As we’re learning with each passing day, the coronavirus pandemic isn’t going anywhere any time soon. Like many businesses and medical practices, dental practitioners may be wondering what services they can and can’t offer. The All-on-4 dental implant treatment is particularly confusing. Is it an elective procedure? Is it an emergency procedure? Can I offer it?
All-on-4 is a high-value service—that we can all agree on. It’s relied upon for patients who want an alternative to dentures and is a permanent solution for extreme tooth loss. It’s also a large source of revenue for practices that focus on it. Let’s take a look at how COVID-19 has impacted the field of dentistry, who is still offering All-on-4 and how you can follow safety protocols if you do decide to offer it.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Dental Offices
Dental implants are a growing solution. According to the “Global Dental Implants Industry” report, the global dental implants market is estimated at $4.3 billion for 2020 and is expected to reach $6.7 billion by 2027. (This is all despite uncertainties with the pandemic.) As such, All-on-4 is expected to be a growing solution as well.
COVID-19 has an impact, of course. Dentists are limited in what they can do. According to the British Dental Association article, Coronavirus: The global response to post-lockdown dentistry, “many national efforts will be linked to a country’s ongoing restrictions, which may vary, and to the level of infections nationally as well as the availability of testing and tracing methods.”
Dentistry is still considered essential. But is All-on-4 essential? Are there even dental offices doing All-on-4 procedures during COVID-19?
All-on-4 Procedures During COVID-19
Short answer: yes. Some dentists are qualifying All-on-4 as an emergency dental procedure, which is allowable in most states. While many dentists may think of All-on-4 as an elective procedure, it can be considered an emergency procedure depending on the patient and the health situation.
As the American Dental Association (ADA) points out, “dental emergencies are potentially life-
threatening and require immediate treatment to stop ongoing tissue bleeding, alleviate severe pain or infection.” A case could be made for many patients with severe tooth loss, decay or pain that a tooth-replacement solution like All-on-4 qualifies as an emergency procedure. This is especially true for trauma involving facial fractures or tooth loss.
Ultimately, your state’s local governments and dental associations can provide specific guidance on you and your practice, but the fact remains that there are practices out there that are still offering All-on-4 during COVID-19.
Safety Protocols for All-on-4 Procedures
All-on-4 is a non-aerosol procedure, so it’s typically a safer surgery than other surgical dental treatments. But in the age of COVID-19, you need to go above and beyond when it comes to safety—both to satisfy government bodies and protect your patients’ peace of mind. Your practice is likely following recommended ADA safety guidelines for dental procedures, but make sure you’re recommending the right hygiene protocols for full-arch implants like All-on-4 as well. (The BDA article in the first section above also has some excellent steps for patient safety.)
These are trying times, but you can still offer treatments like All-on-4 if you do your research, qualify patient medical conditions appropriately and follow local guidelines. You can also continue to market your practice. If you need help with the latter, let us know.