All-on-6 Implants: From the Benefits, Procedure, and Cost

Last updated Monday, September 18th, 2023

Everything You Need to Know Before Getting All-on-6 Dental Implants

Most people who take good care of their teeth live out most of their lives with only a couple of cavities and some mild dental work. But not everyone is that lucky. Severe tooth decay, congenital diseases, and accidents can wreak havoc on your teeth.

You can lose enough teeth to sabotage your ability to chew, affect the shape of your face, and steal your smile.

When that happens, you need way more than a dental cleaning, you need a full mouth restoration!

An all-on-6 dental implant is a complete dental prosthesis that reverses these issues permanently. That’s right! You won’t have to worry about the awkwardness, inconvenience, and maintenance of removable dentures.

It can be anchored to the top or bottom jawbone with six titanium implants (posts) to keep it firmly in place. An arch with false gums and ceramic or porcelain dentures is then screwed onto the dental implants.

The rest of your teeth don’t have to feel lonely anymore. They’re going to be supported by an ever-strong, ever-reliable set of dentures. You’ll be able to chew your food, smile without hesitation, and prevent any further bone damage. It’s like upgrading your dental experience from economy class to first class (while paying economy class prices).

In this blog, we’ll share the benefits, procedures, and costs of getting all-on-6 dental implants to help you take the next step.

All-on-6 Implant Procedure: Definition and Description

The all-on-6 dental implant is a permanent dental prosthesis that consists of two main parts:

Anchors – Six titanium Implants (Posts) are strategically fitted into the lower or upper jawbone to hold the bridge/dentures in place. We use special digitally designed guides to place these implants in the correct place so there is less bleeding, less pain, and less swelling leading to an easy recovery.

Arch – False gums supporting zirconia or acrylic dentures are screwed onto the anchors.

The idea of getting dentures often freaks out a lot of people, especially young patients.

Traditional removable dentures give you memories of your old relatives struggling to manage their dentures before and after every meal.

You feel anxious wondering if they’ll accidentally slip out in front of everyone while talking and embarrass yourself.  The all-on-6 dental implants will liberate you from all those limitations. They are permanently anchored and customized to fit your jaw perfectly.

You don’t have to carry them around and invest in maintaining them with special glue creams. They are durable and protect you from experiencing further bone loss due to missing teeth.

Advantages of All-on-6 Implants in the Upper Jaw

All-on-6 implants do a lot more than return your perfect smile. They can offer a full reconstruction of your upper or lower jaw. The six titanium implants can easily integrate with your jawbone. They provide strong roots to support your dentures firmly.

This device gives you enhanced stability and bone support in your jaw. You don’t have to worry about further damage due to receding gums and bone degeneration anymore. It takes a couple of months for the implants to properly integrate before the complete prosthesis is fitted in. But once they’ve integrated with your jawbones, you can enjoy the perfect functionality of well-fitted dentures.

Benefits of Choosing All-on-6 Implants

Traditional dentures used to be limited solutions for complex dental issues. But all-on-6 implants are like an all-in-one solution for a variety of dental problems.

There are plenty of questions that could be storming your mind after reading about this procedure. Is it painful? Is it costly? Is it really long-lasting?

Let’s take a look at the biggest benefits of the all-on-6 dental implants to clear your doubts:

• Patients with multiple missing teeth can solve their problem through one procedure. You don’t have to struggle for several months to individually fix them. Faster treatment = faster recovery time.
• Improves oral functionality and chewing efficiency.
• Allows you to communicate smoothly without any speech defects.
• Usually, there are no complex processes involved like bone grafting or sinus lift surgery in this procedure.
• It’s much faster to wrap up this procedure compared to traditional dental implant surgeries.
• It’s less expensive than traditional dental implant surgeries.
• Offer long-term durability and resilience. They can last for over 20 years without needing any repair or replacement.
• All-on-6 dental implants are easier to clean and preserve compared to alternatives.
• Improves your jawline and restores your natural smile aesthetics.
• Improves your confidence and quality of life.
• Ideal for people who have a strong gag reflex while using removable dentures.

Visualizing All-on-6 Implant Results: Before and After Photos

All-on-6 implants can impact your dental transformation so dramatically that you might get accused of using Photoshop when you share pictures. That’s how perfect they are! You have to see it to believe it.

Let’s take you through some real-life transformations to see for yourself:

• A patient came for a checkup with multiple missing teeth and severe dental misalignment. Proper tooth fabrication was an impractical solution for her. However, she did have strong lower teeth. It allowed her dentist to place  all-on-6 implants for her upper jaw. She was grateful to go through an easy and pain-free procedure and overjoyed to see her dazzling new smile.
• A patient had lost nearly all his upper teeth due to severe Periodontal disease. A customized smile design and surgical stent ensured his all-on-6 implant surgery went through smoothly. He got his new teeth on the same day and received his final prosthesis after five months of healing. He was ecstatic to see the massive aesthetic and functional improvements overnight. It gave him a strong bite that even allowed him to eat his favorite steak meals again without any worries.
• A man came in with severe tooth decay after avoiding dental visits for nearly 25 years. All the rotten teeth in his upper and lower jaw had to be removed after sedating him. He received six implants in the upper and lower jaw. He woke up with his natural smile that had become a distant memory and enjoyed being able to eat his meals fearlessly.

Understanding the Cost of All-on-6 Implants

Sounds too good to be true? What’s the catch? Probably the cost for most patients. We like to be upfront with all our patients about the value they’re paying for. Yes, all-on-6 and all-on-4 dental implants are expensive.

An average all-on-6 dental implant costs anywhere between $25,000 to $35,000 per jaw.

An average all-on-4 dental implant costs anywhere between $12,000 to $24,000 per jaw.

