All on four - the basics

Advances in implant dentistry have allowed a shift from the early paradigms established by the pioneer work of Branemark and his coworkers. While initial healing of 6 months in the maxilla and 3 months in the mandible was recommended, progress in the understanding of biology and technical developments have allowed immediate loading of implants in specific clinical situations. One such situation is represented in the fully edentulous jaw.1 The All-on-4 concept is one such treatment procedure which enlightens us for its use in the completely edentulous patients, which also leaves behind the routine treatment alternative of conventional dentures with successful outcome in the short term, long term and the retrospective studies that have been done in the past2.