When searching for a dentist near me in Crofton, Maryland, to replace missing teeth, you are in luck! The office of Bingham-Lester Dentistry provides a full range of options to replace just one tooth, a few teeth, several teeth, or all of the teeth in your upper and/or lower dental arch. If you have many existing gaps or are holding on to lots of badly damaged or “failing” teeth, All-on-4 implants may be your top choice to restore a smile you can be proud of, as well as the comfort and healthy function that you need to look and feel your best.
What are All-on-4 implants?
If you are missing a single tooth, a single implant may be placed in your jawbone. This implant is made from a material that is designed to naturally grow with the bone around it. Once the bone and implant have grown together over the course of several months, a dental crown is attached to the implant. In doing so, the implant functions like a natural tooth root. It holds the dental crown in place.
Using All-on-4 implants, just four implants can be positioned in the jaw to support all of the teeth in either the upper or lower dental arch. These prosthetic teeth are connected to a U-shaped dental appliance that conforms to the natural curvature of your mouth. Once attached to the implants, the appliance is secured in your jawbone and effectively replaces the upper or lower teeth.
How can just four implants support a full arch?
Thanks to advancements in dental science and technologies, we can minimize the number of implants that are needed to stabilize and support many artificial teeth. The implants used in this treatment are placed in a precise and strategic way so that they make the best use of available dense bone in the jaw and provide a strong foundation of support.
Is my jawbone healthy enough for All-on-4?
One of the benefits of All-on-4 implants is that they may be appropriate for patients with bone loss because of how the implants are placed to maximize their available bone. However, your suitability for treatment depends in part on the extent or severity of jawbone deterioration. Many patients with existing bone loss who are still good candidates appreciate that they don’t have to go through the additional step of bone grafting to build up the jaw before implant placement. And, like all implant treatments, All-on-4 stops or prevents this destructive process. Your bone stays healthy and dense, because it gets stimulation from the teeth that are connected to it by way of the implants/appliance.
Do I have to take my appliance out for cleaning?
No. All-on-4 implants are not like removable dentures. They can only be removed by your dentist. This treatment is designed like natural teeth and should be treated as such – with great care. Brush and floss like you normally would, paying special attention to the gumline. While artificial teeth do not decay like natural teeth, implants are vulnerable to damage from a progressive, gum disease-like condition known as peri-implant disease. This condition can gradually erode the tissues that support your implants. Dr. Vickii Bingham-Lester and our hygiene team can advise on good oral care products and techniques to help you brush and floss more effectively.
With good care, your implants can last for the rest of your life. To learn more about our smile-transforming and potentially life-changing options to replace teeth, schedule an appointment at Bingham-Lester Dentistry. Call (410) 885-6522 today. Our office is a short drive from Crofton, conveniently located off MD Route 3 (Robert Crain Highway) in Gambrills, MD.
