If you are missing most or all of your teeth in one arch, a full-arch implant solution can restore chewing, speech, and confidence with a fixed set of teeth. Both use dental implants to support a full bridge, but they differ in implant number and force distribution.
At Expert Dental Group in Roseville, Dr. Leila Nikpour, a prosthodontist with more than 15 years of dentistry experience, plans treatment around your bone, bite, health, and goals. As a prosthodontist in Roseville, she specializes in restoring full smiles. Dr. Nikpour completed a one-year implantology fellowship in France, and the practice has placed 2,500+ dental implants.
What Is All-on-4?
All-on-4 uses four dental implants to support a full arch. The two back implants are usually placed at an angle, which helps them use available bone and often avoids extensive bone grafting. A fixed bridge is attached to the implants, so the teeth do not come out like a removable denture.
For many patients, All-on-4 is efficient and well proven, with fewer implants, a simpler plan, and a shorter procedure. When bone is limited, especially at the back of the jaw, angled placement can make treatment possible without major additional surgery.
What Is All-on-6?
All-on-6 uses six dental implants to support a full arch. The extra implants spread chewing forces across more points, improving stability and long-term support, particularly for stronger bite forces or a longer arch. With more implants carrying the load, each one bears less stress.
All-on-6 may also provide extra security: if one implant ever needs attention, the others can help keep the bridge supported. For the right patient, that redundancy is a meaningful advantage.
When Do Extra Implants Help?
Extra implants help most when your mouth needs more support, not simply because more is always better. Bone quantity and quality come first. If you have healthy bone across the full arch, six implants can be placed in strong positions. If bone is thinner in some areas, four well-placed implants may be safer. In-house 3D CBCT imaging maps your bone precisely before any decision is made.
Bite force matters too. Patients who clench, grind, or chew strongly place greater demands on a bridge, and spreading that force over six implants reduces strain. A longer span also benefits from more support points. With six implants, there is a margin if one needs repair; with four, that margin is smaller.
Trade-Offs to Consider
All-on-4 tends to be simpler, with fewer implants, a shorter surgical visit, and often less need for bone grafting. That makes it an excellent fit for many patients, especially when bone is limited or a streamlined treatment is preferred.
All-on-6 offers broader force distribution and greater redundancy, but it needs enough bone for two more implants and a more involved plan, and recovery may be slightly longer. Both use fixed bridges, so both feel far more stable than a removable denture.
What Does the Process Look Like?
Treatment begins with a consultation and detailed imaging, including 3D CBCT scans. Dr. Nikpour reviews your bone, gums, bite, medical history, and goals, then outlines which design fits you best and why.
On surgery day, failing teeth are removed if needed, implants are placed, and a temporary fixed bridge is often attached the same day or soon after. After healing, a final custom bridge is fitted for comfort, bite, and appearance. The full process takes several months.
Who Is a Good Candidate?
Good candidates are adults missing most or all teeth in an arch, or facing the loss of teeth that can no longer be restored predictably. Many patients with bone loss can still be candidates with careful planning.
Smoking, uncontrolled diabetes, and certain medications can affect healing, so a full health review is essential. Learn more about dental implants and implant planning at our Roseville practice.
Caring for Your Full-Arch Bridge
A fixed bridge is easier to live with than a denture, but it still needs daily care: brushing, cleaning around the bridge with recommended tools, and rinsing as directed. Regular cleanings let your team check the implants, bridge, and bite before small issues grow.
Cost Factors, Without the Guesswork
Because every mouth is different, the total investment depends on implant number, bone grafting or extractions, bridge material, bite complexity, and visit number. Book a free consultation to discuss these cost factors and learn which design fits you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is All-on-6 stronger than All-on-4?
All-on-6 spreads chewing forces over more implants, which can improve stability and redundancy, but strength also depends on bone quality, implant position, and bridge design. The stronger choice is the one best matched to your anatomy.
Does All-on-6 require more bone?
Generally, yes. Six implants need enough healthy bone in six suitable positions. All-on-4 uses angled back implants to work well even when bone at the back of the jaw is limited.
Will I have teeth on the day of surgery?
Many patients receive a temporary fixed bridge on the day of surgery or soon after. Your plan will confirm timing based on implant stability and healing needs.
How long does full-arch treatment take?
From consultation to final bridge, treatment usually takes several months, allowing implants to integrate with bone and the final bridge to be crafted precisely.
How do I choose between All-on-4 and All-on-6?
Choose with your prosthodontist after imaging and a bite assessment. Bone, bite force, redundancy, and long-term goals together point to the design that fits you best.
Visit Our Roseville Office
If you live in Folsom and are considering a full-arch solution, we would be glad to help you compare these options in person. Call Expert Dental Group at (916) 888-1646 to book your free consultation, or visit us at 5070 Foothills Blvd, Suite 2, Roseville, CA 95747. Our hours are Monday through Friday, 9 to 6, and Saturday, 9 to 1.