No One Should Die With Their Teeth in a Glass! ® Or at least that’s the mission statement of Chicago implant dentist, Dr. Irfan Atcha whose popular dental practice offers patients the very latest in dental implant procedures, the ‘All-on-4.’
Oral Health Problems in the United States According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 4% and 12% of American adults present with advanced periodontal disease. “Periodontitis or gum disease is an acute oral bacterial infection of the gums and encasing jaw bone,” explains Chicago implant dentist Dr. Irfan Atcha. “50% of the severe cases of gum disease I see are a consequence of tobacco use, whether it’s chewing tobacco or smoking cigarettes.” This is not entirely surprising, is it? We are all aware of the connection between tobacco-use and gum disease. But what’s truly shocking to learn from Dr. Atcha is that a staggering 80% of all Americans have some form or stage of a gum infection or disease; from the beginning stages of gingivitis to full-blown periodontitis. “80% of the American population has serious oral health problems,” says Dr. Atcha. “Chances are, you’re a part of that 80%, whether you know it or not! By the time American adults reach the age of 65, 30% of them are completely edentulous, in other words, they don’t have a single tooth left in their mouth.” The oral health problems in the United States may affect a greater percentage of adults, but evidence of our negligent attitudes is evident in the oral health of our young children.
According to the CDC, tooth decay affects more than 25% of American children between the ages of two and five, and a shocking 50% of kids ages 12 to 15. “Just think about that for a second,” says Dr. Atcha. “Think about your children at school. Half of the kids in his or her class have been affected by tooth decay. It is a great possibility that your child is on the wrong side of those statistics.” What all these statistics tell us is that although the United States is at the forefront of medical research and technology, at a grassroots level, we are a nation struggling to do the very basics of proper oral healthcare. “The good news is that although the terrible oral ailments that cause toothlessness may be exceptionally common and painful in their advanced stages, they are also wholly preventable,” says Chicago implant dentist Dr. Atcha. “Unlike other pervasive illnesses and diseases, gum disease and tooth loss can be prevented with the right home oral hygiene routine, coupled with regular attention from a dental healthcare professional.” Prevention is better than cure, but if you have already lost most or all of your natural teeth, as a staggering portion of the United States already have, what can you do?
Oral Rehabilitation Dental Implants
with
“All-on-4”
The field of implantology has changed substantially over the last 10 years. Dental implants have actually been a popular method of teeth replacement for over 50 years, but it’s only with recent advancements in surgical protocol and dental implant hardware that dentists have been able to offer them as a solution to a much wider variety of patient cases. “For example, prior to the innovation of ‘All-on-4’ dental implants, patients having a full set of permanent teeth placed could need as many as 20 dental implants and multiple surgeries to place them,” explains Dr. Atcha. “Patients who had been living without teeth for many years and who had lost a lot of jaw bone tissue could also require bone grafting surgery. The result is that you have a method for teeth replacement that would take up to 18 months in and out of the dentist’s office and could cost patients over $100,000.” It’s no wonder dental implants had a bad rap! That is until the introduction of a new surgical technique known as the “All-on-4”. “All on Four dental implants offer a tremendous leap forward in the field of fixed oral rehabilitation,” says Dr. Atcha. “It enables us to provide patients with a brand new set of non-removable and immediately functional teeth in a single dental appointment.”
By carefully inserting the implants in very specific locations in the jaw (see image below), implant dentists like Dr. Atcha can provide strong support for a customized prosthetic dental bridge. And the “All-on-4” can typically do this without the need for bone grafting, many dental implants and multiple surgeries, which literally makes it possible for patients to get a new set of teeth in a single day and at a cost that is reduced by tens of thousands of dollars.
“All-on-4 Implants”: Modern Day Solution to Age Old Problem The “All on Four” surgical protocol together with experienced implant dentists such as Dr. Irfan Atcha have brought the many benefits and advantages of dental implants within reach of the tens of millions of edentulous and near-edentulous people that currently live in the United States. “Client testimonials are pouring in, all of them with incredible feedback,” says Dr. Atcha. “All on Four dental implants are living up to their reputation as the best and most sophisticated teeth replacement solution. Our clients are happier than they’ve been in many, many years and the technology is enabling our practice to live up to its noble goals.” Tooth loss, periodontal (gum) disease and edentulism may be frightfully common problems in the United States, but at least there is now something we can do to treat the terrible symptoms. Removable partial and full dentures have been around for centuries, but it’s only fitting that we begin to address oral problems with the sophisticated technologies that are available to us today. “All-on-4” implants are truly a modern solution to an age-old problem.