All-on-6 dental implants: the complete guide
Looking for a full-jaw option that spreads the load across six implants rather than four? All-on-6 rests on 6 implants instead of 4, for a wider spread of chewing forces and a high success rate in published trials. It suits patients with enough bone volume for six implants, and gives you back a bite you can count on for years.
Dental implants in brief
All-on-6 is a full dental restoration that uses 6 titanium implants to carry a fixed bridge of 10 to 14 teeth across a whole jaw. It is the direct next step on from the All-on-4, with two extra implants for even better stability and a wider spread of load.
So how does it actually work? Four implants go in straight at the front of the jaw, while two are tilted at the back (at 30 to 45 degrees). This layout makes the most of the densest areas of bone, provided there is enough bone volume to place six implants. When bone is more limited, the All-on-4 is often the more realistic option.
The technique sits in the same family as Dr Paulo Malo’s All-on-4 protocol. By adding two more anchor points, surgeons get a better spread of chewing forces, which eases the load on each implant.
As with the All-on-4, All-on-6 allows immediate loading: your temporary bridge is fitted within 24 to 48 hours. But with 6 implants the primary stability is better still, which can suit patients with a strong bite when bone volume allows six implants.
At Body Expert we carry out All-on-6 with Straumann implants and Ivoclar zirconia at our partner clinic in Istanbul. Take a look at our All-on-6 in Turkey option, up to 70% savings compared with UK prices. Our patients share how it went for them in our dental implant reviews.
All-on-4 or All-on-6? The right answer depends on your bone density, what you are after and your budget. All-on-6 is the one to go for if you have enough bone and want the most stable solution possible. See our complete All-on-4 guide for a detailed comparison.
The All-on-6 treatment, step by step
It starts with a remote discussion of your needs and any X-rays you already have, in a free online consultation with an English-speaking coordinator. Once you are in Istanbul, a clinical exam and a 3D scan (CBCT) at our partner clinic gauge the quality and amount of bone you have. Your dental surgeon then maps out where the 6 implants should sit and draws up a treatment plan built around you.
Giving up smoking is strongly advised (smoking doubles the risk of implant failure). Your surgeon may prescribe preventive antibiotics. A digital surgical guide is made to measure so the 6 implants sit close to the position planned on the 3D scan.
Under local anaesthetic, or under sedation if the surgeon advises it, the surgeon places the 4 straight front implants, then the 2 back implants tilted at 30 to 45 degrees. The primary stability of each implant is checked (at least 35 Ncm). Allow 3 to 4 hours per jaw. Thanks to the two extra implants, the forces are better shared from the very start.
Within 24 to 48 hours your temporary bridge is fixed onto the 6 implants. You leave the clinic with a full, working smile. Painkillers and antiseptic mouthwashes see you through the first few days. Swelling settles within 5 to 7 days.
Check-ups at 1 week, 1 month and 3 months. After 3 to 6 months of osseointegration (the bone fusing with the implants), your final zirconia bridge is made and fitted. After that, a maintenance visit every 6 months helps keep implants that can last for decades.
In the UK, All-on-6 is a heavy financial commitment, a little more than All-on-4 because of the two extra implants. Treat both jaws with a full-arch restoration and the total climbs quickly. For a lot of families it ends up feeling out of reach.
As with All-on-4, the NHS almost never funds dental implants. For most people they count as private treatment, so the full cost falls to you. Private dental plans sometimes put a little towards the work, but the yearly limits are modest and the gap adds up fast. For a closer look, read our article on how dental implants are funded.
At Body Expert, a complete All-on-6 with Straumann implants and Ivoclar zirconia saves you up to 70% against UK prices, with a 5-star hotel, VIP transfers and 12 months of follow-up organised for you. You will find our full packages (treatment, hotel, transfers and 12 months of follow-up) in the pricing section just below. Our dental care in Istanbul brings together experienced surgeons, premium materials and English-speaking support from your first message to the day you get home.
