All-on-4® Northern Virginia

If you have a history of poor dental health or have many missing or damaged teeth, you may be a good candidate for All-on-4®. This restorative treatment replaces the existing teeth with a fixed denture attached to a set of dental implants.

Dr. Gocke recommends All-on-4 to Northern Virginia patients who want:

• A more comfortable and secure alternative to traditional dentures.
• A natural-looking smile. Enjoy greater confidence in everyday social settings.
• A fully functional bite. Get back to eating the types of food you may have given up because you couldn’t chew properly.

As an expert in dental implants, Dr. Gocke’s experience lends itself to predictable and durable outcomes with the All-on-4 procedure. He leverages his training and years in practice as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon to create a natural appearance, promote long-term oral health, and improve daily comfort.

All-On-4 Case

Why All-on-4 and Why Our Practice?

All-on-4® is a great alternative to traditional dentures for patients who have many teeth that need to be replaced. The treatment connects a fixed denture to four or more dental implants. This denture is smaller and more comfortable because it does not sit directly on the palette.

All-on-4 looks and works more like a patient’s real teeth. The appliance isn’t removed at night and can be brushed and flossed like natural teeth. Northern Virginia patients can expect greater strength when chewing food and none of the slippage that is common with long-term denture wear.

Just as importantly, Dr. Gocke can use the All-on-4 approach to restore a complete set of teeth in a single day. Patients come to the practice with missing and damaged teeth, and they leave with a natural-looking restoration.

Patients rely on our practice because of Dr. Gocke’s expertise in the procedure and our commitment to their experience. We frequently host international patients and can help them arrange their visit as well as their care. All patients can take advantage of the amenities in our practice, including memory foam chairs, individual screens with Netflix, and warm blankets.

An Overview of All-on-4 With Our Practice

Your Consultation

During your initial visit to our office in Northern Virginia, Dr. Gocke will perform a thorough examination to determine if All-on-4® is right for you. He will also use state-of-the-art 3-D CT scans to evaluate the supporting bone structure that will anchor the dental implants. This step will allow him to determine if you will require bone grafting as part of your procedure.

Once Dr. Gocke understands your needs, he will confer with your restorative dentist and a lab technician to develop a treatment plan; review the treatment plan with you and answer any questions that you may have. You will also have the opportunity to speak with a financial coordinator so that you can have complete transparency into the costs associated with All-on-4.

In the first phase, Dr. Gocke will extract any remaining teeth, perform bone grafting in areas of need, and place four or more dental implants in the dental arch. Establishing these dental implants in strategic locations will give the final restoration greater strength and stability.

In the second phase, the lab technician and restorative dentist will work together to adjust a temporary denture and attach it to the newly placed implants. The temporary denture will replace your missing and damaged teeth with an aesthetically appealing prosthetic.

Common Questions Patients Ask About All-on-4

• Are there different options for payment?

  Yes, our practice works with patients to make the procedure as affordable as possible. You can speak with our financial coordinator to discuss options like CareCredit®, monthly payments, and loans.

• What is the timeline for All-on-4?

  We understand that our Northern Virginia patients want the benefits of treatment as soon as possible. Dr. Gocke uses a variety of techniques to improve healing time. Typically, patients can expect treatment to take 3-4 months. Those who require extensive bone grafting may need additional time to ensure a strong foundation for their implants.

• Is there a lot of pain after the All-on-4 procedure?

  No, there is limited discomfort following the treatment. Many of our patients only take over-the-counter pain medicine the next morning and don’t continue with medication afterward.

• What Are the Advantages of All-on-4 Dental Implants Over Dentures?

  There are many reasons why patients should choose All-on-4 implants over dentures. For one, implants help to preserve the jawbone, preventing deterioration that could change the facial profile. Dentures don’t stimulate the jawbone, and as a result, they can begin to become loose and slip over time as the jaw loses density. All-on-4 implants won’t become loose because they are securely implanted in the jaw, meaning they allow Northern Virginia patients to eat and speak just like they did with normal teeth. Finally, dental implants can be cared for just like normal teeth, whereas dentures must be removed for cleaning.

• Will the Results of the Procedure Look Natural?

  Yes, the results of All-on-4 implants look, feel, and function just like natural teeth. Dr. Gocke will perform a thorough examination of the patient’s mouth during the initial consultation at his Northern Virginia office so that he can create replacement teeth that perfectly fit the jaw and match with the patient’s other teeth. If the patient no longer has any teeth, he may also consult old photographs to get a better idea of what the teeth used to look like. The result is a smile that mimics the appearance of the old teeth as closely as possible to ensure they look natural.

• Can I Replace Both Upper and Lower Teeth With the All-on-4 Treatment Concept?

  Patients can use the All-on-4 system to replace both their upper and lower arches of teeth. Dr. Gocke will simply place four implants in the bottom jaw and four implants in the top jaw to create a brand-new smile for his Northern Virginia patients. Best of all, both sets of implants can be inserted at the same time, reducing the recovery time for the patient and eliminating the need for multiple procedures. Patients who decide to have this done will just need to keep in mind that they won’t be able to chew for three to four months.

• What Type of Anesthesia Will Be Used for the Procedure?

  For this type of procedure, Dr. Gocke will recommend IV sedation for all his Northern Virginia patients. With IV sedation, patients will receive a sedative medication directly into their bloodstream that renders them unconscious for the duration of the procedure. They won’t feel any pain or remember the surgery at all. This method works better than oral sedative medications, as these must first be digested by the body and can have varied results between patients, leading to unpredictability. With IV sedation, it’s easier for Dr. Gocke to deliver the exact dose needed depending on the Northern Virginia patient’s weight, height, and metabolism.