All-on-6® is a full-arch implant solution that uses six strategically placed implants to support a fixed bridge, restoring either the upper or lower jaw with a single, cohesive prosthesis. Unlike removable dentures, the All-on-6 approach is designed to provide immediate stability and a strong foundation for replacement teeth. Patients typically experience a restoration that feels and functions more like natural teeth, reducing the daily inconveniences associated with removable appliances.
The technique emphasizes distributing biting forces across six implants to increase stability and long-term support. This balanced layout can make it possible to avoid more extensive preparatory surgeries in many cases because the additional implants often allow for greater use of the existing jawbone. For patients who have been living with compromised dentition, All-on-6® presents a pathway to predictable, durable tooth replacement that reinforces both form and function.
Because the prosthesis is secured to implants anchored in the jaw, All-on-6® eliminates the need for denture adhesives and removing the appliance for nightly cleaning. Care is similar to caring for natural teeth—regular brushing, flossing, and professional check-ups are essential. For many patients, this simplicity in daily maintenance is a major lifestyle improvement that supports oral health and overall confidence.
Successful All-on-6® treatment begins with a comprehensive evaluation that includes medical and dental history, clinical examination, and imaging studies such as 3D cone beam scans. These diagnostic tools allow the dental team to assess bone quality and anatomy, determine optimal implant positions, and design a prosthesis tailored to each patient’s bite and aesthetic goals. Careful planning reduces surprises during surgery and helps ensure the implants are placed in locations that maximize support and longevity.
On the day of treatment, implants are placed following a treatment plan that balances surgical precision with patient comfort. Many practices use guided surgery or surgical templates to translate the digital plan into precise implant placement. In appropriate cases, a temporary prosthesis can be attached immediately, giving patients functional teeth while the implants integrate with the jawbone—a period known as osseointegration that typically spans several months.
Throughout the surgical and healing phases, attention is given to minimizing invasiveness and protecting soft tissue health. Sedation and pain-management options are discussed with each patient to ensure a calm, comfortable experience. Follow-up visits monitor progress and guide the transition to a custom-crafted final prosthesis once integration is confirmed and tissue conditions are stable.
One of the most notable advantages of All-on-6® is the stability it provides during eating and speaking. Where conventional dentures can slip or shift, an implant-supported full-arch bridge is firmly anchored to the bone, restoring much of the chewing efficiency lost with missing teeth. This improved function allows patients to eat a wider variety of foods and speak without worrying about denture movement.
All-on-6® can also help preserve jawbone because the implants transmit functional forces into the bone, which encourages maintenance of bone volume over time. For many patients, this bone-preserving effect contrasts with the progressive bone loss often seen with long-term denture wear. The result is a facial profile that is better supported and a prosthesis that fits more predictably in the years after treatment.
Beyond function and bone health, many patients find the fixed nature of the All-on-6® prosthesis improves daily life by removing adhesive routines and simplifying oral hygiene. The prosthesis is designed to be cleaned in ways similar to natural teeth, and because it is fixed, patients often report a greater sense of normalcy and confidence in social situations.
After implant placement, an initial healing phase allows the implants to integrate with the jawbone. During this time, patients follow a recovery plan that includes short-term dietary adjustments, oral hygiene recommendations, and periodic clinical reviews. Pain and swelling are typically managed with prescribed or over-the-counter measures, and follow-up appointments assess tissue healing and implant stability.
Once osseointegration is confirmed and the final prosthesis is delivered, maintenance becomes an ongoing partnership between patient and dental team. Routine professional cleanings and examinations are essential to monitor implant health, prosthesis fit, and gum condition. Daily home care—brushing, interdental cleaning, and using any prescribed oral rinses—is important to prevent plaque-related complications that can affect both implants and remaining natural teeth.
Long-term success with All-on-6® depends on regular care and lifestyle considerations such as tobacco avoidance and management of chronic health conditions that affect healing. With consistent monitoring and timely attention to any concerns, implant-supported full-arch restorations can provide many years of reliable function and comfort.
