All-on-4 and All-on-6 implants

What "full-arch" treatment means

When most or all of the teeth in a jaw are missing or failing, replacing them one implant per tooth would be expensive and unnecessary. Full-arch solutions instead place a small number of implants and attach a single bridge of 10–14 teeth to them. The result is a fixed set of teeth that look and function like natural teeth, do not come out at night, and do not cover the palate the way a denture does. The two dominant protocols are All-on-4 and All-on-6.

All-on-4 explained

All-on-4 places four implants per arch: two straight implants at the front and two angled implants at the back. Tilting the rear implants lets the surgeon anchor them in available bone and avoid the sinus in the upper jaw, which often removes the need for grafting. In many cases a temporary fixed bridge can be fitted the same day — sometimes called "teeth in a day" — with the final bridge made once healing is complete.

Its strengths are speed, lower cost, and suitability for patients who have already lost bone. Decades of data show All-on-4 to be a reliable, long-lasting solution for a fixed full arch.

All-on-6 explained

All-on-6 follows the same principle but uses six implants per arch. The two additional implants distribute the load more evenly and provide extra redundancy — if one were ever to fail, more support remains. This can be especially valuable in the upper jaw, where bone is softer, and for patients with powerful bite forces or who grind their teeth.

The trade-off is that All-on-6 needs more bone volume to place the extra implants, can involve slightly more surgery, and costs more. Where the bone supports it, many clinicians regard it as a more robust long-term foundation for the upper arch in particular.

The real difference, honestly

Marketing often frames All-on-6 as simply "better", but the truthful answer is that it is more supportive, not universally superior. The decision hinges on:

• Bone volume: six implants need more bone; four can work where bone is limited.
• Jaw: the upper jaw's softer bone often benefits from six; the dense lower jaw frequently does well on four.
• Bite forces: heavy chewers and grinders may gain from the extra support.
• Cost and invasiveness: four is cheaper and less surgical.

A good clinic will recommend the option your anatomy actually needs rather than upselling. If you would like a deeper comparison of the full-arch options, our network guide All-on-6 implants covers the six-implant protocol in detail.

Cost compared

Treatment (per arch)	Turkey	UK private
All-on-4	£4,500–£7,500	£14,000–£22,000
All-on-6	£6,000–£9,500	£18,000–£28,000

The wide ranges reflect implant brand (Straumann and Nobel Biocare sit at the premium end) and the prosthesis material (acrylic, then composite, then zirconia bridges). Full pricing detail is in our cost guide.

Which is right for you

If you have lost significant bone and want a fixed arch quickly and affordably, All-on-4 is often the answer. If you have adequate bone — especially in the upper jaw — and want the most supportive long-term foundation, All-on-6 may be worth the additional cost. The only way to know is a CBCT scan and a specialist assessment. At Taki Dent, that assessment and treatment plan are provided free and remotely before you commit to travelling.