All-on-4 with Dr. Maggie Chao

The Plight of Terminal Dentition

At Pleasanton Prosthodontics, terminal dentition is a term that we use when a patient’s smile is beyond help. This means that the teeth are so damaged, diseased, or missing, that a full natural smile isn’t possible anymore. But this does not mean that your smile is marred forever, especially if you’re missing multiple teeth. Instead, you may qualify for dental restoration treatments, such as dental implants or All-on-4™, where you can replace a whole arch of teeth.

What is All-on-4™?

Teeth in a Day with All-on-4™ is the application of a denture that is designed to be supported by dental implant fixtures in your jawbone. It not only rejuvenates your smile with a complete set of teeth, but can do so in as little as one or two visits. Dr. Chao can place the implants and clip on the fixed denture/bridge in no time, using a combination of resin teeth reinforced with milled titanium bar.

Patients love their All-on-4™ results, and for good reason! There’s typically no need for a supplemental procedure if the patient’s jawbone is depleted, because the the combination of an implant-supported denture makes the procedure less stressful and more comfortable. Also, unlike removable dentures that lack the natural support of the full set of teeth, the All-on-4™ is reinforced by the support of the implant fixtures, allowing patients to eat with natural gusto. Plus, it doesn’t take much to clean them: just give them a good brushing like you would with your natural teeth, and attend regular cleanings with us at Pleasanton Prosthodontics.

How to Qualify for All-on-4™

All-on-4™ is best for patients who fall under, or are getting close to, terminal dentition. This means that they are losing or have lost all the teeth in one or both arches of their smile. We can remove the remaining teeth and replace the whole arch with an All-on-4™ supported denture.

There are a few qualifications that we take into account before moving forward with All-on-4™:

• Missing Teeth: It’s not advised to pull perfectly healthy teeth to replace them with a dental implant, and even more so if you have a full arch of healthy teeth. Only patients who are close to terminal dentition, or have been diagnosed with terminal dentition, can qualify for All-on-4™.
• Pregnancy: If you are pregnant, it’s not advised to undergo dental surgery until after your baby is born.
• Medical Conditions: If you have any compromising medical conditions, such as immunodeficiency disorders, hemophilia, or something similar where surgery would be risky. Keep in mind that you will also be numbed/sedated for the duration of the implant procedure, so let us know about your medical history during the consultation.

Restore Your Smile with Dr. Maggie Chao

If you’re afflicted with a full arch of missing teeth, remember that you don’t have to keep that toothless grin forever. With All-on-4™ we can replace a full arch of your teeth with sufficient, durable, and long-lasting implant-supported dentures. Contact us at Pleasanton Prosthodontics and Dr. Maggie Chao to schedule a one-on-one consultation.