If you want or need to replace all your teeth with implants, your dentist may advise an “all-on-four” or “all-on-six” implant procedure. The dentist will use a smaller number of implants to support two entire arches of prosthetic teeth. This procedure is often recommended to denture wearers as a more secure alternative.

For instance, in an “all-on-four” procedure, you’ll first have a CBCT scan to determine the best location for your implants. Your dentist will then place four implants at an angle — two in your upper jaw and two in your lower jaw.

If you have any natural teeth remaining, these will need to be extracted, but this can usually be done as an additional step during the same appointment.

In many cases, these implant procedures can be completed on the same day, as they’re less reliant on the patient having sufficient jaw bone density compared to single-tooth implants. This means patients can walk out of the practice with their new teeth in place, rather than waiting months for the gums to heal.

The only real difference between “all-on-four” and “all-on-six” treatment is the number of implants used. In some cases, your dentist will recommend having three implants per arch to ensure your prosthetic teeth are well-supported.