Dr. Mansoor’s dental implant treatments cover every step of your journey to a happy and healthy smile, including:

• Pre-surgical workup.
• Digital high-resolution scanning to give you a fully customized smile design to restore. your natural smile.
• Laser-guided implant placement for pinpoint precision while fitting your implants.
• Essential aftercare guidance.
• A lifetime warranty for your dental implants.

We will do a detailed examination of your mouth, nerves, sinuses, and bones. We’ll also take into account your medical history, dental conditions, age, and lifestyle to give you the safest solution possible.

We even offer FREE implants for veterans. So if you’ve served our country, allow us to thank you by bringing back your perfect smile.

Remember what you’re really paying for.

You’re not just getting a fancy cosmetic fix. These procedures are necessary when you’ve faced dental devastation you can’t come back from. They can restore your perfect smile, strengthen your bite, and prevent any life-threatening complications caused by further decay – all within a few hours.

Imagine how much time, money, and suffering you save by sorting these issues out with one or two appointments.

The charges for this procedure may vary based on the following factors:

• Your dentist’s experience and specialization – Highly accredited and experienced dentists will charge higher for almost every dental consultation or procedure. Their success rate and high demand gives them the privilege to charge more.
• Implant materials – Titanium implants are the most widely used option. However, they can trigger an allergic reaction in some patients. So they may have to pick a ceramic-based material like zirconia, which can shoot up your costs. Porcelain is a strong and long-lasting material for your dentures, but it is quite expensive. Zirconia teeth are even more expensive. You can choose a composite resin or acrylic instead to save money.
• Diagnostic and imaging work – Consult your dentist about how much coverage you can get for important testing procedures before getting implants.
• Additional treatments – In certain cases, the teeth and gum conditions can be so bad that it’s not possible to get implants right away. You may need to go through certain procures like bone grafting, sinus lift, extractions, and gum treatment before it.

Payment Options and Financing for All-on-6 Implants

We’ll help review your dental insurance coverage to give you the ideal payment plan through a 3^rd party financing company such as Care credit. You can even use our in-office discount plan to score a better deal for your perfect smile.

Dr. Hanna believes in making every patient a partner in their decisions. So don’t let your budget limitations discourage you. We offer plenty of flexible payment solutions to finance your implants without being overwhelmed. You can get a special discount for paying your bill in full.

Medical and Dental Insurance Coverage for All-on-6 Implants

Insurance should be an empowerment, not a roadblock for your treatment. If you’re reading this, we want to assure you we do everything possible to get you treated whether you have dental insurance or not.

Apart from Medicaid Access and Cigna HMO, we work with almost every major insurance provider including:

• United Health Care
• Delta Dental
• Cigna
• Metlife
• Aetna
• Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Guardian

Dr. Mansoor offers special pre-negotiated rates for dental implants if your insurance provider is in our network. We’ll still try to sort out an affordable plan with your insurance company even if they’re not in our network.

You can choose from a number of long-term payment plans and take advantage of our service discounts.

High-quality care at affordable rates is what we aim for because we love giving you more reasons to smile.

The Step-by-Step Process to Get All-on-6 Implants

Here’s a step-by-step walkthrough of what to expect when you get an all-on-6 dental implant:

Consultation & preparation – Our staff is dedicated to making you comfortable through every step of the procedure. Briefing you about the implant process and answering your doubts is part of that initiative. You’ll be given a prescription for pre-op antibiotics along with instructions to safely consume them. We’ll also finalize your anesthesia options to ensure you have a pain-free experience.

Implant surgery – Any remaining teeth will be extracted so all 6 anchors can be placed in your upper or lower jaw. The tooth implant sites may continue to bleed after the surgery for some time. You can minimize this by reclining back. Hold an ice pack to the outside of your mouth to reduce the pain. You’ll also be given detailed aftercare instructions about your medication and oral hygiene routine.

Fitting temporary dentures – Dr. Mansoor will actively monitor your healing progress and check in with you to take the next step. Now you’ll be given a temporary prosthesis after a thorough examination of your implant functionality. You can usually get them fitted within 7 days of the implant surgery.

Fitting permanent dentures – It may take between 2-6 months for your jaw to be fully prepared for fixed dentures. We have to wait till your wounds have healed and the implants have fused into the jawbone. Now you’ll able to enjoy the real benefits of your surgery.

Potential Problems and Maintenance Issues with All-on-4 Implants

All-on-4 and all-on-6 dental implants require a major adjustment period for your gums and jawbone. You may feel increased sensitivity as your wounds slowly heal over the next few months. Chewing your food may feel unnatural initially. Maybe you face some speech issues pronouncing certain sounds too.

Remember, your aftercare checklist is only meant to accelerate your healing process.

Here are some important maintenance guidelines to follow:

• Slowly transition from liquid to soft foods over a few weeks after your implant surgery.
• Use an ice pack to reduce swelling.
• Don’t poke around or touch the surgical sites.
• Follow the recommended medication course.
• Avoid carbonated beverages, alcohol, tobacco, and smoke of any kind in your mouth.
• Avoid strenuous activity for at least 48 hours after your surgery.
• Don’t suck any food or liquid through a straw for at least 48 hours after surgery.

Comparing All-on-6 and All-on-4 Implants in Terms of Resilience to Failures

Both All-on-6 and all-on-4 implants are all-star solutions for people with severe irreparable dental damage. The procedures are almost similar, but there are a few differences that stand out. Your dentist will know which option suits your needs.

Aside from the obvious difference in the cost and number of implants, here are some other key differences between them:

• All-on-6 implants provide enhanced security and reliability.
• There’s a greater possibility of you needing bone grafting to get all-on-6 implants.
• All-on-6 implants are harder to clean because of the higher number of implants.
• All-on-4 dental implants are angled in structure while all-on-6 ones are straight.