Dental Implants, Dentures, Implant Dentures, Mini Dental Implants, Sonora Dental Blog

Finding All-on-4 Alternatives That Use Mini Dental Implants

All-on-4 Alternatives in Sonora, CA | Free Implant Consultations

When you think of load-bearing structures, you likely consider walls or columns, supporting the weight of a house or roof. However, there are other load-bearing structures that you may need to keep in mind. Dentures, for example, must withstand the weight and pressure of your bite, enabling you to chew food effectively. While traditional dentures often lack security, implant-supported dentures are able to stabilize in your jaw! By placing dental implants strategically around your jawbone, your denture restoration gains the load-bearing potential to bite powerfully and effectively. Unfortunately, All-on-4 denture systems only use four implants for support, that take up a significant amount of your jaw structure. In many cases, patients like you don’t even have the necessary jawbone to support these dental implants! Fortunately, Dr. Berger in Sonora, CA, offers All-on-4 alternatives like Fix-on-6, which use mini dental implants instead.

What Is the All-on-4 System?

All-on-4 Alternatives in Sonora, CA | Free Implant Consultations

The All-on-4 implant system involves using four dental implants to secure your denture restoration.

With two implants in the front and two in the back (at a 45° angle), your prosthetic is held in place. This support allows you to chew effectively, without fearing that your dentures will slip and slide on your gums.

The All-on-4 system uses conventional dental implants, which are large in diameter. These titanium screws require a relatively invasive placement process, using incisions and a series of large drills.

Many patients aren’t eligible for these dental implants, as they lack sufficient jawbone structure to support their size. Often, patients must undergo additional procedures, such as a bone graft or sinus lift, to rebuild lost bone. However, additional procedures add to both the cost and length of your implant process.

Additionally, in the unlikely case where one implant fails to stabilize, your denture is left with three impalnts for support. An uneven amount of implants throws off the balance of your denture, affecting the even distribution of pressure!

All-on-4 Alternatives: Meet Fix-on-Six

The Fix-on-Six method utilizes 6 to 10 mini dental implants, rather than four conventional ones.

While six may sound like a lot of implants at first, mini dental implants are significantly smaller than their conventional counterparts, occupying less space in your jaw. Their smaller diameter allows many patients who are ineligible for All-on-4 treatment to stabilize their smiles. In many cases, mini implants don’t require any additional procedures, as they secure even in minimal bone.

Dr. Berger places these titanium posts strategically around your jaw, securing your prosthetic on top. With this support, your denture will stay in place, allowing you to chew effectively!

Additionally, in the unlikely event that one of your implants fails, your restoration still has five implants to rely on. In many cases, your denture will remain in place and fully functional, even with one implant lost.

The Mini Implant Difference

Mini dental implants don’t just secure in minimal bone. These implants provide many incredible benefits that patients enjoy, including:

  • Minimally invasive: Due to their sleek design, Dr. Berger places mini implants using a minimally invasive procedure. This gentle approach doesn’t require an incision or large drills. Instead, he creates a small pilot hole in your jawbone and carefully inserts the implant inside.
  • Fast healing: Because of the minimally invasive placement process, mini implants heal quickly. Rather than waiting months for your implants to heal, Dr. Berger is typically able to secure your denture restoration the very next day!
  • Safer outcomes: Mini implants have a one-piece design, forgoing the need for an abutment and multiple placement appointments. Additionally, their sleek structure reduces the risk of peri-implantitis, or infection around your implant. Because mini implants don’t have small spaces between parts for bacteria to gather, they are much less likely to develop peri-implantitis, which can potentially cause them to fail.
  • Cost-effective: With fewer components, fewer appointments, and fewer additional procedures, mini implants are much more affordable than mini dental implants!

During your free implant consultation, Dr. Berger will take a 3D digital X-ray to assess the quality of your bone. If you’re eligible for mini dental implant treatment, he will create a custom treatment plan for your smile and discuss your financing options with you.

Explore All-on-4 Alternatives in Sonora, CA!

Because your dentures bear the load of your bite, they require ample support. While systems like All-on-4 can stabilize your smile, Fix-on-Six mini implants are often a better fit for patients due to their numerous benefits. Book a free consultation at Sonora Dentist today to learn if you’re eligible for the mini dental implant process.

Follow Dr. Berger on Instagram and Facebook to learn about the types of implant dentures he offers. 

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Dr. Paul Berger

Dr. Paul Berger is the owner and founder of Sonora Dentist located in the beautiful foothill town of Sonora, California. Dr. Berger brings 36 years of experience and a passion for delivering the best quality of dental care for his patients and their families. Dr. Berger has maintained his dental practice in Sonora since 1989. A graduate of Loma Linda School of Dentistry, this Sonora dentist is a member of the American Dental Association, California Dental Association, San Joaquin Dental Society, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and Academy of Computerized Dentistry. Dr. Berger has completed hundreds of hours of training at the prestigious Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies. Dr. Berger is an avid outdoorsman and pursues the healthy lifestyle he stresses to his patients. Whether hunting, fishing, hiking, flying, skiing or golfing, he sets a high standard for himself by being outdoors and active physically and mentally. A father of six children, grandfather of five grandchildren, and married to his best friend and wife, Kathy, for 39 years, Dr. Berger will give you and your family the quality and service he would give his own loved ones-quite simply, the best he can deliver. Dr. Paul Berger is a well-educated, experienced dentist whose favorite part of dentistry is patient interaction. He has come to regard his patients like family and watched some of his youngest patients grow up with great smiles. If you need a Sonora California dentist, look no further than Dr. Paul Berger and his exceptional team.