Cost of Dental Implants a Primary Concern for Chicago Residents, But No More With “All-on-4” Implants, PART 4

Welcome to the final installment of this four-part article series on the many ways the “All-On-4” implant technique can save Chicago residents tens of thousands of dollars on the cost of getting new, fixed (non-removable) teeth placed. 

So far, in Part 1, 2 and 3, we have discussed the following ways this breakthrough dental implant technique can save patients an average of $25,000:

• Only four dental implants per jaw,
• Only ONE surgery,
• Less time off from work,
• Less money on medications,
• Fewer post-operative visits and X-rays.

This is not even to mention the fact that the “All-on-4” can give Chicago residents new, immediately functional and non-removable teeth in as little as a single day!

This latter point can be owed in part to the fact that this protocol only requires four dental implants per jaw, which can be done within the space of a single surgery. However, one of the main reasons the “All-on-4” makes fixed oral rehabilitation possible in ONE day is the fact that it almost always avoids the need for bone grafting surgery. And eliminating the need for this surgery constitutes a MASSIVE saving of up to $20,000 for patients!

Let’s take a look at why bone grafting was frequently needed prior to the innovation of “All-on-4” dental implants and how this sophisticated technique can avoid it.

All-On-4 Dental Implants Cost: Save Money on Bone Grafting

Dental implants, like natural teeth, require a healthy jawbone volume in order to remain stably placed and functional. The problem is, the patients who have lost most or all of their natural teeth often present with untreated gum disease, which causes the deterioration of the jawbone underlying the teeth. Additionally, having lived without natural teeth for so long, they also tend to present with atrophication of the jaw, which causes it to shrink and waste away.

The outcome of their poor oral health is that they don’t have sufficient jawbone volume to support dental implants. This is where bone grafting would traditionally come in.

“Bone grafting is a surgical procedure that is done to augment the volume of bone in the jaw and to encourage the growth of new, healthy hard tissue,” explains an implant dentist in Chicago. “We do this by grafting slivers of bone tissue that have been harvested elsewhere directly onto the regions of the jaw that have suffered atrophy. Once healing has taken place, the repaired jawbone should be able to support dental implants.”

So, what exactly is the matter with having to undergo bone grafting first?

The Many Problems with Bone Grafting

Bone grafting is a highly invasive procedure, the graphic description of which would likely make any patient feel faint. As such, recovery from this procedure is long and painful. You will also only be able to get your new, permanent teeth in many months’ time. Additionally, bone grafting is expensive and can cost patients an approximate $20,000!

The “All-on-4” was specifically designed to avoid the need for this lengthy, painful and costly procedure so that (1) a patient could receive their new teeth on the same day as their dental implant surgery and (2) the costs of oral rehabilitation would be significantly less.

How does it do this?

“Using the “All-on-4” we are almost always able to work with a patient’s existing jawbone volume, even if they have been living without natural teeth for many years,” explains the implant Chicago Dentist. “We do this through the precise angulation and strategic placement of the four dental implants in regions of the jaw that are naturally more bulky and more resistant to atrophy. As a result, we are able to skip the need for bone grafting, which relieves a huge financial burden on the patient!”

A Final Note on the “All-on-4”

For all the reasons discussed in this four-part article series on “All-on-4” implants, it’s no wonder that this surgical protocol is being referred to as revolutionary. And with savings of as much as $45,000 on the cost of full mouth reconstruction, more and more Chicago residents are able to enjoy a much greater quality of life, comfort and smile confidence!

 

Cost of Dental Implants a Primary Concern for Chicago Residents, But No More With All-on-Four Implants, PART 3

Welcome to the third installment of this four-part article series on the many ways the “All-On-Four” implant technique can save Chicago residents tens of thousands of dollars on the cost of getting new, fixed (non-removable) teeth placed. So far we have discussed the fact that the “All-On-Four” only requires four dental implants per jaw, as opposed to eight or even 10. Additionally, that it can be done from beginning to end in just one surgery, as opposed to multiple over the course of 12 to 18 months, as was typically the case with traditional dental implant protocols.

The savings incurred by these two differences alone would be enough to buy the patient a decent car! But there are still more ways the “All-On-Four” dental implant technique can save Chicago residents money, so let’s carry on…

All-On-4 Dental Implants Cost: Save Money on Post-Operative Care

With the need for multiple surgeries, comes a barrage of other costs. For every procedure a patient would have to undergo on their journey to getting new teeth again, they’d face the need to:

• Pay for prescription medication to manage post-operative inflammation and discomfort,
• Take time off from work to recovery from the surgery, often spending up to a week or more at home relaxing,
• Pay for follow-up appointments and X-rays that are necessary for the surgeon to monitor implant healing.

All of these costs would add up and the fact that they would need to be repeated three or more times would simply add insult to injury.

The “All on Four,” thankfully, typically requires only ONE surgery, which means one recovery period, one investment in healing medication and one or two post-operative appointments. Thereafter, patients need only go to their Chicago implant dentist for standard bi-annual check-ups and cleanings, as they would their regular dentist.

Additional Benefits of All-on-Four Implants

Owing to its far less traumatic recovery than traditional implant techniques, “All-on-4” patients rarely need to spend more than two days in recovery! In fact, many Chicago residents who have had this procedure done have returned to work the very next day. It is, however, recommended that you spend at least two or more days taking it easy so that you can get your healing off to a wonderful start.

Additionally, owing to the less invasive nature of the “All-on-4,” post-operative discomfort tends to be minimal. This saves patients a fair sum on the cost of pain management techniques and medications. Most surgeons in Dental Implants Chicago maintain that patients seldom require anything stronger than over-the-counter analgesics, like Tylenol, to manage discomfort and that they cease taking even this within two or three days.

There is More…

All of these points aside, perhaps the biggest saving Chicago residents can make on the cost of getting new, permanent teeth is the avoidance of bone grafting surgery, which we shall take a thorough look at in the final installment of this series.

Stay Tuned for Part 4

To learn more about how the “All-on-4” dental implant procedure can save you tens of thousands of dollars on the cost of getting new, permanent teeth placed, stay tuned for the final installment of this four-part article series.