Full Mouth Dental Implants
All-on-4 vs All-on-6: Which Full-Arch Approach Is Right for You?
Dr. Steve Caldroney · May 2, 2026 · 5 min read
The number of implants supporting your arch is a clinical decision, not a marketing one. Here is how we make it.
All-on-4 and All-on-6 describe how many implants support a fixed full-arch bridge. Neither is universally better; the right answer depends on bone volume, bite force and which arch is being treated.
When four implants are enough
In the lower jaw, dense bone at the front of the mandible often supports a four-implant design predictably, with the posterior implants angled to avoid the nerve and maximize anterior-posterior spread.
When we prefer six
Upper arches are softer, and patients with heavy bite forces or a history of bruxism benefit from additional support. Six implants also provide redundancy — if one implant were ever lost, the bridge remains supported.