All-on-6® is a strong option for patients who need a full-arch solution but want a fixed, implant-supported restoration rather than a removable denture. Ideal candidates include people with multiple failing teeth, significant tooth loss, or those who are seeking a more stable, long-term alternative to conventional dentures. The best way to determine suitability is a thorough clinical evaluation that considers bone volume, overall health, and personal goals for oral function and aesthetics.
During a consultation, the dental team will review imaging, explain the anticipated treatment sequence, and outline what to expect during recovery and maintenance. For some patients, additional preparatory steps—such as targeted bone grafting or periodontal treatment—may be recommended to optimize outcomes. The emphasis is always on creating a treatment plan that reflects each patient’s unique anatomy and priorities.
Choosing All-on-6® involves weighing the desire for fixed function and the lifestyle benefits it brings. Patients who prioritize durability, simplified daily care, and a restoration that behaves more like natural teeth often find All-on-6® to be a compelling solution. A candid, personalized consultation will clarify whether this approach aligns with your oral health needs and long-term expectations.
Christopher R. Szydelko, DDS PC provides a patient-centered approach to full-arch rehabilitation, blending modern implant techniques with careful planning and follow-up care. If you would like to learn more about how All-on-6® could restore your smile and oral function, please contact us for more information.
All-on-6® is a full-arch implant solution that uses six dental implants to support a fixed prosthesis for the upper or lower jaw. This approach provides immediate stability and replaces an entire arch with one cohesive bridge that remains secured to the implants. Because the restoration is fixed, it functions much like natural teeth for speaking and chewing.
Treatment is designed to eliminate the need for removable dentures and denture adhesives by anchoring the prosthesis directly to bone. Patients perform daily hygiene similar to natural teeth and attend regular professional checkups to maintain long-term health. All-on-6® emphasizes distributing biting forces across multiple implants to improve support and longevity.
All-on-6® and All-on-4® are both full-arch implant strategies, but the primary difference is the number of implants used to support the restoration. Using six implants can provide increased distribution of occlusal forces and greater redundancy if a single implant experiences higher stress. The additional implants may also allow for greater flexibility in prosthesis design and increased support for patients with particular anatomical needs.
All-on-6® can sometimes reduce the need for extensive bone grafting because the extra implants allow for engagement of available bone in different locations. The best choice depends on bone quality, jaw anatomy, and individual treatment goals, and a careful evaluation will guide the recommendation. Your dental team will explain the trade-offs between the approaches and select the plan that best matches your long-term function and aesthetic priorities.
Good candidates are patients who need full-arch restoration due to multiple failing teeth, advanced tooth loss, or nonrestorable dentition and who desire a fixed, implant-supported option rather than removable dentures. Sufficient jawbone volume to support implants is important, but the technique can often be adapted to varying bone conditions through careful planning. Overall health, smoking status, and medical conditions that affect healing are also considered when determining candidacy.
During a consultation the dental team will review medical history, perform a clinical exam, and use imaging such as 3D cone beam scans to assess bone quality and anatomy. If additional procedures like targeted bone grafting or periodontal therapy are needed, the team will discuss those steps and how they affect the treatment timeline. A personalized plan ensures the restoration meets functional and aesthetic goals while minimizing surgical risk.
Planning begins with a comprehensive evaluation that includes a medical and dental history, intraoral examination, and three-dimensional imaging to map bone volume and vital structures. Digital workflows, including virtual implant positioning and prosthesis design, allow the team to simulate outcomes and optimize implant placement before surgery. This level of planning reduces surprises in the operatory and contributes to predictable surgical and prosthetic results.
Guided surgery or surgical templates are often used to translate the digital plan into precise implant positions during the procedure. The team will also plan for an immediate or delayed temporary prosthesis depending on individual stability and aesthetic needs. Clear communication about the phases of treatment and expected checkpoints helps patients understand the process from planning through final restoration.
