Therapies to Enhance Success of All-on-4 Treatment

We’ve talked a lot on this platform about the benefits of All-on-4 treatment and what it offers patients. Replacing multiple failing or decayed teeth with 4–6 dental implants and attaching a bridge to those implants on the same day can completely transform a patient’s life, often in just a single day.

After this truly transformative procedure, patients are able to smile with confidence, eat whatever they desire and also be free from dental pain. For many, this means feeling comfortable at family gatherings and being able to smile without fear or sense of embarrassment in family photos. For others it means spending more time with children and grandchildren. Some even feel ready to start dating again with a renewed sense of self-esteem.

But here’s the question: What can you do to make sure your All-on-4 treatment is as successful as possible?

Is there a way to maximize the success of your All-on-4 implants? 

Yes, there are a few supportive therapies that can help you get the best possible outcome. Let’s see how.

LPRF

LPRF stands for leukocyte and platelet-rich fibrin. You may be wondering, what is leukocyte platelet-rich fibrin? It’s a healing material made from a small amount of the patient’s own blood. This blood is spun in a centrifuge to separate out the fibrin, which is rich in healing cells that help reduce inflammation, improve clotting, and promote faster recovery.

One of the biggest advantages of LPRF is that it’s completely natural, which makes it both safe and effective. This leads many patients to ask, is PRF dental worth it? Since L-PRF is a specific type of PRF with additional white blood cells and healing potential, the benefits often make it well worth including in treatment.

Some also ask if PRF is necessary for tooth extraction as part of the treatment? While not strictly necessary, using it after an extraction can significantly improve healing and reduce post-operative discomfort. That said, can you still get a dry socket with PRF? The risk is significantly lower, but it’s not entirely eliminated; good post-op care still plays an important role.

Finally, as with any treatment, it’s important to know who is not a candidate for PRF. Generally, individuals with certain blood conditions or those taking medications that affect clotting may not be suitable for this therapy. 

Bone graft

Bone grafting is occasionally used during the All-on-4 procedure. It involves placing either small pieces of a patient’s own bone around the implants to enhance their long-term stability or alternatively using bone derived from other human specimens or synthetic bone substitutes. I won’t go into too much detail as to the pros and cons of each type of bone graft (this is discussed elsewhere on this blog), but the main idea is that bone grafting can be very helpful in many cases of All-on-4 and All-on-6 treatment. For those considering full arch solutions, do you need a bone graft for All-on-4 implants? The answer depends on bone volume and density, but it is not always required.

It’s also worth addressing a common concern: Can you have All-on-4 with bone loss? Yes, many patients with bone loss can still qualify for the treatment, especially when strategic implant placement and supporting therapies are used. Depending on the case, implants may be placed immediately or after a short healing period to ensure optimal results.

Sedation and comfort management

Having a full-arch implant procedure can be stressful for many patients, and high stress levels can actually slow down the healing process. Offering sedation can help make the All-on-4 procedure much more manageable by reducing anxiety and keeping patients comfortable throughout. Lower stress isn’t just about making the experience easier. When someone is highly anxious, the body releases hormones that can make it harder to control inflammation and heal properly. In other words, calmer patients tend to recover more smoothly.

Lifestyle factors: Quit smoking and control health conditions

Making healthy lifestyle choices plays a huge role in the success of your dental implants. If you smoke, quitting is one of the best things you can do to improve the outcome. Smoking reduces blood flow to your gums and jawbone, which slows healing and increases the risk of complications. In fact, research shows implant failure rates are much higher in smokers – around 15.8% compared to just 1.4% in non-smokers. It also raises the risk of inflammation around the implant (called peri-implantitis) and can prevent the implants from properly bonding with the bone. To give your implants the best chance of success, aim to quit smoking at least a few weeks before surgery and avoid starting again afterward. The longer you stay smoke-free, the better your results. If you need support, your dentist can connect you with resources to help you quit.

It’s also important to manage any medical conditions, like diabetes or osteoporosis, with your doctor’s help. Uncontrolled diabetes, for example, can slow healing and increase the risk of infection, but patients with well-managed blood sugar tend to have success rates similar to those without diabetes. Make sure you’re following your doctor’s instructions and taking any necessary medications for your health, whether for diabetes, high blood pressure, or bone density. By quitting smoking, keeping alcohol in check, and staying on top of your overall health, you’ll create the ideal environment for your implants to heal and thrive.

Optimal nutrition and supplement support

Nutrition has a big impact on how well and how quickly you heal after All-on-4 surgery. During recovery, sticking to a soft, protein-rich diet can make a real difference, such as eggs, yogurt, smoothies, and soft-cooked meats. Protein helps rebuild tissue, so getting enough is important. Vitamins and minerals matter too. Vitamin C supports gum healing by helping your body produce collagen, and calcium and Vitamin D are key for strong bones and proper implant bonding. It’s a good idea to follow any post-op dietary guidelines from your surgeon, which usually involve soft foods for a couple of weeks. It’s also worth checking your Vitamin D levels ahead of time, since your doctor can run a quick blood test to see if you need a supplement. Eating well, staying hydrated, and filling in any nutritional gaps gives your body the support it needs to heal and sets you up for better implant results.

Diligent oral hygiene and follow-up care

It’s also important to keep in mind that getting implants is just the beginning, what you do afterward really matters. All-on-4 implants are much easier to manage than dentures, but they still need regular care. Daily brushing with a soft toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste is a must, especially around the implant posts and under the bridge. Since flossing can be tough with a full-arch bridge, tools like water flossers or floss threaders made for implants can help keep things clean and prevent issues like peri-implantitis, which is a common cause of late implant failure.

Post-op instructions from your surgeon are just as important. That might include using an antimicrobial mouth rinse, taking antibiotics if prescribed, and sticking to a soft-food diet for a while to avoid putting pressure on the implants. Following up with scheduled check-ups is key, too, as these visits give the dentist a chance to check how everything is healing, do a deep clean in areas that are hard to reach at home, and catch any potential problems early. In the first year, visits every 3 to 6 months are typical. A little consistent care goes a long way in making sure the implants last.

Final thoughts

I wanted to discuss these two therapies because, unfortunately, they’re sometimes treated as optional add-ons in certain dental practices – something patients are charged extra for. I don’t agree with that approach. If these therapies improve healing and increase the chances of long-term success, they should be included as part of the treatment. Especially when we’re using the patient’s own blood or bone – why should that cost more?

As healthcare providers, it’s our responsibility to use the tools and knowledge we have to do what’s best for the patient. That means offering therapies like LPRF and bone grafting during All-on-4 as part of the care, not as an extra fee.

Thanks for reading. If you have any questions or want to know more, we’re here for you.