All on 4 Schererville, IN
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Losing your teeth has major implications for your oral health, your appearance, and your overall quality of life. The more teeth you lose, the harder simple tasks, such as eating and speaking, become. Your digestion and nutrition suffer. It becomes more difficult for others to understand you when you speak. Without teeth, your confidence suffers. What's more is that tooth loss causes changes in your jaw. Your teeth are critical for maintaining the health and strength of your jawbone. They stimulate the bone, telling your body to send essential nutrients. When you lose your teeth, stimulation stops, and fewer nutrients are sent. As a result, your jawbone weakens and changes shape. The All-on-4® Treatment Concept was designed to replace an entire mouth of missing teeth when you have suffered too much bone loss for regular dental implants. Sometimes, the same-day crowns used for your All-on-4® Treatment Concept implants can experience damage. If this happens, here at Crossroads Family Dental, we can help.What is the All-on-4® Treatment Concept?
Dental implants are small titanium rods that are surgically inserted into your jawbone and are used to replace missing teeth. As you heal, the jawbone fuses with the implants, turning them into strong, stable roots that support your replacement teeth. Typically, when you are missing an entire arch of teeth, 6 to 8 implants are placed to support an arch of prosthetic teeth. However, bone loss can sometimes make you ineligible for this type of restoration.
The All-on-4® Treatment Concept is a type of dental implant that replaces an entire arch (or both arches) of missing teeth. They were created to provide those who have suffered bone loss, and cannot support the necessary number of implants for an implant supported a denture. Instead of 6 to 8 implants, your prosthetic teeth are supported by four strategically placed implants. Your prosthetic teeth, which are made from ceramic, are screwed into place. Under most circumstances, your prosthetic teeth would remain in place permanently, but sometimes, the teeth can be damaged and need to be replaced.
How are crowns damaged?
There are several reasons why your All-on-4® Treatment Concept prosthesis may be damaged:
| • | Facial trauma. Taking a hit to the face or mouth can crack a ceramic crown. This may be the result of something like an auto accident or a sports-related injury. |
| • | Biting down on something too hard. |
| • | Bruxism. Extra pressure from grinding and clenching can fracture or break your replacement teeth. |
When your crowns are damaged, it is important to replace them right away. Damaged crowns can cut sensitive oral tissues. They can impact your abilities to eat and speak. You may experience pain. Damaged restorations can also diminish the quality of your smile.
Restoring Your All-on-4® Treatment Concept Prosthesis
At Crossroads Family Dental, we can restore damaged All-on-4® Treatment Concept prosthetic teeth. The process is fairly similar to placing your original restorations. First, we need to remove your damaged prosthesis. Next, we take impressions of your mouth. These impressions are sent to our lab, where your new set of replacement teeth are created. While you wait for your new teeth, temporary teeth are placed. When your teeth are ready, we screw them in place on the implants. We cannot re-drill or replace damaged implant screws. If the screws are damaged or come loose, we will refer you to an oral surgeon.
If your All-on-4® Treatment Concept prosthesis has been damaged, it is important that it be restored. For more information, or to schedule your consultation with us, contact Crossroads Family Dental today at (219) 440-2950.
