A fixed, full arch of teeth on four implants, often with temporary teeth attached the same day.
All-on-4 Dental Implantsin San Diego
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Full-Arch Implants at Our Hillcrest Office
Replace a Full Arch of Teeth on Four Implants
Fixed Teeth, Planned in 3D, Placed in Hillcrest
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All-on-4 dental implants replace every tooth in an upper or lower arch with one fixed bridge held by four implants. The bridge does not come out, so it does not slip or click the way a denture can, and in many cases a temporary set of teeth is attached on the same day the implants go in.
At Sunrise Dental Arts, Dr. Andy Keith uses All-on-4 for patients across San Diego whose teeth are missing or failing throughout an arch. It is one of several ways we use dental implants in San Diego, and every plan is built from a 3D scan of your jaw, your health history, and your goals.
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What Are All-on-4 Dental Implants?
All-on-4 is an implant technique that replaces a full arch of teeth on four implants. Two are placed straight in the front of the jaw, where bone is usually thickest. The two in the back are tilted, which lets them reach solid bone and avoid areas where it has thinned. That angle is what often lets us skip a separate bone graft.
Four implants are enough for many arches, but not every one. When the bone is soft or the bite is especially strong, a plan with five or six implants, called All-on-X, may give the bridge better support. We will tell you which approach your scan points to.
How the Procedure Works
Treatment begins with an exam and three-dimensional imaging, so implant positions can be planned before surgery. On surgery day, any failing teeth are removed, the implants are placed, and a temporary full-arch bridge can often be attached the same day. You leave with teeth while the implants heal underneath.
Who Is a Good Candidate for All-on-4?
All-on-4 is usually a good fit for people who are missing most or all of their teeth in an arch, whose remaining teeth are failing, or who wear a denture they no longer trust. It is also worth asking about if you were told you lack the bone for regular implants, since the tilted back implants can reduce the need for grafting.
Gum health, bone volume, and medical history all play a part, so we evaluate each patient before recommending anything. If failing teeth need to come out first, we can include tooth extractions in the same coordinated plan.
What Makes All-on-4 Different From Traditional Dentures?
Traditional dentures rest on the gums and rely on suction or adhesive, so they can shift while you eat or talk and often need relining as the gums and bone change. All-on-4 teeth are fastened to implants in the bone, so the bridge stays put the way natural teeth do.
Here is what that difference tends to mean day to day.
- Chewing: After healing, many patients can eat firmer foods they had given up, without worrying about the teeth moving.
- Speech: A fixed bridge does not click or shift, which can make speaking easier.
- Bone Support: The implants load the jawbone like tooth roots do, which helps slow the shrinking that follows tooth loss.
- No Palate Coverage: An upper All-on-4 bridge does not cover the roof of your mouth the way an upper denture does.
If you would rather keep a removable option, implant overdentures use fewer implants and come out for cleaning.
Recovery and Long-Term Care for All-on-4
Expect some swelling and soreness for several days after surgery. You will eat soft foods while the implants bond with the bone, which often takes three to six months, and then the temporary is replaced with a stronger final bridge. We give you written aftercare instructions and see you for short checks along the way.
The American Dental Association notes that the bone grows around an implant and holds it in place, a process called osseointegration, and that tobacco use can slow healing. Long-term success depends on daily cleaning under the bridge and regular checkups. If gum disease played a part in your tooth loss, our gum disease treatment helps protect the tissue around your new implants.
Planning Your All-on-4 Treatment
Your consultation covers the questions most people have about All-on-4. Which teeth can be saved, whether one arch or both should be treated, whether grafting is needed, and how long you will wear the temporary bridge. You will see your scan and get answers specific to your mouth.
We are in-network with Delta Dental and can bill most other PPO plans out-of-network. Financing through Cherry and CareCredit can make full-arch treatment more manageable. When you are ready, request an appointment or reach out through our contact form.
Meet the Team
Each member of our team brings real care and attention to every visit. Dr. Andy Keith’s philosophy centers on truly getting to know you, including your concerns, preferences, and oral health goals. As your dedicated Hillcrest dentist and support staff, we work in sync to deliver comfortable, efficient visits from check-in to follow-up.
We’ve built a team that pairs careful clinical work with genuine connections with patients. We keep learning as dentistry changes, so the care you receive reflects current, proven techniques.
Services
Our Sunrise Dental Arts Care Process
- Initial Consultation
- Customized Treatment Plan
- Implementation of Treatment
- Aftercare & Maintenance Tips
- Follow-Up
Initial Consultation
Your first visit includes an exam and three-dimensional imaging of the jaw. Dr. Keith looks at which teeth can be saved, where the bone is strongest, and whether four implants per arch will be enough.
Customized Treatment Plan
We plan the implant angles, any extractions, and the shape and shade of your temporary and final teeth. You receive a timeline and a written estimate before surgery is booked.
Implementation of Treatment
On surgery day, the implants are placed with a guided plan and the sedation you choose, and a temporary arch is attached in many cases. The final bridge is made after the implants have healed.
Aftercare & Maintenance Tips
Stick to soft foods while you heal, rinse and brush gently as instructed, and avoid biting hard foods with the temporary teeth. Call us if anything feels loose or sore beyond the first few days.
Follow-Up
Healing checks confirm the implants are bonding. Once the final bridge is in, regular cleanings and maintenance visits help keep the implants and gums healthy.
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Staying Comfortable During All-on-4 Surgery
Full-arch surgery is a longer visit, and it is normal to feel nervous about it. Along with local anesthetic, our sedation dentistry options include nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation, and IV sedation, so you can choose how relaxed you want to be.
Dr. Keith explains each step before it happens and answers your questions before moving on. Patients come to us for All-on-4 from Hillcrest, North Park, and across San Diego, and if you choose IV sedation we will remind you to bring someone to drive you home.
FAQs About All-on-4 Dental Implants
How long does All-on-4 treatment take from start to finish?
Most cases include a consultation and planning visit, surgery day with a temporary bridge, a healing period that often lasts three to six months, and a few visits to make and fit the final bridge. Extractions and grafting can change the timeline, and we map it out for you at the start.
Can I get All-on-4 if I was told I do not have enough bone?
Possibly. The back implants are tilted to reach the bone that is still solid, which can reduce the need for grafting. Your 3D scan will show whether four implants can be placed securely or whether grafting or more implants would be better.
What can I eat after All-on-4 surgery?
While the implants heal, stick to soft foods such as eggs, yogurt, soups, fish, and well-cooked pasta, and avoid biting into hard or crunchy foods with the temporary teeth. Once the final bridge is in place, most patients can return to a much wider diet.
What happens to my remaining teeth?
Teeth that cannot be saved are usually removed on the same day the implants are placed, so you go straight to the temporary bridge. If some teeth in the arch are healthy, we will talk about whether a different option would let you keep them.
Can All-on-4 replace both my upper and lower teeth?
Yes. All-on-4 can be done on one arch or both, at the same visit or in stages. Some patients start with the arch that has the most problems and treat the other later.
Schedule Your All-on-4 Consultation in San Diego
If your teeth are failing or your denture is not working anymore, a consultation will show whether All-on-4 fits your mouth and what it would cost. Call (619) 291-2980 or visit our office at 3645 Fourth Ave in Hillcrest. Same-day consultations are often available.
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