Two estimates on the screen: one proposes All-on-4 and the other All-on-6. Both promise to restore an arch, but one includes two more implants. The comparison seems simple until other questions come up: are they describing the same prosthesis? Do they include the same stages? Why is that plan recommended for your mouth?<\/p>\n
Before choosing by the number, it is worth understanding what supports each proposal. Four and six do not tell the whole story.<\/p>\n
The names refer to a fixed prosthesis that replaces all the teeth in one arch, upper or lower, supported by four or six implants. The teeth in that prosthesis share the supports: there is not one implant for each visible tooth. The International Team for Implantology (ITI) consensus recommends a minimum of four well-distributed implants for a one-piece fixed prosthesis (Polido et al., 2018<\/a><\/span>).<\/p>\n So ask for the estimate to identify which arch it covers and which restoration you will receive. The name of the treatment does not replace a written description of its components.<\/p>\n The same consensus recommends that the prosthetic plan guide the surgical plan. Among the factors it lists are bone volume and quality, the front-to-back distribution of the implants, the condition of the teeth in the opposite arch, the prosthesis material and space for hygiene. How far the prosthesis extends beyond its last support, the so-called cantilever<\/em>, also matters. When the implants need to be spread out better, it considers bone augmentation, a more invasive procedure (Polido et al., 2018<\/a><\/span>).<\/p>\n The ITI also reviewed 93 studies and found no statistically significant differences in implant survival between using fewer than five or five or more implants (Polido et al., 2018<\/a><\/span>). In other words, the number alone does not decide the outcome.<\/p>\n The useful question is how those criteria apply to your case. Ask for an explanation based on your own imaging, in words you understand. If you still have teeth, the consensus calls for considering all options, including keeping them, before deciding on extractions for a full-arch rehabilitation (Polido et al., 2018<\/a><\/span>).<\/p>\n A systematic review published in 2024 gathered 53 studies on fixed rehabilitation of the upper jaw with four or six implants. It found no statistically significant differences in implant or prosthesis survival, but did find more bone loss around the implants in the four-implant group (about 1 mm versus 0.5 mm). Technical and biological complications were somewhat more frequent with four, although the difference was not significant. The included studies had different designs and protocols, and the authors call for trials that compare both options directly (Sharaf et al., 2024<\/a><\/span>).<\/p>\n A 2025 randomized clinical trial followed 47 upper-jaw patients for five years. It found comparable survival and no significant difference in bone-level change. It did, however, record more technical complications with four implants. Its non-inferiority conclusion was limited to radiographic bone change (Toia et al., 2025<\/a><\/span>).<\/p>\n The results are not identical: the patients, treatments and outcomes measured differ. They do not turn a figure into an individual guarantee or automatically carry conclusions from the upper jaw over to the lower jaw. Also, an implant remaining in function does not mean the whole restoration will be free of adjustments or repairs (Sharaf et al., 2024<\/a>; Toia et al., 2025<\/a><\/span>).<\/p>\n Ask to distinguish the temporary prosthesis from the final one and to understand the later stages. According to the ITI consensus, the decision to load implants immediately depends, among other factors, on each implant’s initial stability, general health, the need for grafts in the same surgery and the professional’s experience (Polido et al., 2018<\/a><\/span>).<\/p>\n If you are planning a trip for treatment, ask for a written timeline: what is planned for the first visit, what could change and how follow-up will be coordinated. That way you can compare concrete commitments.<\/p>\n Bring these questions to your appointment:<\/p>\n The goal is to be able to explain, in your own words, why you are choosing an option. A well-explained plan turns a comparison of numbers into an informed decision. Next, understanding the differences between fixed and removable prostheses will help you picture living with the restoration and caring for it.<\/p>\n Want us to review your case?<\/strong> At The Special Teeth we see patients in English and Spanish, about 10 minutes from the San Ysidro border crossing, and we accept Aetna and MetLife PPO<\/a> dental insurance. Learn more about dental implants in Tijuana<\/a> or book your evaluation<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Polido, W. D., Aghaloo, T., Taylor, T. D., & Morton, D. (2018). Number of implants placed for complete-arch fixed prostheses<\/em> [Consensus statement]. ITI Consensus Database. https:\/\/academy.iti.org\/academy\/consensus-database\/consensus-statement\/-\/consensus\/number-of-implants-placed-for-complete-arch-fixed-prostheses\/1701<\/a><\/p>\n Sharaf, M. A., Wang, S., Mashrah, M. A., Xu, Y., Haider, O., & He, F. (2024). Outcomes that may affect implant and prosthesis survival and complications in maxillary fixed prosthesis supported by four or six implants: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Heliyon, 10<\/em>(3), Article e24365. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.heliyon.2024.e24365<\/a><\/p>\n Toia, M., Moreira, C. S., Dias, D. R., Corr\u00e0, E., Ravid\u00e0, A., & Cecchinato, D. (2025). Fixed full-arch maxillary prostheses supported by four versus six implants: 5-year results of a multicenter randomized clinical trial. Clinical Oral Implants Research, 36<\/em>(3), 298\u2013313. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/clr.14383<\/a><\/p>\n Educational information. A professional evaluation determines the diagnosis and the appropriate options for each patient.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Compare All-on-4 and All-on-6, the number of implants, and the clinical factors that shape the choice of a full-arch restoration.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2401,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"page_builder":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2290","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-decisiones-y-cuidados"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thespecialteeth.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2290","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thespecialteeth.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thespecialteeth.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thespecialteeth.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thespecialteeth.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2290"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/thespecialteeth.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2290\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2443,"href":"https:\/\/thespecialteeth.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2290\/revisions\/2443"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thespecialteeth.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2401"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thespecialteeth.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2290"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thespecialteeth.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2290"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thespecialteeth.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2290"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Distribution matters too<\/h2>\n
What the research shows<\/h2>\n
What “teeth in a day” means<\/h2>\n
How to compare two plans without getting lost<\/h2>\n
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References<\/h2>\n
Keep reading<\/h2>\n
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