All-on-4 Dental Implants
A full-arch restoration replacing all teeth in the upper or lower jaw on four strategically placed implants — the two back implants tilted to maximize available bone, often avoiding grafting — with a fixed bridge on top.
CBCT and photogrammetry build a complete digital plan; on surgery day, failing teeth are removed, four Straumann implants placed with a 3D printed guide, and a fixed temporary bridge attached — usually within 24 hours. The final milled prosthesis follows healing.
Patients losing all teeth in an arch, long-time denture wearers wanting fixed teeth, and patients with moderate bone loss wishing to avoid major grafting.
- A full arch of fixed teeth, often in a single day
- Tilted implants avoid grafting in many cases
- Never removed at night, cleaned like natural teeth
- Restores chewing power, taste, facial support.
Photogrammetry records implant positions with microscopic accuracy for a passive-fitting bridge; CBCT + 3D printed guides ensure each implant lands as planned.
What to Expect with All-on-4
All-on-4 places four implants per arch, with the rear two angled to engage dense bone toward the front of the jaw. That angulation is what avoids grafting in many cases, and it is planned entirely from your CBCT scan before surgery: the tilt, depth and emergence point of each implant are decided on screen and then reproduced with a printed guide.
The surgical appointment is single-stage and usually done under IV sedation. Remaining teeth are removed, the ridge is contoured, the four implants are placed, and multi-unit abutments are connected so a bridge can be attached above the gum line. Implant positions are captured before you leave.
A fixed provisional bridge is delivered the same day or next day in qualifying cases. You go home with teeth that are screwed in place, plus written instructions on the diet that protects the implants while they integrate.
A Realistic Recovery Timeline
Swelling peaks on day two or three and settles substantially by the end of the first week; most patients plan three to five days of downtime. A blended-to-soft diet covers the first two weeks, then advances to soft-but-solid foods.
Between weeks two and six the bite is refined and speech normalizes. Hard and crunchy foods stay off the list until the final prosthesis is delivered — typically after three to six months of integration — because the provisional is deliberately more forgiving than the final restoration.
Long-term maintenance is straightforward but not optional: daily cleaning under the bridge with a water flosser or interdental brushes, plus periodic professional cleanings where the prosthesis can be inspected.
Guided Placement on Angled Implants
Angled posterior implants have very little margin for error — a few degrees of deviation can move the implant toward the sinus or nerve, or leave the screw access hole in the wrong part of the tooth. Guided surgery removes most of that variability by transferring the planned trajectory into a physical guide.
Photogrammetry then verifies the four final positions so the provisional bridge seats passively on all of them, and the same verified data is reused when the final zirconia or hybrid prosthesis is milled.
Common Questions
- What is the difference between All-on-4 and All-on-6?
- The number of implants supporting the arch. All-on-4 uses four, relying on angled rear implants to avoid grafting; All-on-6 adds two for greater load distribution and redundancy. Bone volume, bite force and grinding habits determine which is appropriate.
- Do I need bone grafting for All-on-4?
- Often not — avoiding grafting is one of the reasons the angled design exists. Where bone loss is severe, however, grafting or remote anchorage implants may still be required, which a CBCT scan determines before treatment is planned.
- How long is the whole All-on-4 process?
- Surgery and the fixed provisional are typically one to two days. The final prosthesis follows after three to six months of integration, so the complete process usually spans four to seven months.
- Can All-on-4 be removed?
- Not by you. The bridge is screwed to the implants and stays in place around the clock; it is removed only by the surgeon or restorative dentist for inspection and deep cleaning.
Ready to plan your treatment?
Every consultation at our Cambria Heights office starts with a 3D scan and a clear, written plan.
Wondering what treatment costs? See cost & financing options.