All-on-6 Dental Implants: Who Is It For?

Who is All-on-6 not suitable for?

All-on-6 is major surgery and is not right for everyone. A dentist may advise against it, or suggest waiting, if you:

• have uncontrolled diabetes, uncontrolled heart disease or another condition that makes surgery unsafe until it is stabilised;
• have had radiotherapy to the jaws, or take bone-modifying medicines such as bisphosphonates or denosumab, without a specialist assessment;
• smoke heavily and are unwilling to stop around surgery, as smoking increases the risk of implant problems;
• have untreated gum disease or infection, which needs treating first;
• still have several healthy, restorable teeth — keeping them, or a smaller implant bridge, may be more appropriate than a full-arch treatment;
• have very limited bone where six implants cannot be placed without extensive grafting — All-on-4 with angled implants, or an implant-retained denture, may be discussed instead;
• are unable to return for the second trip and ongoing maintenance.

What if you do not have enough bone?

After teeth are lost, the jawbone gradually shrinks. Long-term denture wearers often have less bone than they expect. A 3D scan shows how much bone is available and where.

If there is not enough bone for six implants, the dentist may discuss:

• A bone graft or sinus lift to rebuild bone before or during implant placement. This adds surgery and often several months of healing, and may mean an extra trip. See our page on bone grafts and sinus lifts.
• Angled implants, as used in All-on-4, which can make use of the bone that is already there.
• An implant-retained denture, which clips onto fewer implants and can be removed for cleaning.

The right option is the one that suits your bone and your goals, not the one with the most implants.

What does the treatment process look like?

Plans vary, but a typical All-on-6 pathway looks like this:

1. Remote review. You share a recent panoramic x-ray or 3D scan, your medical history and a list of your medicines. A dentist gives a provisional view of which options may suit you.
2. Planning in Antalya. A 3D (CBCT) scan and examination confirm bone volume and the positions of nerves and sinuses. Implant positions and the bridge design are planned, and sedation is discussed.
3. Surgery. Any failing teeth are removed and six implants are placed per arch under local anaesthetic, with sedation available. Surgery usually takes a few hours per arch.
4. Fixed temporary bridge. When the implants are stable enough, a fixed temporary bridge is usually attached within about three to five days. If stability is not sufficient, a different interim option is used.
5. Healing. Over roughly three to six months, the implants integrate with the bone. A soft diet is needed for several weeks.
6. Final bridge. On a second trip, the final bridge is made and fitted, and your bite, speech and cleaning access are checked.

The first trip is usually around seven to ten days in Antalya; the second, typically three to six months later, is around five to seven days. If grafting is needed, healing can take longer. You fly home only after a check-up confirms it is safe — usually at least a few days after surgery, and longer after a sinus lift.

What are the risks, and how do you look after the bridge?

Implant surgery is well established, but it carries risks that your dentist should explain before you consent:

• Pain, swelling and bruising. Expected for several days, usually peaking around day two or three, and managed with prescribed painkillers, cold compresses and rest.
• Infection. Reduced by sterile technique, careful cleaning and antibiotics where the surgeon judges them necessary.
• An implant failing to integrate. This may affect the temporary bridge; the plan is adjusted and the implant can often be replaced after healing.
• Nerve or sinus involvement. Uncommon, and minimised by planning from a 3D scan.
• Wear or fracture of the bridge. Reduced by a soft diet while healing and a night guard if you grind.
• Peri-implantitis. Inflammation and bone loss around implants can develop years later. According to Cambridge University Hospitals NHS guidance, smoking and gum disease reduce implant success.

The European Federation of Periodontology emphasises daily cleaning and regular professional check-ups to help prevent peri-implant disease. In practice this means:

• brushing the bridge twice a day and cleaning underneath it with a water flosser, interdental brushes or super-floss, as shown by the hygienist;
• not smoking, attending professional maintenance as advised, and wearing a night guard if you grind.

What should you ask before choosing?

• Why do you recommend six implants for me rather than four — or the other way round?
• What did my 3D scan show, and do I need grafting? Does that change the number of trips?
• What will the temporary and final bridges be made of?
• Which implant system will be used, and will I receive written documentation of the system, sizes and batch numbers?
• How will maintenance work once I am home, and what happens if there is a problem?

How does Health Talia coordinate treatment in Antalya?

Health Talia is a health tourism coordinator working with partner clinics in Antalya. The treating dentist makes all medical decisions, including whether All-on-6, All-on-4 or another option suits you. Our role is to keep the process clear and organised:

• Free x-ray review: you send a recent panoramic x-ray or 3D scan, and a dentist gives a provisional view before the full examination in Antalya.
• Written plan: you receive a written treatment plan before booking travel, listing the proposed implants, temporary and final bridges, any extractions or grafting, and the expected number of trips.
• Hotel and transfers arranged: your accommodation and airport transfers in Antalya are organised for you.
• WhatsApp support: you can ask questions before, during and after each trip on WhatsApp.

You can read more on our All-on-4 and All-on-6 page.

Frequently asked questions

Conclusion

All-on-6 replaces a full arch of teeth with a fixed bridge on six implants. It can suit adults who have lost most or all of their teeth in one jaw, have enough bone, are well enough for surgery and can keep up daily cleaning and maintenance. It is not automatically superior to All-on-4: research supports four to six implants, and the right number depends on your bone, bite and bridge design. A 3D scan and an examination by the treating dentist are what decide.

If you would like a dentist’s view, message us on WhatsApp or request a free treatment plan. You can also read about All-on-4 and All-on-6 and bone grafts and sinus lifts.

This guide is for general information and does not replace a dental consultation.

References

1. What is the optimal number of implants for fixed reconstructions: a systematic review — Heydecke G et al. Clinical Oral Implants Research, 2012
2. Number of implants placed for complete-arch fixed prostheses — International Team for Implantology (ITI) consensus statement
3. Dental implants in restorative dentistry — Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
4. Peri-implant disease prevention — European Federation of Periodontology