What are the pros and cons of All-on-X?
For me, if your mouth is failing, you're not able to chew or eat, and you have the means to afford an All-on-X prosthesis, I think it's a very good way to replace missing teeth. It's designed to provide a long-lasting solution for patients who are appropriate candidates for the procedure.
Who is a good candidate for All-on-X?
A good candidate for All-on-X is basically a person who is generally healthy. You can have some chronic conditions, but ideally, you want to be as healthy as possible. It's also somebody who has a failing dentition and is having difficulty eating. That's the type of patient who can be a good candidate for an All-on-X replacement prosthesis.
Who is not a good candidate for All-on-X?
Somebody who may not be a good candidate for All-on-X is someone who isn't healthy enough to undergo the surgical procedure. Somebody who has major chronic health conditions that could affect their ability to undergo surgery may not be an appropriate candidate. This can be one of the main limitations to doing an All-on-X prosthesis.
What are the steps in the All-on-X procedure?
There are multiple steps, but the first step is really to plan how the final teeth are going to look. We do this through a digital workflow where, basically, on the computer we design how your teeth are going to look and how your bite is going to look.
Based on this, we then plan on the computer where the implants have to go. From that, we get what we call a surgical guide that allows me to place the implants in the planned positions and, when appropriate, deliver teeth on the implants on the same day as well.
What type of sedation is used for All-on-X?
For the All-on-X procedure, we can use IV sedation. Usually in my office, what we do is bring in an anesthesiologist. They give you an IV, and then they administer the sedation. It's different from general anesthesia, and you're typically able to breathe on your own.
The benefit for you is that you're able to go through the surgical procedure in a deeply relaxed state with little or no memory of the procedure. Once the procedure is finished, you can wake up with your new teeth in place when same-day teeth are appropriate for your case.
What is the healing process like after All-on-X?
When you do an All-on-X procedure, you have two types of healing. You have your initial healing phase from the surgery. For the first two weeks, you can experience some level of discomfort or pain that can often be managed with pain medication like ibuprofen and Tylenol. After a couple of weeks, patients are usually feeling much better as far as their mouth.
As far as getting the final teeth, we also have to allow time for the implants to integrate with the bone before we use the implants to place the final teeth. In my process, that's typically about a three-month waiting period. At that point, we can evaluate the implants and move forward with the final prosthesis when they're ready.
How long do All-on-X implants last?
That's a great question. There are multiple factors that come into play when we talk about how long your teeth are going to last. Your health, how well you maintain your final teeth with good home care, how regularly you come to see us, and how well the procedure is done can all play a role in the long-term outcome.
Remember that you're using your teeth every day and chewing all the time, so there can be some complications. You can chip the porcelain, or maybe a screw that connects the teeth to the implants gets loose. So there is some maintenance.
It's like your car. You use your car every day, and ultimately you've got to get it checked and cleaned to maintain it. It's the same idea with your teeth. How the procedure is done and how well you maintain your teeth can make a difference in how long your All-on-X restoration lasts.
How much does All-on-X cost?
The procedure can be expensive, but we offer different financing options. I would suggest that you call our office and talk to my office manager or treatment coordinator regarding a consultation and the cost of the procedure.
If you're looking for dental care you can trust, call us at (310) 275-5325 or email [email protected]. We're here to help you have the smile you've always wanted!