Choosing a dentist for All-on-4 or All-on-6

Full-arch implant treatment replaces all the teeth in a jaw with a fixed bridge on a small number of implants, usually four or six. It is life-changing when it goes well and difficult to undo when it does not. The package price gets most of the attention. The dentist deserves more.

Experience with full-arch cases

Placing a single implant and rebuilding a whole jaw are different jobs. Full-arch treatment often involves removing many teeth, reshaping bone, placing implants at angles and fitting temporary teeth within days. Ask how many full-arch cases the dentist does, and how long they have been doing them. See asking about experience.

Surgical and prosthetic skill

The best full-arch results come from planning the teeth first and placing the implants to support them. That needs surgical skill and prosthetic skill, in one dentist or a team. Ask who places the implants and who designs the bridge. If they are different people, check both. See why your implants may involve two dentists.

Planning you can see

• A 3D scan (CBCT) of your jaw, not just a flat X-ray.
• A digital plan showing where each implant will go.
• A design of your new teeth before surgery.
• A clear reason for four or six implants in your case.
• A named implant system, in writing.

Temporary and final teeth

Ask what you will have between trips: fixed temporary teeth, or a removable denture. Ask what the final bridge will be made of and why. Zirconia is strong and stain-resistant; acrylic or composite on a titanium bar is lighter and easier to repair. Each has trade-offs a good dentist will explain.

Aftercare and your second trip

Full-arch bridges need cleaning underneath and professional checks. Ask what the dentist expects you to do at home, and who will check the bridge in the UK. Make sure the dentist will see you on the second trip; see the same dentist on trip two.

Signs of careful full-arch planning

When you receive a full-arch plan, look for detail. A careful plan usually tells you:

• Which teeth will be removed and why.
• How many implants in each jaw, and roughly where.
• Whether bone grafts or sinus lifts may be needed.
• What temporary teeth you will have, and for how long.
• What the final bridge will be made of.
• How many trips, and roughly how far apart.
• What is included in the price and what might be extra.

A plan that says only “All-on-4, both jaws, £X” leaves too much unanswered.

Four or six implants: what the dentist should explain

Four implants per jaw can be enough when the bone allows the back implants to be tilted, sometimes avoiding grafts. Six implants spread the load over more supports, which some dentists prefer for a heavy bite or softer bone. Neither is automatically better. The dentist should show you on your scan why they recommend one for you. For more, see allon4vsallon6.co.uk.

Living with a full-arch bridge

A fixed bridge does not come out at night, which most patients love. It does need cleaning underneath, with special floss, interdental brushes or a water flosser, and professional cleaning at intervals. Ask the dentist to show you how before you go home, and ask how often the bridge should be removed and checked by a dentist.

What happens if something goes wrong

Ask before you book: if an implant fails before the final bridge, what happens and who pays? If the final bridge cracks, can it be repaired, and where? A clear answer in writing protects you far more than a long guarantee period with no detail.

Comparing two full-arch quotes

Quotes for full-arch treatment are notoriously hard to compare. Put them side by side using the same headings:

For detailed cost comparisons, our sister site allon6cost.co.uk has a calculator.

Who should be on a full-arch team

• A dentist who places implants regularly, ideally with full-arch experience or surgical training.
• A dentist who designs the bridge, often with prosthetic training.
• A laboratory that makes full-arch bridges often, ideally in-house or close by.
• Someone trained to give and monitor sedation, if you have it.

Our full-mouth rehabilitation and prosthodontists pages list dentists with relevant training.

Health checks before full-arch surgery

Full-arch treatment is a significant operation. Before you travel, make sure your dentist knows about every medicine you take and every condition you have, especially diabetes, heart conditions, blood thinners and bone medicines. Speak to your GP if you have any long-term condition. Our guide for patients over 60 has a health summary checklist.

A worked example: reading a full-arch plan

Suppose a plan says: “Upper and lower full-arch, 6 implants per jaw, extraction of 14 teeth, fixed temporary teeth on day 3, zirconia final bridges on titanium bars at 4 months, 2 trips, hotel 5 + 5 nights.” That is a reasonably complete plan. The questions it still leaves open are:

1. Which implant system, and will you give me the details in writing?
2. Will I need any bone grafts or sinus lifts, and are they included if so?
3. Which dentist places the implants, and which designs and fits the bridges?
4. What happens if an implant does not heal before trip two?
5. What exactly does the guarantee cover for the implants and for the bridges?

A plan that only says “All-on-6, both jaws, £X” needs all of these answered, and more.

Temporary teeth: what to expect

Most full-arch patients go home with fixed temporary teeth, usually made of acrylic, fitted a few days after surgery. They are designed to protect the healing implants and let you eat soft food and smile. They are not as strong as the final bridge. Ask what you can eat, what to do if one cracks, and whether the clinic can repair it remotely or whether you would need a UK dentist. Ask too whether the temporaries are included in the price.

Speech and getting used to new teeth

A new full-arch bridge changes the shape of your mouth, and it is common to notice changes in speech, particularly with “s” sounds, at first. Most people adapt within days or weeks. If speech or comfort do not improve, tell your dentist; small changes to the bridge can help. A dentist who designs full-arch bridges regularly will have seen this many times.

Our view

Precious Dental publishes this guide. Our top pick, Dt. Hüseyin Yavuz Özbek, works on both implant surgery and prosthetics, which suits full-arch treatment where planning the teeth and the implants together matters. Whichever dentist you choose, use the comparison table above.

Your next steps

1. Get two full-arch plans and fill in the comparison table.
2. Check every named dentist on HealthTürkiye.

Take your time over this decision.

Dentists we have checked

Our All-on-6 and All-on-4 pages list dentists whose register branch or published work involves implants. Our top pick, Dt. Hüseyin Yavuz Özbek of Precious Dental, works on implant surgery and prosthetics; his clinic publishes one all-inclusive All-on-6 price of £6,500 for both jaws. Precious Dental publishes this guide. For the treatment itself, see allon6implant.co.uk.

Common questions

Four implants or six?

It depends on your bone and bite. Your dentist should explain why they recommend one for you, using your scan.

Is All-on-4 a brand name?

All-on-4® is a registered trademark of Nobel Biocare. Many clinics use the phrase loosely for any four-implant bridge.

Do I get teeth on the day of surgery?

Often you get fixed temporary teeth within a few days. Ask what is planned for you.

What is the final bridge made of?

Common options are zirconia, or acrylic or composite on a titanium bar. Ask which, and why.

Sources

1. NHS: treatment abroad checklist
2. Oral Health Foundation: going abroad for dental treatment

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