All-on-4 Dental Implants

If you have difficulty chewing and speaking because of missing teeth, dental implants can make your life easier. However, bone atrophy bars some patients from receiving traditional implants. 

Dr. John Starr can restore your full smile with All-on-4® dental implants placed at his Columbus and Starkville, MS, offices.

See for yourself how just four implants placed at Golden Triangle Periodontal Center can support a full denture.

What Are All-on-4 Dental Implants?

Like traditional dental implant-supported restorations, the All-on-4 method uses dental implants, titanium rods that are surgically inserted into your jawbone. The advantage of All-on-4 is that only four implants are needed per full arch, unlike traditional dental implants which require six, eight, or even more implants. Even if you’re missing all of your bottom or top teeth, you will only need four strategically placed dental implants per jaw.

The Advantages of All-on-4 Implants

Fewer Implants

If you choose a traditional implant-supported denture, you may need several implants to restore your smile. All-on-4 uses just four implants to support a full arch of teeth. The implants are placed at strategic angles and in areas with the highest bone density for maximum support.

Faster Procedure

All-on-4 requires only two dental appointments that are scheduled a few months apart. We can coordinate with your dentist to fit a quality temporary denture on the same day as your implant surgery so that you never have to go without teeth.

No Preparatory Procedures

Traditional dental implants require dense jawbone tissue. Patients who do not have sufficient bone tissue may have to undergo a bone graft procedure before they can receive dental implants. All-on-4 implants can often avoid preparatory procedures since they can be placed even if you have jaw atrophy.

Better Fit Than Traditional Dentures

Your All-on-4 prosthetic is more secure than a traditional denture, giving you much better dental function. Traditional dentures are held in place only by dental adhesive and suction, and are prone to slipping or falling out. 

Tooth Loss Is Common in Older Adults

About 17% of adults age 65 or older have lost all of their teeth. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Trust a Dentist Who Specializes in Dental Implants
 
Contact Golden Triangle Periodontal Center Today 

If tooth loss is keeping you from smiling or if you’re unhappy with traditional dentures, All-on-4 can solve these issues for you.

Dr. Starr specializes in dental implants, having performed thousands of successful dental implant cases since 1989. As a periodontist, Dr. Starr will use his advanced dental training to ensure your implant procedure creates the foundation for a strong, lifelike smile.

Contact our Columbus or Starkville, MS, office today to see if All-on-4 is the right treatment for you.

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(662) 329-2696

Staff

Praise for Golden Triangle Periodontal Center Serving Columbus and Starkville, MS

"Dr. Starr and his staff were so kind! I am a nervous wreck when I have to have dental work. He and Hope made sure to make me feel as comfortable as possible. I would recommend them to anyone!" Katie Lang

Benefit From Guided Surgery and Our Advanced Technology

Placing dental implants is already a safe procedure with a high success rate, but we go a step further in making it effective. Our team uses a 3D CT scanner to create a model of your mouth. With this model, Dr. Starr can determine the most effective areas in your dental arches to place your implants. Dr. Starr can then use custom-made stents to guide your implants into the proper positions.

You May Be a Perfect Fit for All-on-4 Dental Implants

In most cases, patients with teeth that are missing, severely damaged, or decayed are candidates for All-on-4 dental implants. Dr. Starr will review your health history during a consultation at his Columbus or Starkville, MS, office. Here are some factors he will consider:

Jawbone Atrophy

All-on-4 implants can be fitted to patients with some jawbone atrophy, which is common with tooth loss. While candidates for All-on-4 implants may not need bone grafting, a minimum amount of bone tissue in the jaw is still needed to support the four implants.

Good Health

Implants require surgery, so patients must have good overall health. Patients who smoke, have chronic illnesses like diabetes, or have gum disease have to address these conditions before their oral surgery.

Dissatisfaction With Dentures

Traditional dentures can slip or fall out of place, causing embarrassment and frustration. Implant-supported restorations can eliminate these issues, giving you a fixed bite.

Significant Tooth Loss

Dr. Starr will always try to save a natural tooth. However, teeth that are infected or too decayed may have to be extracted to preserve your oral health. All-on-4 dental implants can replace the extracted teeth.

