All on Four dental implant changed my facial structure. Will it improve?

Question

I received all on four dental implants after wearing dentures for 3 Years. I was happy with them they looked great but it seems my face was still swollen and full from the procedure. After about 3 days I looked older and gaunt because the dentures filled out my face, it looked like I drastically lost weight. the dentist assured me this was normal, in a month because of my age my muscles would snap back and if I gained a little weight I would look fine. Will my face "snap back" in a month?

Ira Shapira, DDS · Answer

Dentures supply support to the facial tissues.  It is essential that proper support is supplied wether you have dentures or implants.  All on four is not a restoration it is a support mechanism for your prosthesis.  Correct form and shape for prosthesis is the "ART" of dentistry, putting in implants is the science.I frequently do "Facelift Dentures" where we add facial support to dentures to give the effect of an instant facelift without surgery.This may be adding plumpers etc.If you feel you need more support an easy way to work with your dentist is to use orthowax to bulk up your prosthesis and then duplicating the effect.

Ivan Chicchon, DDS · Answer

This is a common complication of the All-on-4 treatment. Sometimes dentures add a "fullness" to your appearance that an All-on-4 simply cannot replace. The All-on-4 provides some of this fullness but in some cases it is not enough to get your original facial contours back. In these cases, I advise patients to seek alternative treatments such as the "Conus" Denture. This is basically the same thing as the All-on-4 except that you can add some more fullness to it and that it can be removed by the patient. It is definitely NOT like a regular denture just because it is removable--I think this would be a great benefit for someone in your situation.

Victor Sanz, DDS · Answer

The short answer is no.  The flanges or borders of your dentures covered the bone and fills the cheeks and lips.  The implant teeth you have now are probably in the shape of a borderless horseshoe, which is great because you have an open palate and less material.  Your issue is since you have lost a lot of bone prior to this procedure, this area lacks some support.  Since you are in temporaries now, just request your dentist to "bulk" out the final teeth. This can be tested and seen in the fabrication process.  Of course there are limitations that may never match the bulk of the plastic on the dentures a hundred percent.  If you are very keen on having that facial support identical, another option is a removable metal framework teeth that will snap on your implants.  This design will have those borders similar to a denture, but the drawback is they are removable and will cover your palate 45% instead of completely uncovered.

German Arzate, DDS - Account Suspended · Answer

All on 4 is a great procedure, and this just determines the structure of support, but still you can make changes, and if you were happy with your anterior way of your dentures, there are some hybrid procedures you can perform and just make them fill out the areas ,you are requesting . There is also conbided abutments that can make a switch to different restorative options

Julian Hirst, FRACDS (OMS) (in memoriam) · Answer

Hi,Can we see some photos please? Unfortunately this facial issue probably won't improve but you could get a new bridge constructed to give you a different facial profile, without needing the implants changed. I would recommend going back to the practitioner who placed the bridge and tell of them your concerns. If you don't get the answers you need then you will have to get a second opinion from a prosthedontist sorry.Julian

All on Four dental implant changed my facial structure. Will it improve?

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All on Four dental implant changed my facial structure. Will it improve?

Answers (5)

Answer: All On 4

Answer: All On 4

Answer: All-on-4

Answer: All-on-4

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about All-on-4 Dental Implants

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.