All on 4 Dental Implants at O3 Dental Letterkenny

What is it?
If you wish to have a permanently fixed denture in the lower or upper jaw – for even more stability and the sensation of fully functioning natural teeth – then the option is available for All on Four, a technique pioneered by innovative Portuguese dentist Dr Paulo Maló. This treatment is comprised of four implants which can permanently anchor a full arch of teeth in place, dependent, of course, on available bone and quality. Damian Flanagan has undergone intensive training at Dr Maló’s Clinic in Lisbon, Portugal to be able to offer this revolutionary treatment in Co. Donegal.

How does it work?
We will need to take comprehensive CT scans of your jaw and plan the placement of the implants very carefully. Under local anaesthetic in our clinic, Damian will make small incisions into your gums and place four strategic titanium implants into your jawbone. These are then left to fuse with the bone over a period of several months. When the healing is completed we can anchor your full arch of prosthetic teeth in place.

Are there difficulties with this procedure?
Sometimes the bone at the back of your upper jaw can be very thin, and we may need to augment it with a special procedure called a sinus lift, a surgical bone grafting procedure that Damian is very skilled at performing. He will make a small incision window into the sinus cavity above the back of your upper jaw and pack it with bone graft material. Over time, the graft material will be incorporated by the surrounding bone. Once there is adequate bone density, your implant can be placed. On some occasions, we may need to use bone from your hip, but this is generally done in the hospital.

What are the benefits?
You will no longer have to deal with the fear of your dentures falling out or moving when socialising. You will also be able to eat and drink like anyone with healthy functioning teeth, giving your quality of life back.