Can I get All-on-4 implants if I have enough bone?

All-On-4 (TM) style dental implants are sometimes referred to as a "no bone solution".  Now, this can have a few different meanings.  Some call it a "no bone solution" because they do not place bone grafts with this procedure.  They remove the teeth, place implants, do not place bone graft, and then immediately restore.  Concerning bone grafting, this is different than traditional dental implants.  With traditionally placed dental implants, a tooth is often removed, bone is placed and allowed to heal for 3 months, then an implant is placed and allowed to heal for another 3 months before it is used.  
Some call All-On-4 (TM) style dental implants a "no bone solution" because implants can often be placed in situations where patients have been told that they "have no bone".  Oftentimes, patients are told that they have no bone because of bone loss suffered due to periodontal disease.  While it is true that many of these folks have severe bone loss around the actually teeth, there is usually plenty of bone BENEATH the teeth to anchor the dental implants for All-On-4 procedures.  In these situations, the periodontally involved teeth are removed, the infected bone is adjusted away with special instruments, and the implants are placed into the nice healthy strong bone that exists beneath.  
In select rare cases, bone loss is SO severe that bone grafting must be accomplished prior to dental implant placement.  In my experience of over 1,000 completed All-On-4 (TM) style dental implant cases, this only tends to occur when patients have been in dentures for DECADES and it usually only occurs in the upper jaw.  In the lower jaw, if you still have a chin, you typically have enough bone for All-On-4 (TM) style dental implants!  In the upper jaw, if the sinuses have greatly expanded or if the bone beneath your nose has completely disintegrated away, there are still techniques that we can use to get you a full set of implant teeth.
I hope this helps!

It is very likely that you can get implants for the All-on-4 two years, and even longer, after the teeth are removed. This varies from case to case as everyone's bio-type and anatomy differs to a certain degree. There are also cases where patients lose all of their teeth because of advanced periodontal disease and even if done immediately, the All-on-4 treatment can be challenging due to the loss of bone from the disease. 

Hi Libtech67!I see you're located in Altamonte Springs, FL. I hope you and your family fared well during Hurricane Irma this past week, and it's so nice to see some Florida faces here on RealSelf! Happy to help you out with this.In any situation where an implant is going to be placed, one of the biggest questions to answer first is: does the client have enough bone? This is because in order to place an implant such as All-on-Four, there must be bone structure to anchor the implant onto. Doing so keeps it secure and will give you the natural feeling you're looking for!In your case, you say you have had your teeth removed two years prior -- any time you have teeth removed, you lose bone structure. To make sure that ANY implant placed is secure, this would require some form of 3D imaging that you could ask for during the consultation or when you call an office for more information. Once they have a look at your images, a provider can assess whether or not there is enough support for your All-on-Four implant.Good luck on your dental journey!- Dr. Patty's Dental Boutique & Spa

Although this might seems in the beginning counterintuitive but if the bone is reduced surgically you can have all on 4 implants with simultaneous loading with a denture. I am not sure if you have currently some teeth or completely edentulous. 
In my experience these cases require good coordination between the restorative team and the Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon to make sure you results are satisfactory.  

Yes, of course you can get All-on-4, or better yet, 4M implants a few years after removing your teeth. 
One thing to remember is that your jawbone starts shrinking after having your teeth removed, so don't wait too long (years) before doing it. The longer you wait the more difficult it gets to do the procedure. Within few years is ideal. 
Once you have the 4M implants done, your bone stops or slows down the shrinking process.

The answer is that it depends not only on how much bone, but the quality of the bone as well. The most helpful imaging is a 3-D image so that we can see how high the bone is, as well as how wide, and if it is good solid bone or more porous bone. If it is more porous, you may need an extra implant to get the best stability possible. Good luck to you, I'm sure you're going to look and feel like a new person after it is done!

Hi and thank you for your question.
The answer is yes. Remember that the best way to really determine if you are a candidate for All on 4 is to get a 3D image(CBCT). Even in cases where there is not enough bone, you can graft particular areas of your jaws to be able to treat you with an All on 4 or other surgical techniques. Make sure you visit an office where you can do everything (the surgery and the prosthesis). When we typically evaluate our patients, we use a team approach of Oral Surgeon and Prosthodontist to ensure that the patients receive the best treatment possible. Additionally you will need a full medical history to ensure that you are healthy enough and are not taking medications that could interfere with the healing of the bone.
I hope you find the right team to give you, your Dream Smile!!
Dr.Juan C. Arroyo
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon  

Hi:If you have enough bone, you can definitely be an ideal candidate for all on 4.  For best advice post a panorex X-ray of your jaw.Best,Dr. Maddahi

libtech67,The answer to whether or not you can have dental implants or an All-on-X procedure after 2 years from having your teeth removed would in most cases be  Yes, if you have enough bone.  There are a few other qualifiers that can be determining factors of risk for someone who wants to do this procedure besides bone mass though.  Smokers tend to heal slower and we generally prefer that patients we provide this service for are smoking less than a 1/2 pack of cigarettes per day.  It is ideal if a smoker can do this 3-6 months before their procedure.  Also, individuals with diabetes that have an A1C above a certain level and or are not well controlled are generally not great candidates for dental implants.  A history of taking medications like bisphosphonates can be a red flag as well as a history of head and or neck radiation.  Those are the most common things that either qualify or disqualify someone from a health standpoint.  If you are beginning your journey into researching the All-on-X procedure make sure you find the most qualified dentists in your area to start interviewing.  This is one of the most complex and potentially costly procedures that dentists provide at this time.  It is also, when done correctly, one of the most rewarding for you and your dentist.  I have put a link to the book my partner and I just wrote below.  Feel welcome to download a digital copy for free and read through it.  There is some valuable information on how to find the right dentist if you havent already settled on someone.  All the best !

While waiting 2 years isn't ideal, it is possible there will still be enough bone for implants or All on Four treatment after waiting, especially if the bone was grafted at the time the teeth were extracted.