Diagnostics
Examination, CBCT, records and medical review.
Home / All-on-4 vs All-on-6
Full-arch decision guide
All-on-4 vs. All-on-6: the number is not the diagnosis.
More implants are not automatically better, and fewer are not automatically safer or cheaper. The design must follow anatomy, bone, bite, restoration and professional judgment.
Compare the design, not the label.
| Question | All-on-4 discussion | All-on-6 discussion |
|---|---|---|
| Implant count | Four implants are planned to support a full-arch restoration | Six implants are planned to support a full-arch restoration |
| Clinical rationale | Ask how anatomy, angle, bone and prosthetic design support the proposal | Ask whether added implants provide a specific benefit in your case and whether anatomy supports them |
| Grafting | A plan may seek to use available bone, but “no graft” should never be assumed | Additional sites may raise different bone-volume or grafting questions |
| Cost | Compare the complete restoration, not just four fixtures | Confirm whether added implants change surgery, components, restoration or follow-up |
| Backup plan | Ask what happens if stability, healing or implant placement differs from the preliminary plan. | |
The quote must name every stage.
Surgery
Extractions, implants, grafts, sedation and facility.
Teeth
Immediate provisional, healing provisional and final material.
Continuity
Adjustments, maintenance, records and complication response.
Questions patients should ask
Does All-on-6 last longer than All-on-4?
A label alone cannot predict an individual outcome. Design, anatomy, surgical and restorative execution, health, hygiene, bite and maintenance all matter.
Can either option be completed in one trip?
Some pathways advertise immediate teeth, but temporary and final restorations may be different stages. Obtain a written visit-by-visit timeline.
What if bone grafting is needed?
Ask where, why, how it changes healing and trips, what it costs, and whether other clinically appropriate designs exist.
Compare the reason behind the recommendation.
Send your plan, quote and available imaging.
Get preliminary options