All-on-4

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The term All-On-4 refers to "all" teeth being supported "on four" dental implants, a surgical and technique prosthodontics procedure for total rehabilitation of the edentulous patient or for patients with badly broken down teeth, decayed teeth or compromised teeth due to gum disease. It consists of the rehabilitation of either edentulous or dentate maxilla and/or mandible with fixed prosthesis by placing four implants in the anterior maxilla, where bone density is higher. The four implants support a fixed prosthesis with 10 to 14 teeth and it is placed immediately, typically within 24 hours of surgery.

Implant manufacturer Nobel Biocare was among the first to identify the evolution of the All-on-4 technique as a potential valid and cost-effective alternative to conventional implant techniques, and funded studies by Portuguese dentist Paulo Maló to determine the efficacy of this approach. During this time this technique was also used by various other clinicians around the world. Dr Alex Fibishenko is an Australian dentist who likes to think he pioneered this treatment in Australia, and who heads the All-On-4 Clinic with purpose-built facilities throughout Australia, was the first to apply for the registration of All-On-4 as a protected trademark. Dr Fibishenko is an educator and lecturer for Nobel Biocare, and today All-on-4 is a registered trademark of Nobel Biocare.

All-on-4 is not an invention, but rather a treatment technique that has evolved over time and has the following features:

• four dental implants to support a full fixed bridge (documented since 1977)
• the use of angulated implants in the back to overcome bony deficiencies or anatomical structures (documented since 1990)
• immediate loading (documented since 1990)

The concept itself of the total rehabilitation of a full set of teeth supported by as few as four fixtures was not a new one. Professor P-I Branemark, who discovered osseointegration, published numerous articles in the 70s with successful rehabilitation of a full arch supported by this number of fixtures. However, it was the angulation of the back implants that led to today's All-on-4, and has been trialed by numerous clinicians simultaneously in the USA, Sweden, Portugal, and South America in the 1990s. The technique evolved when in an attempt to avoid certain anatomical limitations typically seen in the back of the upper and lower jaws have, clinicians successfully avoided bone-deficient areas with the use of angulated implants. Anatomical limitations are more prevalent in patients with full dentures, and once the back implants are placed at an angle there is often only enough room left for two more implants in the front. This has led to the use of only four fixtures to support a full set of teeth.

The benefits of All-on-4 implants include:

• Full-arch restoration
• Shorter installation times than other implants
• Prevents further bone loss
• Decreases the need for a bone graft

Video All-on-4

Description of the procedure

The All-on-4 treatment concept is a prosthodontic procedure (i.e replacement of missing teeth) that provides a permanent, screw-retained, same-day replacement for the entire upper and / or lower set of teeth with a bridge or denture. The procedure is best for patients with significant tooth loss or decay and for people whose bone loss in the jaw area prevents them from getting conventionally oriented (vertical) dental implants. Often, tooth loss is accompanied by loss of the jaw bone which poses the problem of reconstruction of the jaw bone requiring bone grafting. The All-on-4 protocol is considered to be a graftless solution thereby avoiding the long and costly road of rebuilding bone when conventionally oriented implants are used. For the implementation to be successful a careful analysis of the bone structure needs to be made. The most ideal way to evaluate the bone is by a CBCT scan. The All-on-4 protocol is for at least four implants to be placed in a jaw. The back implants are typically angled approximately 30 to 45 degrees from the biting plane. The implant is placed in front of the maxillary sinus in the upper jaw (maxilla) and in front of the mental nerve in the lower jaw (mandible). The head of the implant emerges in approximately the second premolar position. This will allow a molar tooth to be cantilevered posterior resulting in a denture or bridge with approximately 12 teeth.

The All-on-4 treatment concept owes its name to the very nature of the method, which consists of applying a dental prosthesis with at least twelve teeth (bridge) fixed in the jaw, based only on four titanium implants.

Maps All-on-4

Patent claims for the dental implant fixation

There is no patent for the All-on-4 technique.

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Price of the treatment

The price may vary for each country or region, and normally it is divided in two phases. The usual price in the United States is described below:

• The surgical component of removing any compromised remaining teeth, and placing the four dental implants may cost between $12,000 to $15,000 USD per jaw.
• The restorative component involving the connection of the teeth may cost between $7,000 to $10,000 USD per jaw, dependent on the materials used and the type of teeth (porcelain or acrylic).

In Europe the price of all-on-4 treatment varies by country. In the UK the cost is comparable to US and price is about 15 000 USD per jaw. In Germany the price may reach 12 000 USD. The cheapest option for having all on 4 are eastern european countries. For example in Poland or Hungary the treatment costs around 6000-7000 USD per jaw, dependent on materials and type of restoration.

The total price (if both upper jaw and lower jaw are considered) could possibly reach $57000 USD. It is important to note that when this treatment is completed by a single doctor, the treatment fees are much lower when compared to a team approach with two doctors, where both would charge separate fees, potentially increasing the cost of the treatment. Clinics with suitable facilities, which are able to offer the entire treatment in one place, and who do these procedures regularly, are typically the most cost-effective.

Prices for the All on 4 dental solution starts from R100 000 ( 6000 USD ) in South Africa. Many patients chose South Africa due to its medical tourism industry and very high standards of dental care.

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See also

• Bone grafting
• Dental implant
• Dentistry
• Nobel Biocare

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External links

• Official website

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References

Source of the article : Wikipedia