I want to get dental implants but have lost some bone. My dentist says I need to have bone grafting done before I get the implants. I read that you can do all-on-4 without bone grafting. When I asked him about it he said that isn’t a good fit for me. Why not? Because the other way means an extra procedure and extra money for him? Should I go to another dentist who will do it?

Adam

Dear Adam,

I wouldn’t necessarily assume that your dentist is opposed to the all-on-4 dental implants because he wants to make more money. There can be a few reasons.

First, all-on-four dental implants procedure requires additional training as it is done differently than traditional dental implants or implant overdentures. It may be that your dentist simply doesn’t do that procedure. Not all implant dentists do.

A second possibility he is saying no could simply be that you’re not a good candidate. While it was developed to help patients with less bone still get dental implants, it really will depend on how much bone you’ve lost. Maybe your dentist said it won’t work for you because you’ve lost too much bone for this to be a viable procedure.

The first thing I would do is simply as him why he says it won’t work for you. If you are not satisfied with the answer, then getting a second opinion would be a good idea.

Options to All-on-4 Dental Implants

Before making any decision, you should know all the facts. While there have been improvements doing all-on-4, you should be aware if one part of the procedure fails or is damaged, you’ll have to replace the whole unit.

If you are not a candidate or decide you want to go with something else, then implant overdentures will be a great option. Though, as your dentist mentioned, it will require some bone grafting. The good news is this is an outpatient procedure

Getting a Smile You’re Proud to Share

This is your chance to not just get functional teeth, but an attractive smile. The way to do that is to be certain the dentist who does your procedure is not just a trained implant dentist, but is also a skilled cosmetic dentist.

To find one, I suggest you look on the mynewsmile.com. They screen dentists who wish to be listed for both their technical training as well as their artistry. Any dentist they list will be able to create a stunning smile for you.

This blog is brought to you by New Orleans Dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.