All-on-6® is a full-arch solution that uses six dental implants to secure a complete set of prosthetic teeth on the upper or lower jaw. Unlike traditional removable dentures, this approach provides a fixed restoration that functions much like natural teeth. The implants act as stable anchors, connecting a durable prosthesis to the jawbone so patients can bite, speak, and smile with greater confidence and stability.
This option is designed for people who have lost multiple teeth, face progressive dental deterioration, or wear conventional dentures that no longer provide satisfactory comfort or function. All-on-6® can be particularly suitable when bone volume is moderate and allows for strategic implant placement that enhances support and load distribution across the arch. The goal is restorative predictability with fewer implants than a fully individual implant-per-tooth plan.
Choosing All-on-6® does not mean sacrificing aesthetics. Contemporary prosthetic materials and digital design let clinicians craft replacements that look natural and are tailored to facial proportions. The procedure combines surgical precision with prosthetic planning so the final restoration is both functional and visually pleasing, supporting a healthy bite and a natural-looking smile.
The All-on-6® process begins with a comprehensive evaluation that includes clinical exams and imaging to assess bone structure, bite relationships, and soft tissue considerations. During planning, the dental team maps optimal implant positions that maximize stability while minimizing the need for additional grafting. This stage uses digital tools and clinical experience to create a predictable surgical plan tailored to each patient’s anatomy.
On the day of surgery, six implants are placed at strategic locations along the arch. In many cases, the implants are positioned to take advantage of denser bone areas, allowing for immediate or early placement of a provisional prosthesis. The provisional restoration restores function quickly while the implants integrate with the jawbone over several weeks to months — a process called osseointegration.
After the integration phase, the provisional is replaced with a refined, long-term prosthesis crafted from durable materials such as acrylic, composite, or high-strength ceramics layered over a titanium or zirconia framework. The final restoration is adjusted for proper bite, comfort, and speech. Throughout the process, follow-up appointments ensure healing is progressing and that the restoration meets both functional and aesthetic expectations.
Surgical experience and prosthetic expertise are both essential. The practice coordinates surgical planning with laboratory workflows so the final result is cohesive — surgical placement supports prosthetic design, and prosthetic requirements inform implant positioning. This integrated approach helps reduce surprises and improves long-term performance.
Using six implants across an arch increases support and distributes chewing forces more evenly than fewer-anchor solutions. This broader support reduces stress on individual implants and on the surrounding bone, which can enhance long-term stability and comfort. The additional anchors also allow for more favorable implant angulation, which can be helpful when navigating variable bone quality.
Because implant placement can often utilize existing bone strategically, many patients avoid the need for extensive bone grafting procedures that add invasiveness and recovery time. When grafting is still required, the planning phase identifies opportunities to minimize surgical complexity while maintaining predictable outcomes. The result is a restoration that feels solid and secure under normal functional loads.
All-on-6® also supports improved chewing efficiency compared with removable dentures. Patients typically experience better food breakdown and a more natural chewing pattern, which supports nutritional choices and digestion. Speech can improve as well, since a stable prosthesis doesn’t shift or rock the way a loose denture might, allowing patients to speak with clearer articulation and less worry about slippage.
Recovery after implant placement varies by patient but generally follows a predictable timeline. Initial healing from surgery usually takes a few weeks, while complete osseointegration often requires several months. During this period, patients follow specific care instructions — including gentle oral hygiene, short-term dietary adjustments, and scheduled follow-up visits — to support healing and ensure the implants integrate successfully.
Maintaining an All-on-6® restoration involves many of the same habits that preserve natural teeth: regular brushing, interdental cleaning where appropriate, and periodic professional examinations. The prosthesis itself may require removable access for detailed cleaning by a clinician, depending on the design. Routine checkups allow the team to monitor implant stability, occlusion (bite), and the condition of the prosthetic components so any necessary adjustments are made early.
With attentive care, many patients enjoy long-term function and aesthetics from their All-on-6® restorations. The practice emphasizes preventive follow-up and individualized maintenance schedules to identify wear, tissue changes, or component needs before they become significant concerns. This proactive approach helps extend the life of the restoration and preserve oral health.
