What is the All-on-6 concept?
All-on-6 supports a full arch of fixed replacement teeth on six implants distributed along the jaw. The additional implants compared with All-on-4 spread biting forces more widely and can add redundancy, but they require enough bone at more sites, which is why a 3D scan decides which design fits a given jaw.
How All-on-6 works
In an All-on-6 arch, six implants are distributed from the front of the jaw towards the back, and a single fixed bridge is secured onto all of them. Because forces from chewing are shared among six anchors rather than four, the stress on each individual implant is lower.
The bridge can also often extend slightly further back than an All-on-4 design, giving more chewing surface where the jaw anatomy permits implants in the posterior region.
When six implants make sense — candidate suitability
All-on-6 tends to be considered when:
- There is reasonable bone volume along more of the jaw, sometimes after grafting or a sinus lift in the upper jaw
- Bite forces are heavy — for example strong jaw muscles or a history of grinding
- The opposing jaw has natural teeth or fixed implants, which transmit stronger forces than a denture would
- Extra redundancy is wanted, so the arch is less dependent on any single implant
Whether your jaw offers six good implant sites can only be established by clinical examination and 3D imaging. General health, gum condition and smoking status are assessed with the same care as for any implant surgery.
The treatment sequence
An All-on-6 case at Kiansh Dental Studio typically follows these steps:
- Diagnostics: full examination, gum assessment and 3D scanning of the jaw to map bone, sinuses and nerves.
- Design: the six implant positions are planned digitally, balancing strength, bone availability and future cleanability.
- Preparatory procedures: extractions, infection control, and grafting or sinus lifts where posterior sites need augmentation.
- Implant placement: performed under local anaesthesia; provisional teeth are arranged either immediately (if stability allows) or after early healing.
- Integration and review: a period of months during which bone bonds to the implants, monitored at review visits.
- Definitive bridge: the final prosthesis is fabricated, checked for fit and bite, and secured.
Benefits weighed against limitations
The benefits of All-on-6 are better force distribution, potential for a longer chewing surface, and a margin of safety — the loss of one implant is less catastrophic to the bridge than in a four-implant design.
The limitations are equally practical. Six implants need more bone in more places, so grafting or sinus lifts are more often part of the plan, adding time and cost. Surgery is somewhat longer. More implants also means more sites to keep meticulously clean for life. And six implants are not automatically "better" — in a jaw that comfortably supports only four well-placed implants, forcing six can be the wrong decision. The design must follow the anatomy.
Recovery and maintenance
Recovery resembles other full-arch implant surgery: a few days of swelling and rest, a soft diet through the integration months, and staged review visits. Long-term, the arch needs the same discipline as natural teeth — daily cleaning under and around the bridge with interdental aids or a water flosser, and professional maintenance appointments where each of the six implants is individually checked for gum health and bone stability. As with all surgery, healing and results vary between individuals.
Assessment-led design at Kiansh
The number in the name is the least important part of the treatment. What matters is whether each implant sits in sound bone surrounded by healthy, cleanable gum tissue. Dr Shantanu Rao's M.D.S. specialisation in Oral Implantology & Periodontics means the four-versus-six decision at Kiansh is made from your scan and your tissue biology, and the reasoning is explained to you plainly before you choose.
Factors that shape All-on-6 cost
Instead of quoting prices, here is what actually determines them:
- Six implants and their components, versus fewer in other designs
- Any sinus lift or bone grafting needed to create posterior implant sites
- The material and construction of the provisional and final bridges
- Extractions and gum treatment before surgery
- Whether one or both arches are restored
After your assessment you receive an itemised, staged estimate so the full financial picture is clear before treatment begins.
Frequently asked questions
Is All-on-6 stronger than All-on-4?
Six implants spread chewing forces across more anchors and add redundancy, which can be an advantage in heavy bites or longer bridges. But a well-planned All-on-4 in suitable bone is a sound treatment too — the better option is the one your anatomy supports, decided from a 3D scan.
Do I need bone grafting for All-on-6?
Possibly. Because six implants need bone at more sites, including further back in the jaw, grafting or a sinus lift is more often required than with tilted four-implant designs. Your scan will show whether your bone is sufficient as it stands.
How long does All-on-6 treatment take overall?
Typically several months from planning to final bridge, and longer if grafting must heal first. Provisional teeth are arranged so you are not left without teeth during this period. Exact timelines depend on your healing.
Can All-on-6 be done in both jaws?
Yes, both arches can be restored, either together or in stages. Treating both jaws is a bigger undertaking surgically and financially, so sequencing is discussed during planning.
What if one implant out of the six fails?
One advantage of six supports is redundancy — depending on which implant is affected, the bridge can often continue serving while the site heals and a replacement is planned. Each situation is assessed individually.
How do I decide between All-on-4, All-on-6 and implant dentures?
By assessment rather than preference alone. Bone volume, bite force, budget, cleaning ability and how strongly you want fixed versus removable teeth all feed into the recommendation, which is explained with the reasons at your consultation.