How long do All-on-4 implants last?
Your implants are almost indestructible, but they are attached to you!
Use these 5 suggestions to make an All-on-4 implants last indefinitely
1. Visit your dentist for cleanings every 3 months
2. Practice good oral hygiene
3. Avoid very hard to chew foods like nut shells, or opening bottles or bags with your teeth, don’t chew pencils or ice cubes.
4. Report even the smallest changes immediately to your dentist to examine and possibly fix.
5. Use a custom-made night guard at night to protect your All-on-4 implants.
An All-on-4 implant bridge is a modern treatment to replace a full set of missing upper and or lower teeth. This treatment produces a great cosmetic and functional result. No more loose teeth or only eating baby food, no more tooth pain or embarrassment when dentures fall out or hurt while eating.
Remember, though, even though the titanium implants are almost indestructible, they are attached to you! And you are not indestructible. The bone and gum that the implant is embedded in will change if it is not cleaned, or if too much force is applied to the implant through the bridge.
Chewing and All-on-4 implants
Normal chewing places pressure on the bone through teeth or implants. For example, a steak needs about 40 pounds of pressure from your jaws to chew. Science has found that in the actual act of chewing, the teeth are only touching for 5 minutes in total during a meal. Contrast that to unconscious clenching or grinding your teeth, when your teeth can touch for 8 hours per day in total and can press on each other with 200 to 500 pounds of pressure. That is a lot of force, and that can easily break a natural tooth (happens all the time, I even broke 2 teeth doing this.)
A natural tooth breaks when pressed with 125 pounds of pressure, and even titanium can break at 150 pounds of pressure. So, it is not impossible to break a tooth or even an implant if it is subjected to too much force over time.
Cleaning All-on-4 implants
Please make sure that you treat your implant bridge the way that natural teeth prefer to be treated.
Regular and frequent cleanings prevent gum and bone disease that can reduce the amount of bone holding in your implants.
Proper use of floss, floss threaders, water picks, mouth rinses and electric toothbrushes will clean around the implants so germs can’t attack the gums and bone.
To prevent gum disease and make sure that we uncover any contributing factors that might promote gum disease in your mouth, during a typical cleaning visit, we clean your nightguard, update your medical history, take your blood pressure, discuss medications and intraoral relationships, review any dental concerns-broke, loose, chipped teeth, jaw aches or pains, take any necessary X-rays and discuss the findings, do an intra and extraoral exam-checking hard and soft tissues, record the pocket depths around the implants and discuss the findings compared to previous visits and review any changes and why they exist, review any bleeding points and tissue appearance,
Then we use a cleaning instrument called a Cavitron, scale any areas of inflammation, bleeding points, subgingival calculus, floss, polish, use a chlorhexidine antibacterial rinse. Then we review oral hygiene practices, the use of the soft toothbrush, daily flossing, interdental aids, mouth rinses, and proper toothpastes.
Chewing regular foods, and not going beyond common sense makes your implants last longer. Have a goal to be a good chewer like you try to be a good driver.
If there seems to be something that has changed, see your dentist right away, so small problems don’t grow to be bigger ones.
Bruxism, TMJ and All-on-4 implants
Most people probably grind and clench their teeth from time to time. Occasional teeth grinding, medically called bruxism, does not usually cause harm, but when teeth grinding occurs on a regular basis the teeth or implants can be damaged and other oral health complications can arise.
Although teeth grinding can be caused by stress and anxiety, it often occurs during sleep. Most people are unaware that they grind their teeth. However, a dull, constant headache or sore jaw is a telltale symptom of bruxism. In many cases people suffering from TMJ/TMD report chronic pain in the jaw, teeth, face, head, neck, shoulders, or back, or any combination of these areas. Snoring, frequent ear infections and restricted airway are other problems associated with TMJ/TMD. (This group of symptoms is also referred to as MPD (myofascial pain dysfunction) and craniomandibular dysfunction.)
Not only can severely grinding damage teeth and result in tooth loss, it can also affect your jaws, result in hearing loss, cause or worsen TMD/TMJ, and even change the appearance of your face.
Store bought night guards, although inexpensive, don’t do the same things as custom fitted night guards. A good night guard is like a good seat belt in your car, accidents happen, but the night guard keeps you safe. Professionally made night guards are thinner and more comfortable, fit better and last longer. They are made of rigid shells and soft liners which adapt comfortably to the teeth. Night guards are designed to remove stress from the TM joint and reduce the damage from grinding and clenching. Train yourself not to clench or grind your teeth. If you notice that you clench or grind during the day. Think lips together, teeth apart. This practice helps train your jaw muscles to relax.
If you have any questions about “All on 4” tooth replacements, or if you suffer from smile embarrassment or mouth pain while eating, have a courtesy consultation on us. A little good advice can go a long way.
Happy chewing!
About Robert Korwin DMD MAGD MICOI
Dr. Korwin is one of only 8 implant dentists in the world who has qualified for the prestigious dual Mastership Awards from The International College of Oral Implantologists and the Academy of General Dentistry.
About Advanced Dentistry with a Gentle Touch
Established in 1983, Advanced Dentistry with a Gentle Touch serves patients from the following counties in New Jersey: Monmouth, Ocean, Middlesex and the following cities: Red Bank, Middletown, Navesink, Belford, Leonardo, Port Monmouth, Keansbery, Holmdel, Lincroft, Atlantic Highlands, Hazlet, Fair Haven, Keyport, Little Silver, Srewsbury, Rumson, Fort Monmouth, Eatontown, Highlands, Cliffwood