Many people have come across a service that on the face of it seems too good to be true.
It goes by many names, including one-day all-on-four, smile-in-a-day and same-day teeth, but same-day dental implants involve replacing an entire arch of teeth in one day using strategically located dental implants.
Intended for people who have lost most or all of their teeth already due to injury, disease or decay, same-day dental implants really can enable people to walk into a dental clinic at 9 am in the morning and by 3 pm in the afternoon have a new set of teeth.
Of course, it is not quite as simple as this, and the journey towards this same-day service begins with a free implant consultation, which checks to see if you are suitable for a same-day smile.
This will include an examination of your medical history, a clinical assessment and an exploration of other factors that could potentially make it a better or worse option.
The all-on-four method uses strategically placed longer dental implants that are attached to the jawbone, but they do require the right patient to be effective, and like any other dental implants must be undertaken by an experienced implantologist.
Typically, if you have gum disease, drink heavily, smoke, have diabetes or have had radiotherapy around the mouth, you might not be suitable for a same-day teeth treatment, but it depends on the individual case.
Gum disease can be treated and make someone suitable to have implants, bone grafts are an option to add bone density, and sinus lifts can be undertaken to ensure the treatment is suitable and effective.
More people tend to be suitable for this than individual implants or bridges because as long as there is enough bone somewhere in the jaw, the treatment can be tailored to ensure a secure fit.