Selecting a skilled team matters because All-on-6® blends surgical technique with prosthetic artistry. At 360 Dental of Mill Creek, our approach prioritizes individualized planning, clear communication, and modern technology to guide each case from initial consult through final restoration. Diagnostic imaging and careful treatment planning help us tailor solutions that meet both functional requirements and aesthetic goals.
During your visit, we’ll review your clinical findings and discuss realistic outcomes so you understand each stage of treatment. Our team explains the timeline, the types of restorations available, and the steps we take to minimize discomfort and promote healing. When appropriate, we coordinate with trusted dental laboratories to ensure the prosthesis achieves a comfortable fit and a natural appearance.
We focus on patient education and collaborative decision-making so you feel confident at every step. If All-on-6® is a suitable option, we outline the surgical plan and prosthetic sequence while addressing questions about recovery and long-term care. Our priority is predictable results that restore function and support a confident smile.
In summary, All-on-6® offers a fixed, full-arch alternative to removable dentures that balances stability, function, and aesthetics. This approach can reduce the need for extensive grafting, improve chewing and speech, and provide a long-term restorative option when paired with careful planning and maintenance. If you’d like to learn whether All-on-6® is right for you or want more information about the process, please contact us for more information.
All-on-6® is a full-arch tooth replacement method that secures a complete prosthesis to six strategically placed dental implants in the upper or lower jaw. The implants act as stable anchors that integrate with the jawbone, allowing the prosthesis to function similarly to natural teeth for biting, chewing and speaking. Because the bridge is fixed to the implants, patients avoid the movement and instability commonly associated with removable dentures.
The treatment combines surgical placement of implants with prosthetic planning to ensure the final restoration is both functional and aesthetic. Digital imaging and prosthetic design are often used to determine optimal implant positions and to fabricate a provisional prosthesis that restores function quickly. Over time, the implants osseointegrate with the bone, providing long-term support for the definitive restoration.
Good candidates for All-on-6® are people who have lost multiple teeth, are experiencing progressive dental deterioration, or who are dissatisfied with the fit and function of conventional dentures. Candidates should have sufficient bone volume in key areas of the jaw or be willing to undergo localized grafting when necessary to support implant placement. A thorough clinical exam and three-dimensional imaging are used to evaluate bone quality, occlusion and soft tissue to determine suitability.
Systemic health factors such as uncontrolled diabetes, heavy smoking, or certain medical conditions can affect healing and implant success and must be assessed during the consultation. The restorative goals, eating habits and esthetic expectations are also reviewed so the treatment plan matches each patient’s needs. When All-on-6® is appropriate, it offers enhanced support and distribution of chewing forces compared with fewer-implant solutions.
All-on-6® uses six implants across an arch to increase support and better distribute occlusal forces, which can improve long-term stability compared with four-implant solutions in certain clinical scenarios. All-on-4® is often used to avoid bone grafting by tilting posterior implants into denser bone, while All-on-6® provides additional anchorage that may be preferred when moderate bone volume allows for more implant placement. Individual implant restorations replace each missing tooth with its own implant and crown, which can be ideal when bone and budget permit but requires more implants and often greater surgical complexity.
The choice between these approaches depends on bone anatomy, functional demands, esthetic goals and the prosthetic design desired by the patient and clinician. All-on-6® can offer a balance of support and prosthetic simplicity for full-arch rehabilitation, while All-on-4® may be advantageous in cases with limited posterior bone. A diagnostic workup and treatment planning discussion clarify which option provides the best predictable outcome for each patient.
The All-on-6® process begins with a comprehensive examination, diagnostic imaging and digital planning to map ideal implant positions and design the provisional prosthesis. On the day of surgery, six implants are placed at planned locations and a provisional restoration may be attached immediately or after a short healing period, depending on primary stability. The provisional restores basic function and esthetics while the implants undergo osseointegration with the jawbone over several weeks to months.
Once integration is complete, the provisional is replaced with a refined, long-term prosthesis crafted from durable materials such as acrylic layered over a metal or zirconia framework, or high-strength ceramics, depending on the chosen design. Follow-up visits during the restorative phase ensure occlusion, fit and speech are optimized and that soft tissues are healthy. The coordinated surgical and laboratory workflow is important to achieve a predictable and comfortable final result.