On the day of surgery you will receive local anesthesia and any planned sedation to ensure comfort throughout the procedure. The implants are placed according to the preoperative guide, with attention to minimizing trauma to soft tissues and preserving bone. When conditions allow, a provisional fixed prosthesis may be attached the same day to restore immediate function and aesthetics.
The clinical team will provide written and verbal postoperative instructions covering diet, oral hygiene, and activity restrictions for the initial healing period. Pain and swelling are typically managed with prescribed or over-the-counter measures and cold compresses as directed. Follow-up visits are scheduled to monitor healing, adjust the provisional prosthesis if needed, and plan for final restoration once osseointegration is confirmed.
Early recovery focuses on protecting the surgical sites while osseointegration occurs, which usually takes several months depending on individual healing. Patients follow a soft or modified diet initially and maintain gentle oral hygiene around the implants using recommended techniques. Regular checkups allow the team to monitor tissue healing and implant stability and to manage any minor concerns promptly.
Once the implants have integrated and tissues are stable, the final prosthesis is fabricated and delivered for long-term function. Ongoing aftercare includes routine professional cleanings, home care with brushing and interdental cleaning, and periodic assessments of prosthesis fit and gum health. Avoiding tobacco and managing systemic health conditions improves long-term outcomes for implant-supported restorations.
With proper surgical technique, excellent oral hygiene, and regular professional maintenance, an All-on-6® restoration can last many years and often decades. Implant components and prosthetic materials vary in longevity, and individual factors such as bone quality, oral hygiene, and systemic health influence long-term success. Routine monitoring allows the dental team to address wear or component changes before they compromise function.
Occasionally components such as screws, acrylic teeth, or veneering materials may need repair or replacement over time while the implants remain stable. Timely maintenance and conservative repairs can extend the life of the prosthesis and preserve oral health. The team will provide a tailored maintenance schedule to help protect long-term oral function.
Dental implants transmit chewing forces into the jawbone, stimulating bone remodeling and helping to preserve bone volume compared with long-term removable denture use. By distributing those forces across six implants, All-on-6® can promote more even loading and support for the facial skeleton. Preserving bone contributes to a more stable prosthesis fit and helps maintain facial contours over time.
In cases where localized bone loss has already occurred, the treatment plan may include targeted grafting or alternative implant angulation to engage available bone. Your dental team evaluates bone quality during planning and recommends strategies to optimize support and long-term health. Preservation of bone is a key consideration in achieving both functional and aesthetic success with full-arch restorations.
Daily care combines routine brushing of the prosthesis with interdental cleaning such as flossing, interdental brushes, or water irrigation to remove plaque around implants and abutments. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and nonabrasive toothpaste to protect prosthetic surfaces and surrounding gum tissue. The dental team will demonstrate cleaning techniques tailored to your prosthesis design to help you maintain healthy tissues.
Regular professional cleanings, including specialized implant maintenance appointments, are important to monitor soft tissue health and remove biofilm in areas you cannot reach at home. Consistent at-home care combined with periodic clinical evaluations reduces the risk of peri-implant inflammation and helps extend the life of the restoration. If you experience persistent redness, bleeding, or discomfort around implants, contact the office promptly for evaluation.
The office of Christopher R. Szydelko, DDS PC integrates modern implant technology, detailed digital planning, and coordinated prosthetic workflows to deliver full-arch care. Care teams experienced in implant surgery and restorative dentistry collaborate to evaluate patient anatomy, design prostheses, and manage staged treatment for predictable results. This multidisciplinary approach prioritizes function, tissue health, and long-term stability.
During your consultation the team reviews 3D imaging, explains the surgical and restorative phases, and outlines follow-up and maintenance protocols tailored to your needs. The practice emphasizes clear communication, thorough planning, and ongoing monitoring to support successful outcomes for All-on-6® patients. If you are considering full-arch restoration, a candid evaluation will determine whether All-on-6® aligns with your goals and oral health status.
