What you need to know about All-On-4™ Implants
Implants have become the ideal treatment for patients with missing teeth. All-On-4™ and implants are now widely used as a solution for missing teeth. Many people have heard about ‘All-On-4™’ but are unsure if they are suitable candidates for the procedure. It’s a good idea when exploring your options, to contact a reputable All-On-4™ and implant clinic to discuss your specific needs. Every patient has their individual circumstances that will come into play when deciding if All-On-4™, a different implant modality or another treatment is the best solution for them. At Dental Fresh Malo Dental Sydney, we hold regular group information evenings designed to take the mystery out of on All-On-4™ and implant procedures. We find that these evenings enable us to answer individual queries as well as presenting a broad information package. The sessions allow you to talk directly with the surgeon performing the procedure. The sessions require no commitment or obligation, and they are free of charge to attend. The evenings are relaxed, offer comprehensive information in layman’s terms and give you a chance to ask as many questions of the team as you like. At these info evenings, you will discover what the implants are made from, and why, how they function, and the benefits that implants offer to compatible patients. You will be able to find out if you are a suitable candidate or if any other options that would be better suited to you. You will leave understanding what is involved, how long the procedure will take, how many appointments you will require, what is involved from start to finish, recovery and recuperation time, cost and payment options. If you’d like to learn more after the session, we can help you schedule a free one on one consultation with the surgeon to discuss your situation. Some Faq’s What is an implant? Implants replace a missing tooth or teeth; a tooth is made and designed especially for your smile and attached to a titanium post that is inserted through a small incision in your gum. Implants are anchored and integrated into the bone, allowing your replacement teeth a solid foundation and stability and a natural, realistic appearance. This process can be used for single or multiple teeth, or an entire row of teeth can be replaced with four posts to anchor your new teeth in place. This is All-On-4™. Why choose implants? Implants can replace missing teeth without compromising your remaining teeth. Implants can protect your remaining teeth by sharing the load when you eat, distributing the force over a wider range of teeth as nature intended. Implants offer a long term solution to restoring your smile; you’ll be able to eat what you want; your teeth will look and feel natural; your confidence will be restored. What are implants made of? The implanted portion is usually made from titanium; it is durable; it’s biocompatible and reasonably priced. Titanium is safe and has been used for this purpose for decades. The tooth is made from high strength composite and acrylic and individually sculpted to blend in with your remaining teeth. All of your teeth are made on-site in our state of the art dental laboratory by our highly skilled dental technicians. Who can have implants? While there are no constraints on who can get implants, adequate bone and healthy gums are essential to the success of implants. I smoke, does that mean I’m not a suitable candidate? Smoking has negative effects on many dental procedures. Studies show that the failure rate is higher in smokers than non-smokers, and there is a higher risk of hygiene issues or infection in heavy smokers than non-smokers. Be honest with your practitioner when talking about your smoking habits, so they can give you an accurate and informed appraisal. It might be a great incentive to give it all up – or ask your practitioner about other options that may be more suitable for you. Will diabetes affect my candidacy? Diabetes does pose a risk for implant treatment. Severe or poorly controlled diabetes could affect the success of the treatment, as people with diabetes can experience a delay in wound healing, the osseointegration of the implant in the bone may be impaired or delayed, which can cause implant failure. However, studies show that some implant patients with well-controlled diabetes have success rates on par with non-diabetic patients. Be open with your practitioner about your diabetes, and it’s management so that you get an informed appraisal perfect for your situation. How long will Implants last? With proper care and commitment to our follow up process, your implants will last anywhere from 10 -25 years – longer in some cases. Your implants are under warrantee* providing you keep up with your prescribed regular maintenance program. Routine care and maintenance are imperative for long term implant success. Will I be awake during the surgery? Depending on the number of implants and your level of anxiety, your procedure will be performed under General or Local anaesthetic. All-On-4™ surgeries are performed under general as a rule. I grind my teeth; can I still have implants? Yes, you can. Your practitioner will likely recommend a splint to protect your teeth from damage. Why should I consider Malo Dental for implants? Professor Paulo Malo is the inventor of the All-On-4™, our senior practitioners have trained directly with Professor Malo in Portugal and Australia. At Dental Fresh Malo Dental, our point of difference is that we will not use ‘alternatives’ or cheaper implants as a cost-cutting measure. We stringently follow the Malo protocol by using the implants that were designed specifically for this procedure. Our patients are issued with two bridges rather than one; your initial teeth which you will have during the first three critical months, and your final set once the critical period is over. It’s imperative in the first three months for you and your clinician to assess the functionality and aesthetics of your new teeth. You first set are made of high impact acrylic with
