Multi Specialty Dental Clinic & Implant CenterShort answer
Individual implants replace teeth one at a time: each missing tooth gets its own implant and crown, or a few implants hold a bridge. They suit patients who are missing one or several teeth and keep their healthy natural teeth.
All-on-4 replaces a whole upper or lower arch with a fixed set of teeth held by four implants. It suits patients who have lost most or all of their teeth in an arch, or whose remaining teeth are failing.
The choice depends on how many teeth you are missing, the health of the ones you have and your bone. Dr. Kaushal Dhawan, prosthodontist and founder, has specialized training in All-on-4 and plans both at a free consultation with a 3D scan.
Side by side
| Individual implants | All-on-4 | |
|---|---|---|
| What it replaces | One tooth, or a few teeth with a bridge | A whole upper or lower arch |
| Implants used | One per tooth, or a few for a bridge | Four implants for the whole arch |
| Your natural teeth | Healthy neighboring teeth are kept | Remaining teeth in that arch are usually replaced |
| The new teeth | A crown or bridge for each gap | A fixed full arch that does not come out |
| Who it suits | Missing one or several teeth | Missing most or all teeth, or failing teeth |
| Planning at DICC | Free consultation and 3D scan | Free consultation and 3D scan |
When are individual implants the right choice?
When you are missing one tooth or a few, and the teeth around the gap are healthy. Each implant is placed in the jawbone, heals for three to six months, and then gets its custom crown, matched to the color, size and shape of your other teeth.
When is All-on-4 the right choice?
When most or all of the teeth in an arch are missing or failing, or a denture no longer works for you. Four implants hold a full arch of fixed teeth, so you clean them like natural teeth and they do not come out at night.
What if I don’t have much bone?
Low bone does not always rule implants out. A bone graft can rebuild it, and full-arch options such as All-on-4 are designed to use the bone you have. Your 3D scan shows what is possible before anything is planned.
Questions & answers
All-on-4 vs Individual Implants: your questions
Is All-on-4 better than individual implants?
They solve different problems. Individual implants replace a few teeth and keep your healthy ones; All-on-4 replaces a whole arch. Dr. Dhawan recommends one or the other based on your teeth, bone and health.
Can I have All-on-4 on one arch and keep my other teeth?
Yes. All-on-4 replaces one arch, upper or lower; the other arch can keep its natural teeth or be treated differently.
Who does the treatment at DICC?
Dr. Kaushal Dhawan, prosthodontist and founder, plans and restores implants at all three offices: Cherry Creek, Boulder and Broomfield/
Can I pay over time?
Yes. Financing runs from 3 months to 10 years, subject to approval. See financing.
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Three Locations Serving Denver