The ultimate guide to All on 4 in Puerto Vallarta

Last fact-checked: 1 February 2021

Put off by the high prices for the All-on-4® treatment concept at home? Then look to Mexico, where prices in the coastal city of Puerto Vallarta are at least 50% lower than in the States. 

Discover our background-check specialists in this Nobel Biocare®-provided dental restoration treatment. 

What Is the All-on-4® Treatment Concept?

This dental implant treatment replaces all of the teeth in the upper or lower jaw bone on just four dental implants. For patients who have lost most or all of their teeth, it is a fixed solution that, unlike dentures, won’t embarrass you by slipping or falling out.

The teeth look and act very much like your own and you’ll be able to bite, chew and eat any food you like with complete confidence.

Developed by world-renowned implantologist, Dr. Paulo Malo, this procedure is now carried out across the world with a very high success rate.

Am I a Suitable Candidate for the All-on-4® Treatment Concept?

• You will need to have lost most of your teeth or be prepared to have any remaining teeth extracted.
• Many people who are unsuitable for traditional dental implants are potential candidates for the treatment, without the prior need of a bone graft procedure.
• Prospective patients should also be in good overall health and will need to have any infections cleared before surgery

What Is Involved in the All-on-4® Treatment Concept?

The process involves an examination, treatment planning, and placement of the implants. During consultation and examination, your dentist will review your medical and dental health status. This includes a comprehensive examination of your teeth, mouth, and jaw. Diagnostic tests like Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) will be taken. After careful evaluation, a customized treatment plan is drawn up.

The actual surgery takes around two hours per jaw and is carried out under conscious sedation with a local anesthetic.

Any remaining teeth will first be removed before the gums are opened up at the four points that have been pre-planned from the results of the CT scan. A small incision is made in the jaw bone at these points and the implants are then placed.

The new teeth, which are attached to a loading denture, are attached immediately to complete the procedure.

What Are the Advantages of this Treatment?

There are many advantages to the All-on-4® treatment concept over other tooth replacement options:

• Stable and natural-looking.
• The procedure is carried out in just one session (extractions, implant placement and attachment of teeth).
• Bone graft not usually necessary.
• Improves your appearance.
• Implants help preserve the jawbone and prevent further deterioration.
• No need for high-maintenance dentures

Why Consider Puerto Vallarta for Treatment?

Combining dental treatment with a fantastic vacation is an option many are choosing— the subtropical weather makes Puerto Vallarta an ideal place to recuperate after your treatment and enjoy its laidback, artsy vibe which has long been a draw since Liz Taylor and Richard Burton made "Night of the Iguana" here in the 1960s.

We screen the clinics in Puerto Vallarta and perform quality checks, which include on-site visits, verification of dentist qualifications and professional memberships, as well as collating online testimonials and real patient reviews.

The clinics are equipped with modern technology and there are many skilled dentists in Mexico who are members of the American Dental Association, adhering to the same rules and regulations as their counterparts in the United States.

Among our most highly-rated clinics for dental restorations in Puerto Vallarta are:

• PV Smile
• Smile Vallarta

How Much Does the All-on-4® Treatment Concept Cost in Puerto Vallarta?

The price of this treatment in Puerto Vallarta is at least 50% less than at home:

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

Is this Procedure A Good Treatment for Dental Tourists?

Yes. The procedure takes around two hours per jaw to complete (longer if many extractions are required), and most patients experience little downtime, although you may have swelling and bruising afterward.

There is extensive planning before the treatment with diagnostic tests, and impressions are taken of your mouth which will be sent to a laboratory where your new teeth are made. These will be available on the day of your surgery so your dentist can place them immediately after your implants have been inserted.

Note: After surgery, the implants will take around three to six months to fuse with the jawbone (a process called osseointegration), while the gums and fixed prosthesis should also be protected. Thus, patients are advised to follow a diet of semi-solid/soft food during this time. 

Further Information

Contact Dental Departures’ Customer Care Team to find out more about the All-on-4® treatment concept in Puerto Vallarta. You can also schedule an appointment with a PV specialist directly online with us at no charge to you.

Sources:

Nobel Biocare. Website accessed: 1 February 2021. https://www.nobelbiocare.com/en-us

Brodsky, Katherine. Puerto Vallarta: Get This Mexican Beach to Yourself. CNN Travel. 14 February 2018. https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/puerto-vallarta-things-to-do/index.html

About Prof Paulo Malo. Nobel Biocare. Website accessed: 1 February 2021. https://www.nobelbiocare.com/dk/en/education/our-speakers/m-o/paulo-malo.html

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

Misch, Carl E. The Hidden Consequences of Losing Teeth. Dear Doctor. 1 August 2011. https://www.deardoctor.com/articles/hidden-consequences-of-losing-teeth/

Guidelines on Eating After All-On-4 Implants. MD Monthly. 23 April 2020. https://mdmonthly.com/guidelines-on-eating-after-all-on-4-implants/