Implant Surgery & Support
All-on-4 vs All-on-6
Replace a full arch with either four or six strategically positioned implants. Here is an honest account of which suits which situation.
What both techniques have in common
Both are implant-supported prosthetic solutions for patients with significant tooth loss or severe disease across an entire arch. Rather than replacing every tooth individually — which would need eight to fourteen implants per arch — both use a small number of strategically positioned implants to carry a fixed bridge holding a full set of teeth.
That is the shared insight: teeth do not need one root each when the prosthesis spanning them is rigid enough.
How each works
All-on-4
Four implants placed at strategic angles. Two go in vertically at the front, and two are tilted at the back to make maximum use of available bone. This approach is less invasive and often removes the need for bone grafting, even in patients with moderate bone loss.
All-on-6
Six implants — typically four vertical and two angled at the back. The additional implants distribute forces more evenly across the restoration, giving enhanced stability, longevity, and load-bearing capacity. Best suited to patients with good bone quality, larger spans, or a priority on maximum durability.
Side by side
- ✓ Number of implants — four per arch versus six per arch
- ✓ Treatment cost — $18,000 to $25,000 per arch, versus $24,000 to $36,000
- ✓ Bone grafting — often avoidable with All-on-4's angled placement; All-on-6 more often needs adequate existing bone
- ✓ Load distribution — good with four, excellent with six
- ✓ Safety margin — losing one of four implants costs 25% of support; one of six costs 17%
- ✓ Invasiveness — All-on-4 involves less surgery and a shorter procedure
So which should you have?
If your bone volume is reduced — which is common after years of tooth loss or denture wear — All-on-4's angled placement is frequently what makes fixed teeth achievable without a lengthy grafting phase first. That is a genuine advantage, not a compromise.
If you have good bone, a wide arch, or a heavy bite, All-on-6 buys you a more forgiving margin for the same prosthesis.
A 3D CBCT scan settles it. The scan shows what your jaw can actually support, and we plan from there rather than from preference.
Questions about your procedure?
Book a consultation and find out which your anatomy supports. Call (905) 479-7777.