All-on-6 explained: a full arch on six implants

What it is

All-on-6 gives you a complete row of fixed teeth, upper or lower, held by six implants. Like All-on-4®, the teeth are one bridge screwed onto the implants, and only a dentist can take it off.

"All-on-6" is a general description rather than a brand. It's one of the plans dentists call "All-on-X", where X is the number of implants. All-on-X explained.

How the six implants are placed

The implants are spread from the front of the jaw towards the back, usually more upright than the back implants of a four-implant plan. Spreading them out gives the bridge more evenly spaced supports along its length.

The trade-off is bone. The back of the jaw is where bone shrinks most after teeth are lost, and in the upper jaw the sinus sits just above it. If the scan shows too little bone there, a graft or sinus lift may be needed, or a four-implant plan may be the better choice.

Who it often suits

• People with enough bone along the whole jaw
• Upper jaws, where bone is usually softer than in the lower jaw
• People with a strong bite, or who grind or clench their teeth
• People who'd like more implants in reserve if one ever has a problem

The limits, honestly

• More bone needed. Not everyone has it without grafting.
• Two more implant sites. Slightly longer surgery and a little more to heal.
• Two more to clean around. The daily routine is the same, but there's more to keep healthy.
• No guarantee of longer life. Large reviews haven't found that six implants survive significantly longer than four.

What the research says about six

A 2024 review of 53 upper-jaw studies found no significant difference in implant or bridge survival between four and six implants, but bone loss around the implants was higher with four. The authors suggested more implants may reduce complications and bone loss. A larger 2018 review of 93 studies, upper and lower jaws, found similar survival either way. The research in plain English.

Common questions

Is All-on-6 a trademark?

No single company owns 'All-on-6' in the way Nobel Biocare owns All-on-4®. It's a general description of a full arch on six implants, and clinics use various implant brands for it.

Why choose six implants instead of four?

Usually because there's enough bone for them, and the dentist wants to spread the biting load or keep more implants in reserve. Upper jaws, strong bites and teeth grinding are common reasons.

Does All-on-6 need more bone than All-on-4?

Generally, yes. The extra two implants sit further along the jaw, often where bone has shrunk. If bone there is thin, the choice is between a graft first or a four-implant plan.

Is All-on-6 more painful?

There are two more implant sites, so there can be a little more swelling. Most people describe the recovery as similar. Pain is usually managed with ordinary painkillers prescribed by the clinic.

Sources

1. Sharaf et al. (2024), Heliyon — Four or six implants for maxillary fixed prostheses: systematic review and meta-analysis
2. Polido et al. (2018), Clinical Oral Implants Research — Number of implants placed for complete-arch fixed prostheses: systematic review and meta-analysis
3. Oral Health Foundation — Understanding dental implants

Checked October 2026. Where we give our own view as a clinic, we say so.