- A full-arch bridge screwed to implants, not taken in and out
- 4 or 6 implants is decided by the bone seen on a 3D CBCT scan
- A full arch does not need a separate implant for every tooth
Full-arch implant treatment replaces all the teeth in one jaw with a single-piece fixed bridge screwed onto a few implants. The teeth are not taken in and out; they stay in your mouth at night and are cleaned in place. Only your dentist removes the bridge, for check-ups and maintenance. All-on-4 and All-on-6 are the two most common forms of this approach: the bridge is carried by four or six implants.
The treatment is meant for two groups: people who have no teeth at all, and people whose remaining teeth cannot be saved because of advanced gum disease, fractures or recurring infection. If you have healthy teeth, taking them out to switch to a full-arch bridge is not a sound recommendation; in that case the gaps are filled one by one with dental implants or bridges.
How is it different from a denture?
A conventional full denture rests on the gums and is held in place by suction between it and the gum. In the lower jaw, the tongue and cheek muscles easily move the denture; an upper denture covers the palate and dulls your sense of taste and temperature. A bridge screwed to implants, by contrast, is anchored in the bone: it does not slip when you eat, and in the upper jaw your palate stays uncovered.
There is a difference in the bone too. Under a denture, the jawbone keeps shrinking over the years; that is why dentures loosen over time and need relining. Because implants pass chewing forces directly into the bone, they help preserve the bone around them. This does not completely stop bone loss under the restoration, but it slows it down.
Dentures have real advantages as well: they need no surgery, are made more quickly and at lower cost, and are easy to clean. There is also an option in between: an implant-supported denture that clips onto two or four implants and that you can take out yourself. It is not as stable as a fixed bridge, but it moves far less than a conventional denture and needs fewer implants.
Why not one implant for every tooth?
A jaw holds 12–14 teeth, but a fixed full-arch bridge does not need that many implants. If teeth have been missing for a long time, the bone at the back has often shrunk; planning an implant for every tooth would mean extensive grafts, sinus lifts and long waits. When gum has been lost along with the bone, a bridge with a pink gum section replaces the missing tissue more naturally than individual teeth can.
In some mouths where bone and gum are well preserved, segmented bridges or individual crowns on a larger number of implants are possible. That is a longer and more extensive treatment; whether it is needed, again, becomes clear on the scan.
All-on-4 and All-on-6 compared
| All-on-4 | All-on-6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Implants per jaw | 4 | 6 |
| Back implants | Angled; kept away from the sinus and nerve | Further back; upright or slightly angled |
| Bone needed at the back | Low | Higher; sometimes a graft or sinus lift |
| Teeth on the bridge | Usually 10–12 | Usually 12 |
| Fixed temporary bridge soon after surgery | Possible in suitable cases | Possible in suitable cases; delayed if an area was grafted |
| If one implant is lost | The bridge usually cannot be used | The bridge is often carried by the remaining implants |
| Surgery time and swelling | Less | More |
| Often chosen for | Bone loss at the back, the lower jaw | The upper jaw, a strong bite |
For more detail: the logic of angled implants and the limits of four implants are covered on the All-on-4 page; when six implants are worth the trade-off is covered on the All-on-6 page.
How the choice is made on a 3D CBCT scan
The bone decides the number of implants first; your preference is discussed within those limits. On a 3D CBCT scan, we look at:
- Bone at the front. Is there enough height and width to carry all four implants?
- Bone at the back. Is there room for two more implants, or is a graft needed first?
- The sinus and the nerve canal. The position of the sinus floor in the upper jaw and of the nerve in the lower jaw determines the angle of the implants.
- Bone density. In porous bone, more support points are preferred.
What the scan does not show, we assess at the examination: how much gum shows when you smile, the teeth in the opposing jaw, whether you clench, your general health and the medicines you take. At our clinic in İzmir we go through the plan with you on the scan slices, so you decide having seen why we say four, or why we say six.
How the treatment runs from start to finish
After the examination and scan, a plan is drawn up. On the day of surgery, teeth that cannot be saved are extracted and the implants are placed. If the implants are held firmly enough, a fixed temporary bridge is fitted shortly afterwards. There is then a wait of 3–6 months for the implants to fuse with the bone, followed by impressions, a try-in and the final bridge. If a graft or sinus lift is needed, the timeline extends by a few months.
The work does not end once the bridge is fitted: you need to clean underneath it every day and keep up with your check-ups. More than anything else, this routine decides how long the implants last; we cover the subject in detail in our article on how long dental implants really last.
What affects the cost?
- The number of implants, and whether one jaw or both are treated
- Whether a bone graft or sinus lift is needed
- The material of the final bridge: acrylic on a titanium framework, or zirconia
- Teeth that need to be extracted or treated first
The cost depends on these factors, and you receive a written, itemised quote after the examination, together with a plan made for your case.
Common questions
Can I decide whether I have All-on-4 or All-on-6?
Your preference is discussed, but the bone sets the limits. If there is not enough bone at the front, four implants may not be possible; if there is no bone at the back, six may not be possible without a graft. We go through the scan together and show you which options are genuinely open to you.
I have worn dentures for years and a lot of my bone has gone. Can I still have fixed teeth?
There is usually a way. Angled implants can bypass bone loss at the back, and a graft is added if needed. If the bone loss is very advanced, more extensive surgical options or an implant-supported removable denture are discussed. It would not be right to give a firm answer to this without seeing a scan.
Is there an upper age limit?
There is no set upper age limit. What matters is not age but your general health, the condition of the bone and your ability to heal. If you have a condition such as heart disease or diabetes, or take blood thinners, the treatment is planned in consultation with your doctor.
Do my few remaining healthy teeth have to come out too?
No. A full-arch bridge is considered when the teeth cannot be saved or are already missing. If you have healthy teeth, plans that keep them come first. Sometimes it turns out that a few teeth will not hold up in the long term; we show you this openly with X-rays and gum measurements.
How long does a fixed bridge last?
There are two separate lifespans. With good care, the implants can stay in place for many years. The teeth on the bridge, however, are a wearing part: acrylic teeth wear and pick up stains over time and may need renewing over the years, while zirconia wears much more slowly. Regular check-ups extend both lifespans.
How many times will I need to come for treatment?
Usually in two stages: one for the examination, scan and surgery, and a second, 3–6 months later, for impressions, the try-in and fitting the final bridge. Some of the check-ups in between can be followed with photos and X-rays. If a graft is needed the timeline is longer; we discuss this from the start, at the planning stage.
Not sure if this is right for you?
Send us a photo. We will tell you honestly what you need — and what you do not.