All-on-4 Dental Implants in South Tacoma: Full Arch Restoration
We also offer All-on-X customized solutions using five or six implants when your bone quality and anatomy benefit from additional support, ensuring optimal long-term results tailored to your specific needs.
All-on-4 Benefits:
- Full arch restoration: Replace all upper or lower teeth
- Just 4 implants per arch: More affordable than individual implants
- Often same-day teeth: Receive temporary teeth immediately
- Usually avoid bone grafting: Strategic angles maximize existing bone
- Permanent solution: Fixed teeth that don't come out
- Serving: South Tacoma, Graham, Roy, Spanaway, Frederickson, Eatonville, and JBLM families
What Are All-on-4 Dental Implants?
All-on-4 is a full arch restoration technique using four dental implants to support a complete set of fixed replacement teeth. Two implants are placed vertically in the front of the jaw where bone is typically denser, while two are angled posteriorly at 30-45 degrees, maximizing contact with available bone and avoiding anatomical structures like sinuses and nerves.
According to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, the All-on-4 concept provides excellent stability and high success rates while often eliminating the need for bone grafting that traditional implant approaches require. The angled posterior implants distribute chewing forces effectively across the arch while utilizing existing bone optimally.
A custom prosthesis containing 10-14 replacement teeth attaches to these four implants, creating a permanent restoration that looks, feels, and functions like natural teeth. Unlike removable dentures, All-on-4 restorations stay firmly in place—you never remove them for cleaning or sleeping.
All-on-4 vs. Traditional Implants
Fewer Implants Needed
Traditional full arch restoration requires 6-8 implants per arch, sometimes more. All-on-4 achieves excellent stability with just four implants, reducing surgical complexity, healing time, and overall cost while still providing strong, functional results.
Strategic Angulation
The posterior implants' 30-45 degree angle is key to All-on-4 success. This angulation allows longer implants in areas where vertical bone height is limited, maximizes contact with available bone, avoids anatomical structures requiring grafting, and distributes forces efficiently across the arch.
Often Avoids Bone Grafting
Traditional approaches frequently require extensive bone grafting, adding 4-9 months to treatment and significant cost. All-on-4's strategic design utilizes existing bone, often eliminating grafting needs. This means faster treatment and lower cost for many patients.
When Additional Procedures Help: While All-on-4 often avoids grafting, some cases benefit from minor bone grafting or sinus lifts to optimize implant stability. We offer these specialized procedures in-house, eliminating referrals to other specialists. During your 3D evaluation, we determine if any preparatory procedures would improve your outcome.
All-on-X: Customized Solutions Beyond All-on-4
While All-on-4 uses four implants per arch, we recognize that one size doesn't fit all. Based on your bone quality, jaw anatomy, and bite forces, you may benefit from All-on-5 or All-on-6 configurations.
All-on-5: Five implants provide enhanced stability, particularly beneficial for patients with moderate bone loss or higher bite forces. The additional implant improves force distribution across the arch.
All-on-6: Six implants offer maximum stability and longevity, ideal for patients with excellent bone quality who want the strongest possible foundation. The additional implants distribute forces more evenly and provide backup if one implant encounters issues.
Customized Approach: During your comprehensive 3D evaluation, we analyze your specific anatomy and recommend the optimal number of implants for your situation. Whether it's four, five, or six implants, our goal is ensuring the best long-term outcome for your investment.
Immediate Function
Many All-on-4 cases allow placing temporary teeth the same day as implant surgery. You leave with a complete set of functional teeth rather than waiting months with no teeth or wearing removable temporaries. Final permanent teeth are placed after healing is complete.
The All-on-4 Treatment Process
Comprehensive Evaluation
Your All-on-4 journey begins with thorough examination including 3D cone beam CT scan. This advanced imaging is crucial for All-on-4 planning, showing bone density, anatomical structures, nerve locations, and allowing virtual implant placement before surgery. We evaluate your oral health, medical history, and discuss goals and expectations.
Research in the International Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Implants confirms that detailed 3D planning significantly improves All-on-4 success rates and reduces complications.
Digital Treatment Planning
Using specialized software, we virtually plan your entire case before surgery. This includes determining optimal implant positions and angles, designing the prosthesis for proper bite and aesthetics, and creating surgical guides ensuring precise implant placement. Computer-guided planning makes All-on-4 highly predictable with excellent outcomes.
Preparatory Procedures (If Needed)
If you have remaining teeth, they're extracted during the implant surgery appointment. Infected areas are cleaned and prepared. Most All-on-4 patients don't need bone grafting, but minor grafting or sinus lifts occasionally benefit specific cases.
Implant Placement Surgery
During one surgical appointment, your dentist places all four implants according to the pre-planned positions and angles. The procedure typically takes 2-3 hours per arch using local anesthesia, though sedation is available for anxious patients or when treating both arches.
Strategic implant angulation is critical—the front implants go straight down while posterior implants angle back, maximizing bone contact and avoiding sensitive structures. Precision placement ensures optimal force distribution and long-term stability.
