All on 4 success rate: How successful are All on 4 dental implants?
26/4/2024
Thinking about getting All on 4? One of the top questions on your mind is likely about the All on 4 success rate. Before committing to this treatment, you’ll want to know how successful this procedure can be and how long you can expect your dental implants to last.
The good news is that the All on 4 treatment (when performed by an experienced dentist) is one of the most successful dental procedures available. Let’s explore the All on 4 success rate and longevity, as well as some of the factors that may impact this.
What is the clinical success rate of All on 4 treatment?
The first All on 4 patient was treated in 1998 and since then, over 150,000 patients have been treated with the All on 4 dental implant procedure. This means there is just over 20 years of data to consider when looking at this treatment’s longevity. However, the statistics show great short and long-term results over this period, with highly predictable outcomes and low rates of biological complications.
One retrospective clinical study of 242 patients reported a 95% success rate after 5 years of follow-up, while another study of the survival of All-on-4 implants with up to 10 years of follow-up reported a 94.8% implant-related success rate and 99.2% prostheses success rate.
Nobel Biocare, the creator of the All on 4 treatment concept, also highlights studies on the long-term clinical success of All on 4 showing a 93% cumulative success rate across up to 18 years of follow-up.
While All on 4 results will vary from patient to patient, these clinical figures should help to give you peace of mind about the success of this treatment.
How long do All on 4 dental implants last?
With the right cleaning and maintenance, your All on 4 dental implants have the ability to last for several decades. Given that they are made from titanium, All on 4 dental implants are highly durable and made to withstand the same amount of pressure as natural tooth roots. Titanium is also a biocompatible material, helping to support the fusion of the implant into the jaw bone for added strength and support.
Given that they are made from titanium, All on 4 dental implants are highly durable and made to withstand the same amount of pressure as natural tooth roots. Titanium is also a biocompatible material, helping to support the fusion of the implant into the jaw bone for added strength and support.
At Green Door Dental, we always give our All on 4 patients clear and easy-to-follow aftercare and cleaning instructions to help ensure the longevity and success of their implants.
The longevity of the All on 4 tooth bridge (that is, the actual teeth showing in the mouth, not the implants within the gums) will depend on the type of material it’s made from. If a patient goes for the cheaper option of an acrylic tooth bridge, they may need to replace it every 5 to 10 years due to general wear. However, if a patient opts for a more durable material like Zirconia, they may never need to replace it.
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Like all medical procedures, All on 4 treatment comes with some potential risks. One of the All-on-4 problems that can arise is implant failure. If an implant fails, the patient will likely notice the signs soon after the procedure. This can include severe pain and discomfort, swelling or recession of gums around the implant site, and implants that feel loose or move.
But don’t be alarmed — implant failure is very rare, occurring in less than 5% of all cases. And even in these rare cases, most All on 4 candidates can have a new dental implant successfully placed again after a healing period. As long as you choose to work with an experienced All on 4 dentist, you’re giving yourself the best chance of a successful outcome.
At our Gregory Hills or Moss Vale clinics, we have the experience, technology and proven success rates to ensure proper implant placement and positioning for all patients.
So, why does implant failure occur? Below are a few reasons why a dental implant may fail:
Unsuccessful osseointegration
Osseointegration is where the titanium dental implant fuses with the jaw bone, providing the strength and stability needed to support the implant tooth. This process can take a number of months to complete. If osseointegration fails, the dental implant will become loose and will not be able to secure the tooth bridge in place.
Unfortunately, it’s often hard to know why an implant failed to fuse with the bone and it can happen to anyone. But the good news is that in most cases of failed osseointegration, we can place a new implant and it will successfully fuse to the bone the second time round.
Infection (or peri-implantitis)
There is a small risk of infection around the implant site called peri-implantitis. Peri-implantitis is a type of gum disease that causes inflammation of the gum tissues and bone structure around the dental implants. If the infection is caught early, it’s generally easy to treat and heal under the guidance of your dentist. However, if left untreated, it can rapidly progress into the severe stage and may result in bone loss and loss of the dental implants.
Signs of peri-implantitis include:
- Loose implant
- Red or swollen gums around the implant site
- Pain, pus or bleeding around the implant site
- Fever
- Bad taste or breath
The best way to avoid infection is to carefully follow your dentist’s aftercare instructions and maintain a good oral hygiene routine.
Allergic reaction
Whenever any foreign material (such as a titanium dental implant) is placed into the body, there is a small chance it may be rejected. While titanium is highly biocompatible and generally causes fewer reactions than other metals, some patients may be allergic to it. Clinical research has shown that patients with allergies to titanium may experience localised or generalised reactions, including skin rashes, reddening or itching of the skin, inflammation at the implant site, necrosis or death of the tissue at the implant site, or bone loss.
Poorly placed implants
Poor implant placement can result in an unnatural cosmetic appearance, poor oral function, delayed healing and, at worst, implant failure. However, this issue usually only occurs with inexperienced surgeons and can be easily avoided by working with an All on 4 dentist that has performed this procedure on many patients and has the long term case studies to prove their success. At our Gregory Hills or Moss Vale clinics, we have the experience, technology and proven success rates to ensure proper implant placement and positioning for all patients.
Patients with certain lifestyle factors, such as smoking, may also have a reduced success rate for All on 4 treatment. While it won’t necessarily exclude you from getting the treatment, smoking can impact both the short-term and long-term success and reduce the overall lifespan of your dental implants.
Who is most at risk of a reduced All on 4 success rate?
There are very few patients who cannot be successfully treated with All on 4. However, there are a few medical or lifestyle factors that may reduce a patient’s success rate.
Patients with certain medical conditions that may affect their body’s ability to heal may have a slightly higher risk of failure. These include patients who have/are:
If you have one of these conditions, you may have been told that you cannot have traditional dental implant treatment in the past. However, due to the innovative technique of the All on 4 procedure, this treatment may be a possibility for you. We recommend that you come in and see us for your All on 4 consultation to discuss your options.
Likewise, patients with certain lifestyle factors may also have a reduced success rate for All on 4 treatment. These include patients who have/are:
- Poor dental hygiene and cannot commit to optimal oral hygiene in future
- Smokers
While these lifestyle factors don’t exclude you from getting All on 4, they can impact both the short-term and long-term success of the treatment and reduce the overall lifespan of your dental implants.
If any of the above concerns you and you’d like to know whether you’re a good candidate for successful All on 4 treatment, simply contact us and book in your implant consultation. We can assess your teeth, overall health and medical history to determine the best course of action for your smile. During this appointment, we’ll also give you an outline of the cost of All on 4 treatment and talk you through our All-on-4 payment plans.