Initial recovery after implant surgery typically takes a few weeks, during which patients follow dietary modifications, oral hygiene instructions and short-term activity restrictions to support healing. Discomfort and swelling are common in the first few days and are managed with prescribed or recommended medications and post-operative care protocols. Stitches, if used, may be removed or dissolve within one to two weeks depending on the technique.
Complete osseointegration, the process by which implants bond with the jawbone, generally requires several months and determines when the definitive prosthesis can be placed. Regular follow-up visits monitor healing, implant stability and soft-tissue health so any adjustments can be made promptly. Adherence to post-operative guidance and scheduled appointments helps promote predictable integration and long-term success.
Daily oral hygiene remains essential for long-term success and includes thorough brushing and the use of interdental cleaning devices or specially designed brushes to clean around implant abutments and the prosthesis margins. Many prostheses require periodic removal or clinician-performed access for deep cleaning beneath the restoration; your dental team will explain the specific maintenance routine for your prosthesis design. Consistent home care reduces the risk of peri-implant inflammation and helps preserve supporting tissues.
Routine professional examinations and hygiene visits are important to monitor implant stability, occlusion and wear of prosthetic components so issues can be addressed early. The dental team will also evaluate surrounding soft tissues and bone on a scheduled basis using clinical and radiographic assessments. A personalized maintenance schedule helps extend the lifespan of the restoration and maintain oral health.
As with any surgical procedure, All-on-6® carries risks such as infection, bleeding, nerve irritation, sinus involvement in the upper jaw and potential failure of one or more implants to integrate. Careful planning, sterile surgical technique and appropriate patient selection reduce these risks, and prompt treatment of early complications helps protect long-term outcomes. In rare cases, adjustments to the prosthesis or replacement of components may be necessary if function or fit is compromised.
Long-term complications can include peri-implant mucositis or peri-implantitis, conditions involving inflammation around the implant that can lead to bone loss if untreated. Regular maintenance, good home care and timely professional intervention are key to managing these risks. Your clinician will review signs to watch for and the steps to take if you notice changes in comfort, stability or oral health.
When implants integrate successfully and the prosthesis is properly maintained, many patients enjoy long-term function from an All-on-6® restoration, often lasting many years or even decades. Longevity depends on factors such as bone quality, systemic health, oral hygiene, bruxism (tooth grinding), occlusal forces and the quality of the prosthetic materials and laboratory work. Regular dental care and adherence to a maintenance plan significantly influence outcome and prosthesis lifespan.
Occasional component wear, screw loosening or acrylic/chipping can occur over time and are generally manageable with repair or replacement of specific parts rather than full replacement of the prosthesis. Your dental team will discuss expected maintenance, inspection intervals and any signs that warrant earlier evaluation so you can preserve function and esthetics for as long as possible. Proactive care and early intervention help avoid more extensive work later.
All-on-6® prostheses can be fabricated from a variety of materials, including acrylic teeth layered over a titanium or zirconia framework, monolithic zirconia, or porcelain-fused-to-metal constructions. Acrylic-based prostheses attached to a metal framework are often used for provisionals and for long-term use when shock absorption and ease of repair are priorities. Monolithic zirconia offers high strength and wear resistance and is chosen when durability and a more natural ceramic appearance are desired.
The choice of material balances esthetic goals, functional demands and prosthetic design considerations; no single material is ideal for every patient. Your clinician will recommend an option based on bite forces, esthetic expectations and the planned maintenance strategy. Laboratory expertise and precise fabrication are essential to ensure proper fit, occlusion and long-term performance regardless of material selection.
The office of 360 Dental of Mill Creek emphasizes coordinated surgical planning and prosthetic expertise supported by modern diagnostic tools to guide All-on-6® cases from consultation through final restoration. Our approach includes detailed imaging, individualized treatment plans and clear communication so patients understand the sequence of care and realistic outcomes. Working with skilled laboratory partners helps ensure prostheses are fabricated to precise specifications for fit and esthetics.
We prioritize patient education, careful follow-up and a personalized maintenance plan to support long-term success and comfort after treatment. During your consultation, we review clinical findings, discuss implant positioning and prosthetic options, and address questions about recovery and care. This focus on predictable planning and collaborative care helps patients make informed decisions about full-arch rehabilitation.
