The most common solutions to missing adult teeth are some form of dental implant or dentures. If you are missing most or all of your natural teeth, the best solution will be an All-on-X procedure or using dentures. 

You may have heard of All-on-4, All-on-5, or All-on-6 implants. These are essentially the same thing as the All-on-X procedure, which is so named because the number of dental implants used can vary. So instead of using a different term depending on how many implants you get, dentists simply say All-on-X. Like All-on-4, All-on-5, or All-on-6 procedures, Dr. Shah may use between four and eight dental implants to secure your replacement teeth to your jawbone.

After a thorough examination, Dr. Shah will be able to plan out your All-on-X procedure. Depending on the size and health of your jaw, he will need to place between four and eight dental implants at strategic points of your jawbone. This planning will ensure your arch of replacement teeth is secure and properly stimulates your jawbone to maintain its strength. 

On the day of your surgery, Dr. Shah will first extract any remaining natural teeth so that your All-on-X replacement arch will fit properly. Then he will place each dental implant in your jaw. Once all the dental implants are in place, Dr. Shah will attach the arch of replacement teeth. 

After your surgery, your jaw will likely feel sore or painful for a few days while your gums heal and you get acclimated to the implants. Dr. Shah will make sure you know what steps to take postsurgery to ensure a healthy and quick recovery.

Like with any surgery, your body will need time to heal after the All-on-X dental implant procedure. Although you will be able to eat and speak like usual within a few days of your surgery, it will take about four to six months for your gums and jawbone to completely heal from the implant placements. And as your bone heals, it will begin to grow around each implant, which keeps the implants secure and strengthens your bone. 

Dental implants are made of a strong metal, usually titanium or zirconia, which is designed to last a long time. Unlike other metals, these implants will not rust over time, which means they are a safe and reliable solution to missing teeth. On average, your dental implants will last for 20–25 years with proper care such as good oral hygiene and routine dental checkups. 

Call (708) 652-7575 to schedule your consultation with Dr. Shah at our Cicero, IL, dental office today!

When you are ready to get your All-on-X implants and restore your smile, Dr. Shah will do a thorough oral examination to ensure your jaw is healthy enough to receive the implants. 

If you have been missing teeth for a long time, one thing that can happen is your jawbone can start to degrade or weaken. If you do not have enough bone mass in your jaw for implants, or if your bone is too weak to properly secure the implants, Dr. Shah may recommend you have bone graft surgery prior to your All-on-X procedure. 

Bone grafting surgery is done to replace the missing bone mass in your jaw. We can identify deficient areas in your jawbone and surgically place a bone-like material to strengthen it. As you heal from the bone graft surgery, your natural bone will grow over this material in a process called osseointegration. This will ensure your jawbone is strong enough to hold the dental implants, which means your arch of replacement teeth will be secure and strong. 

In order to determine if you need a bone graft, Dr. Shah will use x-rays or other diagnostic imaging tools to get the full picture of your jawbone’s health.