Last fact-checked: 2 February 2021

Learn about Nobel Biocare's All-on-4® treatment concept in Almeria, Spain and book in with a quality-checked specialist listed on the Dental Departures site. 

The All-on-4® treatment concept is used to replace a complete arch of teeth on just four dental implants. The procedure was pioneered by Portuguese implantologist Dr Paulo Malo—and his technique is now replicated all over the world.

If you are already a wearer of dentures and either don’t get on with them or feel you would like a more secure option, then the All-on-4® treatment concept could be exactly what you are looking for.

How Does This Procedure Differ from Traditional Implants?

You will discover a number of differences in the All-on-4® treatment concept procedure compared to traditional implants:

1. The procedure replaces all of the teeth in one jaw, whereas traditional implants tend to replace one tooth (although they may be used in a bridge to replace several teeth).
2. The procedure is completed in one day (teeth extractions, implant placement and attachment of an immediate loading denture).
3. The rear implants are longer than traditional implants and placed at a 45-degree angle, rather than a 90-degree angle, to increase stability.
4. The procedure may be suitable for patients with bone loss without the necessity of a bone graft.

The upshot of all this is that the All-on-4® treatment concept can actually work out to be a more convenient and amenable treatment than other implant-based solutions. It may also be a viable and beneficial treatment for patients who have bone loss in their jaw.

What Does the All-on-4® Treatment Concept Entail?

The actual procedure takes around a couple of hours to complete per jaw. However, the treatment requires a high degree of accuracy and meticulous attention to detail both in the planning stages and while the surgery is carried out.

The treatment entails:

• 1.  Initial Consultation & Assessment:

The dentist in Almeria can first provide an initial assessment as to your suitability for the procedure by examining up-to-date digital X-rays (you actually can email these over before getting on the plane). If you are deemed to be suitable, the dentist will undertake a thorough examination, consultation and assessment at your first appointment to ensure that everything is fine to proceed.

Appropriate diagnostic tests and scans, such as 3D/CT scans are taken, are used to give a detailed picture of the structures of your mouth and jaw, and also pinpoint the exact location for the placement of your implants. You will have impressions taken of your mouth that are sent to a laboratory where your new teeth will be made. These will be ready for your dentist to attach to your newly fitted implants on the day of your procedure.

• 2. Treatment Day:

The treatment is normally carried out under local anaesthetic with sedation. Once your anaesthesia has taken effect, the dentist will first remove any remaining teeth in your jaw. After extraction, the sites will be cleaned and stitched (usually with dissolving stitches). Next, the dentist will open up the gum line at the most suitable points identified from the CT scans for the placement of the four dental implants. 

Once inserted, specialized abutments and copings are used to hold an immediate loading denture firmly in place, which is trimmed down into a bridge for comfort. 

• 3. Healing Phase & Permanent Restoration:

It is worth noting that after extractions, your gums and jaw bone will need time to heal—typically around four to six months. You will be given a lighter, temporary set of teeth rather than permanent crowns, and instructed to follow a diet of soft and semi-solid foods.

This will allow the tissues in your mouth to heal, then you will return to have your permanent fixed bridge fitted at a later date to complete the final restoration. 

Why Should I Consider this Treatment in Almeria?

• You’ll save money:

Treatment prices in Almeria are at least 50% lower than they are in the UK, with the NHS not covering complex implant-based mouth restorations like this. So, even with the cost of accommodation and flights factored in, you are likely to save thousands.

• High quality:

Spain's dentists are regulated and must be registered with the General Council of Colleges of Dentistry in Madrid. Specialist dentists undertake additional training to provide expertise in areas, such as implantology and oral surgery. 

• Healthy competition among clinics:

Dentists provide services on a private practice basis. Essentially, this means that dentists are in competition with each other for your dollar, which is good news for patients. Competition keeps standards high and prices low because patients can easily take their business elsewhere if they receive the care they are not happy with, or if reviews and recommendations about providers are not satisfactory.

• Contemporary, high-tech clinics:

The best dental clinics throughout Spain that cater to international patients tend to be modern and equipped with state-of-the-art technologies, such as 3D/CT scanning, digital X-rays and CAD/CAM (computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacture).

In addition, the same world-renowned brands and materials are also available in dental clinics in Spain, so there is no need to worry that your treatment in Almeria will be substandard.

Take a look at these popular clinics for the All-on-4® treatment concept in Almeria:

• Clinica Dental Alberto Fernandez & Ayora
• Clinica Microdental
• Clinica Dess

Check out the savings shown in the table below on the price of treatment in Almeria compared to back home:

[Note: these are estimated prices calculated at the time of writing. Please see our clinic listings for up-to-date prices.]

Yes. Not only will you save significant money but you can also rely on quality care while enjoying a pleasant break in the sun. While the downtime is minimal, you may experience a little swelling and bruising after the surgery, so it’s always advisable to keep things relatively low-key afterwards.

The good news is that Almeria is the perfect destination for your post-surgery recovery. You will discover impressive historic buildings in town to explore at a slow pace, lovely beaches and some fascinating desert terrains to check out, like the Sorbas Caves—a subterranean world of stalactites, stalagmites and gypsum crystals.

As for dining out, you'll need to opt for the gazpacho rather than the steak, unfortunately. 

Connect with Dental Departures’ Customer Care Team if you’ve any questions about the All-on-4® treatment concept in Almeria. You can also ask for a free quote or enquire about our other services, including finance and medical complications insurance. 

Additional online booking options are shown below.

Sources:

All-on-4® treatment concept. Nobel Biocare. Website accessed: 2 February 2021. https://www.nobelbiocare.com/en-us/all-on-4-treatment-concept

Krans, Brian. Bone Graft. Healthline. 6 November 2018. https://www.healthline.com/health/bone-graft

Temporary Abutments and Copings. Nobel Biocare. Website accessed: 2 February 2021. https://store.nobelbiocare.com/us/en/media/eifu/IFU1093_EN_GB_00.pdf

About Prof Paulo Malo. Nobel Biocare. Website accessed: 2 February 2021. https://www.nobelbiocare.com/dk/en/education/our-speakers/m-o/paulo-malo.html

Misch, Carl E. How Dental Implants Stop Gradual Bone Loss and Replace Teeth. Dear Doctor. 8 January 2011. https://www.deardoctor.com/articles/hidden-consequences-of-losing-teeth/

Gypsum Karst Caves of Sorbas. Choose Almeria. Website accessed: 2 February 2021. https://choose-almeria.com/sorbas-caves.html

Understanding NHS dental charges. NHS. Website accessed: 2 February 2021. https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/dental-costs/understanding-nhs-dental-charges/

CEREC - CAD/CAM solutions for dental practices. Website accessed: 2 February 2021. https://www.dentsplysirona.com/en/explore/cerec.html