All-on-4 and All-on-6: questions before full-arch treatment

All-on-4 and All-on-6 describe full-arch restorations supported by four or six implants. The number is only part of the plan. Your consultation should also explain which teeth could be retained, what type of prosthesis is proposed and how you would care for it over time.

Use these questions to prepare for a discussion. They cannot determine whether you need extractions or are a candidate for full-arch treatment.

Why is a full arch being proposed?

Before discussing removal, ask about the condition and options for any teeth you still have. Separate health needs, limitations of an existing restoration and aesthetic preferences. If the reasoning is unclear, you can request another assessment before making an irreversible decision.

Bring existing records and describe the problem you most want to address. Stability of a denture, chewing and appearance are different concerns. Naming your priority helps the team explain the proposal in terms that matter to you.

What kind of teeth would I receive?

Ask whether the proposed restoration is fixed or removable, which material is planned and how you would clean around it. Implants can support several types of replacement teeth, so the word “implants” does not fully describe what you will receive. The FDA’s implant guide explains components and potential complications.

Ask the dentist to explain the proposed implant number and positions using your records. Choosing four or six without the examination and restorative plan leaves important parts of the decision unanswered.

What would happen during healing?

Clarify the temporary option and what conditions must be met before it can be provided. Temporary teeth and the final prosthesis are separate stages. Do not assume that fixed teeth can be fitted on the day of surgery or that the whole course can fit into one trip.

Request a staged timetable and ask which checkpoints determine when treatment can move forward. Also ask what the alternative plan would be if the initial sequence had to change. That makes it easier to organize time and travel without treating an estimate as a promise.

How would ongoing care work?

Before agreeing to treatment, confirm:

• Who will demonstrate cleaning around the prosthesis.
• What review appointments are planned and included.
• How damage or a change in your bite would be assessed.
• Which implant details and records you will receive.
• Whom to contact after returning home.

Implants need follow-up and can develop complications. The FDA guidance does not describe them as a maintenance-free solution.

Explore All-on-X treatment at Gloss Dent and arrange an assessment to discuss the alternatives, the proposed scope and the responsibilities involved in long-term care.