POSTED UNDER All-on-4 Dental Implants Reviews
All on Five on Upper Arch
UPDATED FROM Paul3815
5 years post
6 years since surgery
WORTH IT$25,600
It has been almost six years since my surgery. I have had no issues. It is of utmost importance to develop a habit of cleaning and oral hygiene. I do think that is key to long term success.
Paul3815's provider
UPDATED FROM Paul3815
3 years post
3 years post surgery
It as been a while since I have posted. My journey began in September 2016. I am happy to say I have no regrets concerning the decision to go this route. The reason you do not see many updates this after implant surgery is likely due to the fact that we have become complacent and our dental health has become a non-issue. That is how it should be and I would wish this for everyone going through it or facing it in the near future to be patient. It is scary and somewhat painful at first.
I remember waking from surgery and thinking “what have I done” but gathering myself. I remember the fort time trying to eat and because the soup (not spicy but just enough spice) set my mouth on fire from all the surgery earlier in the day. I also remember thinking I would die to eat a steak or something real a little later. I had to repeated tell myself and be confident that I was told it was surgery, it would be painful, that I would hate the temporary, things would improve, and in the end I would love the permanents. They were all correct and I now only think of it as something I had to go through to get where I wanted to be.
Do your homework. Find a competent team to do your work. Get your mind prepared and stay positive. Half the battle is in the mind and that is in your control.
Good luck to all who travel this path and to Those who are facing the largest hurdle for most, financing. Hopefully you can find a path.
I remember waking from surgery and thinking “what have I done” but gathering myself. I remember the fort time trying to eat and because the soup (not spicy but just enough spice) set my mouth on fire from all the surgery earlier in the day. I also remember thinking I would die to eat a steak or something real a little later. I had to repeated tell myself and be confident that I was told it was surgery, it would be painful, that I would hate the temporary, things would improve, and in the end I would love the permanents. They were all correct and I now only think of it as something I had to go through to get where I wanted to be.
Do your homework. Find a competent team to do your work. Get your mind prepared and stay positive. Half the battle is in the mind and that is in your control.
Good luck to all who travel this path and to Those who are facing the largest hurdle for most, financing. Hopefully you can find a path.
Replies (5)
October 30, 2019
I also just completed my journey with the All-on-4 on the top. It has been a year long journey. I have a question if you wouldn't mind sharing with me. How do you clean under your all-on-4? I have been brushing then I use a water pic and try to get up in there, but always feel like I am not doing a thorough job.
Thanks
November 1, 2019
Floss-water pick-brush. Unthreatening order. Just like you did around teeth, floss and make sure you do it thoroughly between the gum and appliance. I use "Super Floss" or flossing loops if it is really difficult to thread the floss between appliance and gums. You will quickly learn the places where it works to thread the floss easily. B gentle but thorough. Follow up immediately with the water pic and evidence will show you have loosened and removed a lot of food particles. Then brush thoroughly as you oils normally. I do this daily for 15-20 minutes before bed daily. Otherwise I brush as normal or rinse with water and use the small brushes of food is trapped somewhere bugging me.
With this routine, I have had absolutely no problems and I considered a model at my dentist's practice. Cleaning has to be a commitment if you want it to be successful long term.
Good luck. It just become a routine you do daily.
November 4, 2019
Ok, thank you so much for the tips.
January 8, 2020
I cant agree with you more...having implants for me falls within the top 10 things I've for myself.
September 15, 2020
Had five implants done (after 3 sets of caps over 30 yrs). They were a combo of $22,000 between peridontist & my dentist. All failed. Perio wanted to start all over again. NO DISCOUNT. Not even x-ray! He should have done full sinus lift, not partial, should have added bovine bone. He didn't. He IS a good perio but it took over a year, very painful. Terrible!
September 16, 2020
Yes. That is unfortunate for you after going through it, not to mention the money. I am fortunate that I was very close to my dentist and had very good advice on how to proceed with an excellent referral to a highly credentialed and competent periodontist.
