All-on-4 or All-on-6? How many implants a full arch really needs
Four implants can carry a full arch, but bone density, bite force and grinding decide whether six is the safer engineering choice.
The engineering behind All-on-4
Two implants are placed vertically at the front and two angled up to 45° at the back. The tilt lets the rear implants engage dense bone in front of the sinus, which extends the support span without grafting. That geometry is the entire point of the technique.
When four is genuinely enough
If bone quality is good, the opposing arch is a denture or natural teeth without heavy bite force, and you do not grind, four implants distribute load safely and have twenty years of published follow-up behind them.
When we insist on six
Patients who grind their teeth, have a strong natural opposing bite, or show soft bone on the CT scan get six implants. The extra two shorten the cantilever at the back, which is where a four-implant bridge is most stressed.
What it costs either way
All-on-4 starts at €2,900 per arch including the fixed provisional bridge. Six implants add roughly €600-€900 per arch. Choosing on price alone is the wrong test; choose on the CT scan.
The Ones People Actually Ask.
Can I eat normally with a fixed bridge?
Yes, after the healing phase. During the first weeks a soft diet protects the provisional bridge while the implants integrate.
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What Stands Behind The Plan.