All-on-6 uses two more implants than All-on-4. At Body Expert the price gap between the two stays modest, far smaller than in the UK. In return you get chewing forces shared across six anchor points. To choose your destination well, read our guide to dental tourism and picking the right country.
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After surgery: your recovery
Swelling and bruising are normal. Stick to liquid or semi-liquid food (soups, purees, yoghurts). Painkillers and antibiotics as prescribed. Hold something cold against your cheeks to bring the swelling down. Complete rest is advised.
The swelling drops noticeably. Move on to soft food (well-cooked pasta, fish, purees). Start gentle brushing with a soft surgical toothbrush. Avoid any physical exertion.
Near-normal eating (steer clear of very hard food). Back to work from the second week. First clinical follow-up check.
A quiet phase: the 6 implants fuse with the bone. No pain, and you go about your day with your temporary bridge, still avoiding very hard foods. X-ray checks confirm how things are settling in.
Your made-to-measure final zirconia bridge is fitted. This is the big reveal: a natural, sturdy smile built to last for decades. A maintenance visit every 6 months is the usual rhythm from there on.
All-on-6 is a strong fit if you have no teeth left in the jaw, or if the teeth you still have are beyond saving and need taking out. With its 6 anchor points, it is a particularly good match when you have enough bone volume to place six implants and want the load shared more widely. When bone is more limited, the All-on-4 is often the more realistic option.
The reasons to hold off are the same as for any implant treatment: untreated severe bruxism (heavy teeth grinding), a systemic condition that is not under control (poorly managed diabetes), or general health that rules out surgery. If you have gum disease, it needs treating first. And when bone loss is extreme, zygomatic implants can be the better answer.
The advantage of All-on-6 is mechanical above all. With 6 implants instead of 4, the chewing forces spread across more points of support. The upshot: less strain on each implant, and a base that often feels more reassuring when there is enough bone to allow it.
The two tilted back implants reach for the densest bone at the rear of the jaw. That extra anchorage is useful when there is enough bone at the back of the jaw to place the two additional implants. When posterior bone is too limited, four implants are often the more realistic option. The primary stability this gives allows immediate loading, just as with All-on-4: your temporary bridge is fitted within 24 to 48 hours.
Nothing here is magic. All-on-6 calls for an experienced surgeon, because placing six implants accurately is more demanding than placing four. Day-to-day cleaning under the bridge takes some care too: interdental brushes, a water flosser and mouthwash. As with any implant, there is a risk of peri-implantitis, and proper hygiene with regular check-ups stays your best ally for keeping it at bay.
Let us be honest about the figures. A 5-year randomised controlled trial compared All-on-4 and All-on-6 head to head, both with immediate loading (Tallarico et al., 2016). Its finding: both techniques show high implant survival and comparable bone loss, in the order of 1.5 to 1.7 mm at 5 years, with no statistically significant difference between them. In other words, the number of implants is not the only thing that counts: the quality of the planning, the state of the bone and the follow-up matter just as much. So All-on-6 is not an All-on-4 “but better” on paper. It is a complete, reliable and well-documented solution, and a particularly sensible one when you are after reinforced anchorage.
At Body Expert, the choice between All-on-4 and All-on-6 comes down to your anatomy, not our margin. Ask for your free quote for an honest recommendation.
All-on-6 is a full dental rehabilitation that replaces every tooth in a jaw with 6 implants and a fixed bridge. By spreading chewing across six anchor points, two of them tilted at the back, it gives a solid base, when there is enough bone to place six implants. Like All-on-4, it allows immediate loading: a temporary bridge goes in within 24 to 48 hours, and the final zirconia bridge follows after a few months of osseointegration.