The 5 Big differences between good dentures and bad dentures
If you’re looking for help with failing or missing teeth, you may have considered dentures as one option. If you are thinking about dentures or you are currently a denture wearer, it’s important that you research your dental prosthetist to ensure that you are seeing a reputable practitioner whose patients are happy with their results. The right solution for your situation is a personal decision; cost, effectiveness, appearance, among other factors all, come in to play. Choosing to discuss your options with your dental practitioner and looking at available treatments is a recommended first step. Your dentist should be able to present you with a variety of options, discuss the outcomes associated with each of these and guide you to make the best choice for your needs. While there is a lot of historical negativity surrounding dentures, in the hands of a capable and practised practitioner, dentures can look natural, fit well and improve quality of life. If you decide to restore your smile with dentures, here are some things to consider: 1. Your dentures should look like natural teeth. Your practitioner will do thorough preliminary work before making your denture. Photos will assist your practitioner in determining the size, shape, colour and contours of your new smile. Your teeth should not look fake or false; they should look as though they belong to you. 2. Your teeth should stay put! Loose dentures are a denture wearer’s nightmare. You don’t want to laugh your teeth out, right? Your dentures need to remain in place, no matter what you’re doing so you can eat, talk, laugh with confidence. The cause of ill-fitting dentures are many, from incorrect impressions at work up, inadequate assessment by your practitioner, time and wear and tear, among other things. We think you must be confident in the teeth you wear so that you can live your best life. 3. Eat what you want. If you find you are restricted to soft foods because you wear dentures, your quality of life is not where it should be. While a steak every day might be pushing it, you should be able to bite and chew your food without difficulty while wearing dentures. 4. Longevity from your dentures. Your practitioner should schedule you for a regular maintenance program, seeing you 6-12 monthly to check your oral health, the welfare of any remaining teeth and the fit, function and cleanliness of your dentures. Like your natural teeth, your remaining teeth, gums and oral health require regular checks to keep them in the best possible condition. With regular check-ups, we can catch any problems early before they become an issue – Neglect is expensive, regular checks save both money and time. 5. Oral Health A denture clinic may not offer you an ongoing dental and oral health program, it’s crucial now that you have dentures, that the health of your mouth and your dentures are regularly checked. If you are seeing a denture clinic for your dentures, don’t’ forget to maintain your regular check-ups with your dentist or hygienist also. Types of dentures: Immediate dentures: Immediates are planned and worked up prior to your teeth extraction so that you are able to walk out of the clinic smiling, saving the embarrassment of being without teeth for a time. These dentures will need to be adjusted while you heal and before your final dentures are issued. It may be several months before you are issued with your final dentures. Partial dentures: a partial denture will work with remaining teeth used as an anchor or security for the replacement teeth. Your denture will be designed to match your natural teeth, so they look like your very own teeth. Full dentures: these replace a full arch of teeth. Our practitioners ensure that your dentures look attractive and natural, suit your face and smile and have great retention. Full over full dentures: These replace upper and lower teeth with two dentures. Again, your teeth will look as though they belong to your own natural smile. All-On-4 Implant retained dentures: All-On-4™ implant solutions work by attaching your teeth to 4 screws that are surgically implanted in the jawbone. To find out more about All-On-4™treatment, please call our clinic, or book in for our next information night. Ongoing care for your dentures and for you is imperative to your wellbeing and the health and functionality of your dentures. Our Practice ensures our patients return to us for regular check-ups so we can ensure that the denture and its wearer are in optimum condition. Should you have any issues with your denture, please call and schedule an appointment with us immediately. We are here to help find the best solution for you.
Great news about your Oral Health Therapist (OHT)
You’ve started at a new Dental Practice, and they offer the services of an Oral Health Therapist. If you’ve always seen a dentist for your clean and scale, you might be wondering what seeing an OHT will entail. Let’s look at the work the Oral Health Therapist does and why you are in excellent hands with your OHT.