Immediate Temporary Teeth
In most cases, a pre-fabricated temporary prosthesis is attached to the implants the same day. This immediate loading provides several benefits: you leave with functional teeth, maintain facial support and appearance, can eat soft foods immediately, and experience normal speech.
These temporaries are designed for light function during the 3-6 month healing period. You'll need to follow dietary restrictions, avoiding hard or very chewy foods while bone integrates with implants.
Healing and Osseointegration
Over 3-6 months, bone grows around and fuses with the implants through osseointegration. During this time, you wear the temporary prosthesis, attending periodic checkups monitoring healing progress. Once osseointegration is complete, you're ready for final teeth.
Final Prosthesis Placement
After complete healing, impressions are taken for your final prosthesis. This permanent restoration is crafted from high-quality materials—typically a titanium or zirconia framework supporting porcelain or composite teeth. The final prosthesis is precisely designed for optimal aesthetics, function, and durability.
Your completed All-on-4 restoration provides natural appearance, full chewing function, easy maintenance, and long-lasting results.
Who Benefits from All-on-4?
Missing All Teeth: Patients already wearing complete dentures who want fixed, stable teeth that don't slip or require adhesives.
Most Teeth Failing: Those with extensive decay, advanced gum disease, or failing dental work on most teeth often benefit more from full arch replacement than trying to save individual teeth.
Uncomfortable Dentures: Long-term denture wearers struggling with loose dentures, sore spots, limited food choices, or embarrassment from slipping teeth.
Insufficient Bone: Patients told they don't have enough bone for traditional implants may be All-on-4 candidates due to the technique's strategic implant angulation.
Want Fixed Teeth Quickly: Those desiring permanent, fixed teeth without the extended timeline traditional implant approaches require.
Caring for Your All-on-4 Restoration
Daily Oral Hygiene
Brush your All-on-4 prosthesis twice daily with a soft-bristled toothbrush, cleaning all tooth surfaces and where the prosthesis meets your gums. Use a water flosser or special brushes cleaning beneath the prosthesis and around implants. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, excellent oral hygiene is essential for long-term implant success.
While the prosthetic teeth can't get cavities, the gum tissue and bone surrounding implants require diligent cleaning preventing peri-implantitis.
Regular Dental Visits
Attend dental cleanings every 4-6 months. Professional maintenance for All-on-4 restorations is crucial. Your hygienist uses specialized instruments cleaning around implants and beneath the prosthesis, areas you can't reach completely at home. Regular monitoring ensures implant health and catches problems early.
Dietary Considerations
While All-on-4 restores excellent chewing function, avoid extremely hard foods like ice, hard candy, or nutshells that could damage the prosthesis. Most patients can eat normally including steak, apples, corn on the cob, and other foods impossible with traditional dentures.
Protect from Damage
If you grind teeth, wear a nightguard protecting your All-on-4 restoration from excessive forces. The prosthetic teeth can chip or crack under extreme pressure, requiring repair.
All-on-4 Success Rates and Longevity
All-on-4 implants have 95-98% success rates when placed by experienced dentists in appropriate candidates. The technique's strategic design and immediate loading protocol have been refined over 20+ years, producing highly predictable results.
With proper care, All-on-4 implants can last 20-30+ years, often a lifetime. The prosthesis itself typically needs replacement or refurbishment every 10-15 years due to normal wear, but the implants remain stable. This longevity far exceeds traditional dentures requiring replacement or relining every 5-7 years.
Related Services
Dental Implants - Comprehensive implant dentistry including single tooth implants and other restoration options.
Family Dentistry - Complete dental care including tooth extractions and preparatory treatments for All-on-4.
Dental Cleanings - Regular professional maintenance essential for long-term All-on-4 success.
Restore Your Full Smile with All-on-4
Transform your life with All-on-4 dental implants at Davis Dental Group in South Tacoma. Replace an entire arch of missing or failing teeth with just four implants, often receiving temporary teeth the same day. Schedule your comprehensive consultation to learn if All-on-4 is right for you.
Serving South Tacoma, Graham, Roy, Spanaway, Frederickson, Eatonville, and JBLM military families with advanced full arch implant solutions.
Schedule Your Free All-on-4 Consultation
Call to Transform Your Smile
Most PPO insurances accepted. Full arch restoration with All-on-4 dental implants.
Why Choose Davis Dental Group
- Advanced 3D Scanning Technology: Precise imaging for accurate implant planning and placement. Better planning means better results.
- Walk-Ins Welcome: Stop by our Tacoma office anytime for consultations—no appointment needed.
- Same-Day Consultations: We offer same-day appointments when available, so you don't have to wait.
- Free Consultations: Get expert guidance with no obligation. We'll evaluate your situation and discuss your options.
- Comprehensive Care in One Location: From consultation to implant placement to final restoration, everything happens right here. No referrals to multiple specialists.
- Experienced Team: Our dental professionals have extensive experience in implant dentistry and prioritize your comfort throughout treatment.