What is the takeaway on results? The clinical data show high survival and low bone loss, on a par with All-on-4. What sets All-on-6 apart is its reinforced anchorage and the way it shares the load, not some measurable edge in how long it lasts. The right choice comes down to your anatomy, your bone volume and what you want, which is why a personalised assessment with a 3D scan matters so much.
On budget, having your All-on-6 placed in Istanbul with Body Expert means up to 70% savings against UK prices, with no cutting of corners on quality: Straumann implants, Ivoclar zirconia, experienced surgeons and English-speaking support from your first message to your post-operative follow-up. Our package prices, which cover the treatment, your 5-star hotel, your transfers and 12 months of follow-up, are set out in our pricing section.
Want to see your own situation clearly? Ask for your free, personalised quote within 24 hours. Our advisers will tell you, without the jargon, whether All-on-6 is the best way to get back a full, comfortable smile.
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Your questions about All-on-6
What is the main difference between All-on-4 and All-on-6?
All-on-6 uses 6 implants instead of 4, which spreads chewing forces across more points of support. In practice that means stronger anchorage and a better fit for patients who have enough bone for six implants. All-on-4, for its part, is still an excellent solution when bone volume is more limited. At Body Expert, All-on-6 needs only two more implants than the All-on-4: a modest extra cost for the anchoring comfort you gain.
Does All-on-6 last longer than All-on-4?
On paper you would happily assume it is sturdier. In reality, clinical studies show no significant difference in durability at 5 years between All-on-6 and All-on-4: both give high survival and low, comparable bone loss (Tallarico et al., 2016). The value of All-on-6 lies elsewhere, in its six anchor points and a more favourable spread of forces, a real plus when there is enough bone to place six implants. With good hygiene and regular follow-up, your implants can be with you for many years.
Is All-on-6 right for everyone?
All-on-6 suits most patients who have lost their teeth or whose teeth are beyond saving. It is especially recommended for patients with enough bone volume to place six implants, because the extra anchors spread the forces more widely. The main reasons to hold off are untreated severe bruxism, poorly controlled diabetes and certain autoimmune conditions. A consultation beforehand with a 3D scan shows whether the technique fits your situation.
How much does All-on-6 cost at Body Expert?
At Body Expert, an All-on-6 package with Straumann implants and Ivoclar zirconia, your 5-star hotel, VIP transfers and 12 months of follow-up included, saves you up to 70% against UK prices. You will find the detail of our packages in the pricing section of this page. Even once you add your flight, the saving is still substantial. And the trip is reassuring in itself: Istanbul is around 4 hours’ flight from London, barely more than a hop to a Mediterranean beach.
What is day-to-day care like?
Daily hygiene is essential to how long your implants last. Brush your bridge morning and night with a soft toothbrush. Use interdental brushes to clean under the bridge and a water flosser to shift trapped food. An antiseptic mouthwash rounds off your routine. Keep up check-ups every 6 months with your dentist for a professional scale and polish and an X-ray review.
Can All-on-6 be done on both jaws?
Yes. Treating both jaws during the same stay in Istanbul is often possible, with a few days between the two operations. Allow 7 to 10 days in total. A second trip of 3 to 4 days is needed 3 to 6 months later to fit the final bridges. It is the most efficient way to get a full smile back with as little travel as possible.
What are the risks of All-on-6?
Risks exist, but they are low and well documented. Peri-implantitis (inflammation around the implant) is the one to watch most closely: careful hygiene and regular check-ups keep it at bay. A cracked or loosened temporary bridge is possible, but easily repaired. Losing an implant stays uncommon. After surgery, the surgeons at our partner clinic give you a detailed follow-up protocol to put the odds firmly in your favour.
All-on-6 or standard implants: which should you choose?
Standard implants are ideal when only a few teeth are missing and there is enough bone everywhere. All-on-6 is the answer when a whole jaw needs restoring: it is faster (one operation instead of several), cheaper (6 implants rather than 8 to 10) and usually needs no bone graft. To find out which implant brand to choose, see our comparison.
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