posts at most. The fewer posts that are used, the easier your recovery is. Further, fewer complications may arise.

2. "All on 4" Is Easier to Maintain

The "all on 4" procedure involves a single piece that contains all of your implanted teeth and a reproduction of your gum line. This makes it much easier to maintain your implant because the entire piece can be cleaned at once and because you do not need to worry about cleaning between your implants and your gums -- the entire layer rests above your natural gums, much like dentures.

3. "All on 4" Is More Stable

This technique involves a single piece which is attached by four very strong bolts. Individual implants would all be attached by much smaller screws and you would need to worry about each tooth on an individual basis. If you naturally grind your teeth or are otherwise concerned about the possibility of damaging your implants, an all on 4 procedure will ensure that your implants remain in good condition.

4. "All on 4" Is Faster

Regular implants often require bone grafts, so that there is enough bone material for the implants to be placed in. But the "all on 4" procedure uses tilted posterior screws, so that a bone graft is not necessary (because the screw is entering in at an angle).

It is not possible to do this with individual teeth because too many screws are necessary. Patients doing "all on 4" rather than traditional implants will be able to complete their dental procedure faster because they won't need to wait for the bone graft to heal. 

The "all on 4" procedure shouldn't be confused with a proprietary procedure; there are different types of procedure that can be done using this technique and multiple companies sell the materials used for "all on 4" implants. By seeing an oral surgeon for dental implants, you'll be able to determine whether the "all on 4" dental implant procedure is ideal for you.