Full-Arch and All-on-4 Implants
Full-arch treatment replaces an entire upper or lower set of teeth on four to six implants carrying one fixed bridge. The surgical day usually includes any remaining extractions, implant placement, and an immediate provisional bridge, with the definitive bridge fitted three to six months later.
Four implants (All-on-4) or six (All-on-6) support a single fixed bridge for the whole arch.
The immediate bridge fitted on the day is a provisional, not the final aesthetic result.
Typical cost is £15,000 to £22,000 per arch, with All-on-6 and zirconia at the upper end.
It is fixed and not removed by the patient, unlike an implant-retained denture.
The all-in timeline is several months, despite same-day teeth marketing.
How All-on-4 works
All-on-4 angles the two back implants to make the most of available bone, which often avoids the grafting a vertical placement would need. Four implants distribute the load of a full fixed bridge across the arch. All-on-6 adds two implants for extra support distribution, chosen for heavier bite forces or longer bridges.
On the surgical day, any failing remaining teeth are removed, the implants are placed, and an immediate provisional bridge is fitted so you leave with fixed teeth. That provisional is usually acrylic, fit for purpose during healing but not the strength or aesthetics of the definitive bridge that follows.
The definitive bridge and what it costs
After three to six months of healing, the provisional is replaced with the definitive bridge, commonly an acrylic-on-titanium hybrid or full zirconia. The material choice has a real effect on both price and long-term cost of ownership, so it should be confirmed in writing before you commit.
Across the Essex panel, All-on-4 typically falls in the £15,000 to £22,000 per arch range, with All-on-6 adding £2,500 to £4,500 and full zirconia at the upper end. Some clinicians quote the provisional and definitive separately, so ask for the all-in figure to compare honestly.
Is full-arch right for you, and living with it
Full-arch suits a failing or absent dentition where individual implants would mean an impractical number of fixtures. It is fixed, cleaned in the mouth like natural teeth with specific tools, and not removed nightly. Patients who prefer a removable option, or whose budget rules out a fixed bridge, are often better served by an implant-retained overdenture.
Severe bruxism, very resorbed upper jaws, and complex medical histories change the plan, sometimes toward All-on-6, a night guard, or specialist zygomatic input. A good consultation sets these expectations before the surgical day, not during it.
Related treatments
Full arch
Full-Arch Implants (All-on-4 / All-on-6)
Implant dentures
Implant-Retained Dentures
Bone grafting
Bone Grafting & Sinus Lifts
Continue across the guides
Full-arch questions answered
Common questions on this topic, with specific UK figures where they apply.
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