October 25, 2022
Hello I just read your review all the way in Hastings UK. I woke up in the night
wondering what today will bring. I had my surgery 10 days ago. I am pleased
or say I have no pain now, but finding the temporary teeth hard to cope with
They make speaking difficult and I get tired talking quickly. My mouth is a bit tender
and sick of the diet. However, it’s good to read your realistic review and it’s just
what I needed to read to put me in a positive way of thinking. You and others
on this site managed to get through to completion with a happy ending so, that
something I will hold on to. The treatment is the same world wide and lovely
that people share their journey with everyone it’s so comforting to read so , thank you.
wondering what today will bring. I had my surgery 10 days ago. I am pleased
or say I have no pain now, but finding the temporary teeth hard to cope with
They make speaking difficult and I get tired talking quickly. My mouth is a bit tender
and sick of the diet. However, it’s good to read your realistic review and it’s just
what I needed to read to put me in a positive way of thinking. You and others
on this site managed to get through to completion with a happy ending so, that
something I will hold on to. The treatment is the same world wide and lovely
that people share their journey with everyone it’s so comforting to read so , thank you.
UPDATED FROM Paul3815
6 months post
6 months post-surgery
Things have been moving along really well. I have been through 3 wax try-ins, the last being this past Wednesday. Each time the wax set has improved. The last time there was a slight problem with the left side being slightly out. That correction was made on the office. After the correction was done, the result felt really good. The staff kept asking me if I thought this was the real deal. Things felt really good, they looked really good, but I asked them if I could just get out of the chair and walk around the office building for a while. I did that with my wife along with me and simply thought I couldn't find anything wrong. I just hope they can get the permanent set to fit and look like the final wax. It is great to finally get to the point you wanted to be in since you started months prior. I have just had no real problems. I would say, so far, I would be the textbook case. There is discomfort at the beginning. The surgery makes hamburger out of your gums and re shapes the bone plus there are bog holes drilled in that bone with giant "screws" put into them. I would not choose to do this with just local anesthesia but I would say that if the choice was between doing it with a local or not doing it, I would go with the local. I do remember sort of panicking when I woke up and had the big mouth full of teeth at the top that seemed so off somehow. I kept telling myself to stay calm and I would get used to it. My advice is to go in educated in what is going to be done and get your head set on the first two weeks. First few days are definitely uncomfortable. You really have to get used to the apparatus in your mouth. Because of swelling, everything pushes at you and you are eating only soft foods. The change in your mouth makes eating different and difficult, especially at first. This too passes and I know now I could even live with the temporary and be OK. I expect the perms will be that much better. It is a lot of money but what it can do for your daily life makes it worth it. I am in my mid-60s and when I first lost part of my teeth in an accident I was told over and over there was no way to get them back. I have had partial dentures, crowns, bridges, root canals, reverse root canals... you name it. This is getting closer than anything yet to get teeth back that have been gone for 50 years. A good 40 years or so out of these and they could be a final solution for me. Since I stated my age you might find that humorous but I have plans... I would recommend the procedure at this point rather than nothing or dentures. Good luck to all that are contemplating or in process. Keep yourself healthy. Thanks to all who chronicled their journey here. I read many and it definitely helped me prepare. I think I will be ready for some good apples this Fall!
Replies (5)
April 11, 2017
I am glad to report that I have closed another chapter in my life. Today I made it to the end of the process of an "All on Five" dental process. What began as a nervous, somewhat fearful, and questionable journey ended this afternoon with the placement of my final prosthesis that turned out to be exactly what I wanted. The first few days when I started this review I did have doubts of whether I really thought it was really "Worth It". At that point I was unsure, my mouth was sore, my face swelled, the temporary teeth were bulky and foreign, and I wondered if I could ever be normal again. At the point the permanent was torqued, that question was answered. It seems to be perfect. It took very little tweaking once it was in. The lab did a great job in improving up until the last try-in and made it definitely worth the discomfort and cost.
I did not have thousands of dollars in the bank begging to be spent somewhere. I am glad that for the past couple of decades my wife and I have been working toward retirement. I had contributed for the past few years of my employment to a deferred compensation account to help in the tax load of both of us working but also to be an emergency fund in retirement that would serve nicely when those big unplanned expenses come along. The nice thing here is these tax deferred dollars can be spent wisely on medical deductions including dental and can be written off entirely when taxes are filed. Money is hard to come by but tax-free money is a real rarity. Somebody will inevitably find a way to tax it! I encourage deferring as much as you think you might need as an emergency fund later and if you don't need it for that purpose you can splurge on yourself later. The worst that could happen would be that it is taxed when you do withdraw it and it is likely at a much lower rate than when you were working at your highest earning years. I mention this because I know it is a major obstacle to many who would benefit greatly from this procedure.
