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!