Treatment Might Not Be Right for You If You’re Only Missing One or a Few Teeth

Close up of dental implant abutment
All-on-4 implants replace an entire upper or lower arch of teeth. If you are missing only a single tooth or a few teeth in a row, Dr. Starr recommends an implant-supported crown or bridge instead. During your consultation at our Columbus or Starkville, MS, office, Dr. Starr will determine which dental implant treatment can best achieve your goals.

Making Treatment Comfortable With Sedation

Dr. Starr will always administer local anesthesia before surgery to minimize pain at the treatment site. In addition, he can help keep you relaxed with one of our three sedation options:
Man in nitrous oxide mask

Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide, also called laughing gas, is a light form of sedation. It is administered through a nose mask to keep you awake, yet comfortable, throughout treatment. The effects of the sedation wear off shortly after the nose mask is removed, meaning you can safely drive yourself home after your treatment.

Woman taking sedation pill

Oral Conscious Sedation

Oral conscious sedation is a pill that is prescribed to you by your dentist. It is taken about an hour before your surgery and will put you in a drowsy state. You'll be awake but relaxed throughout treatment. Because it can take a few hours for the effects to wear off, you will have to arrange for someone to drive you to and from your appointment.

IV Sedation

Intravenous Sedation

IV sedation is a fast-acting sedative that is administered directly to the bloodstream. This deeper form of sedation won't put you to sleep completely, but many patients don't remember their procedure afterward. IV sedation is a great choice for patients who are undergoing dental implant placement surgery, as it's a multi-step procedure.

A Closer Look at How the All-on-4 Technique Works

A Typical All-on-4 Implant Procedure
 

Patients will have a full smile the day their All-on-4 implants are placed. The procedure involves several steps:

Our Columbus and Starkville dental offices offer sedation options if patients are nervous about oral surgery.
Our Columbus and Starkville dental offices offer sedation options if patients are nervous about oral surgery.

Consultation

Dr. Starr will meet with you at his Columbus or Starkville, MS, office to learn what your goals are and review your health. If you are a good candidate for All-on-4 dental implants, he will schedule a time and date for your surgery.

Surgery

Local anesthesia will be given to you for your comfort during the surgery. We also offer sedation dentistry to help you feel relaxed throughout your procedure. Dr. Starr will make four small incisions in the upper or lower arch of your mouth for the implants. Next, the titanium posts will be surgically placed in your jaw.

Temporary Restoration

We can coordinate with your dentist to place a temporary restoration while the implants fuse to the jawbone, so you’re never without teeth. Dr. Starr will review foods and habits to avoid while you wear your temporary restoration.

Healing

Over the next few months, your bone tissue will fuse around the titanium implants in a process called osseointegration. After the healing process, the implants become securely anchored to the bone and act as a sturdy base for your permanent restoration.

Permanent Restoration

After the healing process, your temporary dentures will be removed and permanent dentures designed by your dentist will be attached. Your new dentures will be constructed to look like natural teeth, giving you a lifelike new smile.

FAQ

When should I choose All-on-4 over traditional implants?

Traditional dental implants require a certain degree of jawbone density to securely hold the implants in place. The All-on-4 method may be better for your situation if you have jawbone atrophy and aren't a candidate for bone grafting. Dr. Starr will make recommendations based on your goals, lifestyle, and budget during your consultation at our Columbus or Starkville office.

What if I need more than four implants?

If you need more than four implants to securely support a denture, we offer the All-on-X solution. This technique places as many dental implants as a patient needs to securely hold a denture in place.

We Thank Our Patients for Supporting Our Dental Offices

"We had a very pleasant experience with Dr. Starr and all of his staff when he performed gum surgery on our son. He is very personable, made sure that our son was comfortable and understood exactly what he was going to do." Karen Fitch
John Starr D.M.D.

Golden Triangle Periodontal Center

Dr. John W. Starr Jr provides patients in Columbus and Starkville, MS, with exceptional periodontal care. Since 1989, Dr. Starr has performed thousands of successful dental implant procedures. Dr. John Starr is affiliated with national professional organizations including:

  • American Academy of Periodontology
  • American Dental Association
  • American College of Dentists

For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact us online or call (662) 329-2696.

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