I do appreciate those here that gave me an idea of what to expect and also the failures along the way. I do think we should be aware that failure does happen and be mentally prepared for that as well. Sometimes the plan has to change when we realize the current plan doesn't work for us.
Again thanks to all who contributed to helping me cope and understand the process. I will be adding more later as I live with the permanents. If not, you will know I have become to think of the prosthesis as my own teeth and simply faded into "normal land".
April 15, 2017
Fabulous to hear all is done and feeling and looking perfect. I'm so happy for you. I have another appointment this coming Tuesday to hopefully get my permanent teeth fitted ( fingers crossed ) in a way I guess it was only fare you got yours first seen as your treatment started a few weeks before mine did. Enjoy your new teeth. Take care.
April 16, 2017
We have definitely running neck and neck on our schedules. I was really happy that my dentist was very careful about getting things right with the wax before he pulled the trigger on the permanents. They actually fit like a glove. I had absolutely no pain or discomfort. It was as they had been in forever. My appointment took 1-1/2 hours total. There was very little adjustment to be made to the bite and it was over. I really hope your next appointment on Tuesday goes as well. Good luck and keep us posted.
March 14, 2018
Can I ask what material was used for your permanents? zirconia?
March 15, 2018
Mine were acrylic. Dentist did not want to use the harder substances since I still have my lower teeth.
March 15, 2018
Ah, I still have my bottom ones too (the back two on either side are implants). The restorative dentist said they try to use zirconia, but you have to have enough room in your gums. If not, they use acrylic. He didn't raise any concerns about them damaging my lower teeth. My uppers are a mess.
March 15, 2018
I would definitely go that route then. It is not near the bulk since they require no titanium bar. Maybe really seem natural after a year with the perms. No issues at all.
March 30, 2018
Changes to acrylic when I found out zirconia would add another $3k to the price!
March 30, 2018
Yes. it is more expensive. But if it can be done and you desire the benefits, it may be better to spend a little more than to be sorry and regret you didn’t. That said, i am really happy with mine cosmetically and functionally. The zirconia has its advantages.
December 30, 2023
hi can i ask why you have to have enough room in your mouth for zirconia? just 3 weeks in, very small mouth, tops perfect but i feel like i have false teeth in bottom. not only are they thick and bulky at inner sides by tongue- they come over my gum line pushing the inside of my mouth out like hard cotton wool balls. im due back next week. but don't think i will ever get used to it.
these are permanents but feel like i have a mouth full of plastic and don't feel hungry
these are permanents but feel like i have a mouth full of plastic and don't feel hungry
December 30, 2023
what advantages do they have? i see lots of photos on here from underneath of thick front teeth, are those acrylic? mine are thin with a sharp biting edge. but bottoms are far too big dor my mouth
May 31, 2018
$25,600 for just uppers is OUTRAGEOUS, as is having to go back again and again and again for testers and waxes and temps of all kinds plus multiple issues.
June 1, 2018
Yes it is. There is a great deal of surgery and precision involved. Could have done much cheaper out of the country or in a one-size-fits-all place but I went with people I knew and trusted. It actually is a big deal and lot of things can potentially go wrong. I have had no issues and am still doing great. I m sure many that get it done out of the country do well too but I decided to pay rather than take that chance. As long as it is considered cometic rather than a needed dental procedure it will remain expensive and not covered by insurances. Sad but true.
August 24, 2018
Looks fantastic. Some help would may think you paid a lot but really you didn't. The same procedure here in California would probably be closer to $40, 000.
October 25, 2022
Will the 25,600 not cover all your appointments. I paid £32,000 here in UK for
top and bottom and that covers every thing.
top and bottom and that covers every thing.
October 29, 2019
$25,600 is cheap! They want to charge me $64,800 for just upper. And I only have 8 extractions also and have great bone density on top.
October 25, 2022
Wow that sounds a lot for you to pay. I thought £32,000 was over the top for mine and I have not told a soul what I paid, they would think I am mad, but it had to be done, no other option only a removal denture. Hope yours go well. Good luck from me.
Replies (3)