Why the All-on-4 treatment timeline makes full arch restoration more accessible than you might expect

Collaborative Post | Many people put off full-arch implant treatment because they believe it will take years. Developed specifically to defy that assumption, All-on-4 is a treatment offered by dental clinics like Erskine Dental Care that is surprisingly accomplished in a much shorter timeframe than patients might expect.

Photo by Enis Yavuz on Unsplash

What the All-on-4 actually involves

All-on-4 is a full-arch restoration method that uses four strategically placed implants to support a full set of teeth. The two implants are positioned vertically at the front of the arch, and the two implants are tilted back, a positioning technique that provides the greatest contact with available bone and, in most cases, does not require bone grafting, which is often necessary with conventional full-arch implant approaches. The angled posterior implants allow for immediate loading, which is what the All-on-4 timeline relies on: They provide more primary stability than straight posterior implants in the same position, which is necessary to support a provisional restoration on the day of implant placement.

The day of surgery 

On the day of the All-on-4 procedure, the implants are inserted, and a provisional fixed restoration (a full arch of teeth) is placed and left in place before the patient leaves the practice. A removable denture is not worn during the healing period. The provisional restoration is functional and aesthetic, and is worn during the healing period until the implants have integrated with the bone; most patients say that leaving on the day with fixed teeth is one of the best parts of the process.

The healing and integration phase

The first few months after surgery are a period of osseointegration, the process by which titanium implants bond with the surrounding bone to provide a stable base for the final restoration. You will have a provisional restoration in place, a special diet to support healing, and review appointments to monitor integration. This is usually less stressful than patients think, and usually can be controlled with normal pain medications during the first few days after surgery, and then it diminishes rapidly.

The final restoration 

After confirmation of integration (around 3-6 months after surgery), the final restoration is made and placed. It is the set of teeth that will last for decades, well matched to your facial features, made from high-quality materials, and firmly secured to the implants so that they behave like natural teeth in every way. The final restoration is the moment when the complete outcome is revealed, and patients always say it is transformative when they switch from provisional to final restoration.

Why the timeline changes the conversation

The All-on-4 timeline, from placing implants and provisional teeth in the same surgical appointment to finalising the restoration in a matter of months, makes full-arch implant treatment a viable option for a much wider population of patients than traditional methods can accommodate. Many patients who had previously ruled out implant treatment because of the disruption, length or lifestyle of the treatment have found it much easier than they thought. Often, it's the shift in perception from thinking about treatment to starting it that comes when a patient understands what the timeline really entails, rather than what it looks like when they are reading about the most demanding implant protocol.


​Disclaimer: this is a collaborative post.