When you compare All-on-4 and All-on-6, it is tempting to treat the number as a quality score. A more useful question is: why is this arrangement being recommended for my mouth and my final teeth? Both terms describe approaches to supporting a complete arch of replacement teeth, using four or six implants respectively.

The decision belongs within a clinical assessment. A photograph, an online price or another patient’s result cannot tell you which plan fits your needs.

A team member designs a dental restoration on a computer at OG Center
The proposed restoration is part of the planning discussion, alongside the implants that support it.

Start with the teeth you are trying to restore

The International Team for Implantology (ITI) recommends considering the final prosthesis when planning full-arch implant surgery. Its guidance includes the jaw anatomy, available restorative space, the opposing teeth, appearance, implant distribution and access for cleaning. The same guidance calls for considering preservation of existing teeth where appropriate. Read the ITI consensus recommendations.

Bring the conversation back to your daily priorities. Are you most concerned about chewing, speech, appearance, a loose denture or several failing teeth? Ask the dentist to explain how the proposed restoration addresses those concerns and which alternatives deserve consideration.

What is the difference between four and six implants?

The basic difference is the number of supports used for the arch. ITI recommends a minimum of four appropriately distributed implants for a one-piece fixed full-arch prosthesis, while noting that possible future implant loss and restoration design should influence the choice. Additional implants can also provide options for segmented fixed restorations. This is planning guidance, not a rule that four suits everyone or that six is automatically better.

Ask to see your proposed plan explained in plain language: where the implants would be placed, what they will support and why that arrangement is being selected. A clear explanation is more valuable than choosing a number from a package menu.

Compare the complete proposal

  • Implant count: Is the plan for four or six implants in one arch, or for treatment of both arches?
  • Final teeth: What is the exact material and design of the definitive restoration?
  • Temporary stage: What teeth are planned while treatment progresses?
  • Additional work: Which procedures are included and which remain subject to the examination?
  • Visits: What needs to happen during each trip?
  • Maintenance: How will you clean the restoration and arrange ongoing reviews?

Two plans can use different implant counts and also differ in several other ways. Ask for those differences to be listed separately. Otherwise, a price comparison may accidentally compare unlike treatments.

Does either option mean “finished in one visit”?

Do not infer the treatment schedule from the name All-on-4 or All-on-6. Ask what “same-day teeth” means in your proposed plan: a temporary restoration, a final restoration, or a possibility that still depends on the assessment.

ITI identifies implant stability, systemic conditions, grafting needs and other site-specific factors as considerations in selecting placement and loading protocols. Ask the clinician how the timing decision applies to you. See our guide to treatment stages and travel for the practical questions to settle before reserving flights.

How should you compare the cost?

OG Center’s published US$7,500-per-arch All-on-4 package specifies four Neodent by Straumann implants and final full zirconia, along with its listed inclusions. Other All-on-X approaches are quoted individually. Do not assume the same price or package applies to a different number of implants.

If you have been offered two alternatives, request a separate written estimate for each. Ask what clinical goal the additional expenditure serves, how the final restoration changes and whether the number of visits or maintenance arrangements differs.

Five questions for your consultation

  1. Why do you recommend this implant arrangement for my specific arch?
  2. Can any of my existing teeth be preserved, and what are the alternatives?
  3. What will my temporary and final teeth be made of?
  4. What could cause the proposed plan or schedule to change?
  5. How would a future problem with an implant or restoration be handled?

You do not need to arrive with the answer already chosen. Meet the OG Center team and start with a consultation to understand the recommendation, its limits and the next steps.

Clinical reference: ITI Consensus Database, “Number of Implants Placed for Complete-Arch Fixed Prostheses.” This article explains questions for informed discussion; it does not select treatment for an individual patient.

General information for planning your visit. Your dentist's individual assessment and care instructions take priority.