All-on-6 Implants

What is All-on-6?

All-on-6 dental implants in Istanbul restore a complete jaw with a fixed bridge anchored to six implants distributed along the arch. Compared with All-on-4, the two additional fixtures are usually placed further back, so the bridge is supported closer to the molars where chewing forces are greatest.

The result is a shorter cantilever at the back of the bridge, a more even distribution of load, and a degree of redundancy: if one implant were ever lost, the bridge could often be maintained on the remaining five. It belongs to the same family of full-arch dental implant treatments and follows the same biological timeline.

Who should consider All-on-6?

The protocol is preferred when the scan shows enough bone along the arch to place six implants and when the case would benefit from wider support. Your dentist confirms suitability after examination and CBCT imaging; the decision is anatomical and functional, never a matter of preference alone.

• Patients with a strong bite, a history of clenching or bruxism
• Long or wide arches where four implants would leave a long unsupported section
• Upper jaws with softer bone, where extra fixtures compensate for lower density
• Patients whose opposing jaw has natural teeth or a fixed bridge, which transmits higher forces
• Patients who want maximum long-term margin from the outset

When bone must be built first

Placing implants at the back of the upper jaw often means working close to the sinus. Where height is insufficient, a sinus lift is carried out beforehand or at the same time, and areas of thin ridge may receive bone grafting. This can add a healing stage but yields a more robust final result.

The procedure step by step

The clinical sequence mirrors other full-arch protocols, with more attention paid to posterior bone and sinus anatomy during planning.

• Examination, photographs, digital scan and CBCT of both jaws
• Digital planning of six implant positions, abutment angles and bridge design
• Extraction of any hopeless teeth and implant placement under local anaesthetic with optional sedation
• Fixed temporary bridge on the same day where stability allows, otherwise a removable temporary
• Three to six months of integration at home with remote follow-up
• Impressions, framework try-in and fitting of the permanent zirconia bridge

Advantages and considerations

More implants mean each carries less load, the bridge flexes less, and the cantilever behind the last implant is short or absent. That translates into lower stress on screws and framework, and greater resilience for patients who clench. In the upper jaw, where bone is generally softer, the extra fixtures add stability during the integration period as well.

The considerations are practical. Six sites require more bone, and preparing that bone can add a stage. Surgery is somewhat longer, and swelling correspondingly more noticeable. Where the anatomy simply does not offer six good sites, forcing the protocol would be worse than choosing All-on-4 well.

Healing and aftercare

Expect swelling and bruising for about a week, controlled with medication and cold compresses. Rest for the first two days, then a gradual return to normal activity. Sutures are checked before you fly home and dissolve or are removed over the following weeks.

As with every full-arch protocol, the temporary bridge is protected by a soft-to-medium diet throughout integration. Cleaning follows the routine in the aftercare guide, and a night guard is provided with the final bridge for anyone who clenches.

All-on-6 or All-on-4: how the choice is made

Both protocols deliver a fixed full-arch bridge and both are well documented. All-on-4 wins where posterior bone is limited and grafting is to be avoided; All-on-6 wins where posterior bone exists and the case would benefit from wider support or redundancy. The bite, the opposing dentition, bone density and arch length are weighed together on the CBCT scan.

Patients sometimes assume six must always be better than four. It is not; a well-placed All-on-4 in suitable bone outperforms an All-on-6 forced into compromised sites. The decision is made with you, in writing, after imaging, and the treatment guide explains the reasoning behind each recommendation.

Planning All-on-6 as an international patient

Allow five to seven days for the surgical visit, longer if a sinus lift or grafting is combined, and six to eight days for the final restoration. Between the two, integration is followed remotely with photographs and messages, and a home dentist can review the temporary bridge if you wish.

Both arches can be treated in one surgical visit when appropriate. Airport transfers, accommodation guidance and the appointment sequence are arranged for you and described on the international patients page.

• Trip one: 5–7 days, imaging, surgery and temporary bridge
• At home: 3–6 months with remote follow-up
• Trip two: 6–8 days, impressions, try-in and permanent bridge

Risks and warning signs

Risks include early loss of an implant, sinus irritation after posterior placement in the upper jaw, temporary numbness near the lower jaw nerve, and fracture of the temporary if the diet is neglected. Planning around the anatomy and honest adherence to instructions keep all of these uncommon.

Report worsening pain after day three, nasal discharge or pressure that does not settle, a loose or clicking bridge, or persistent numbness. Photographs sent to the clinic allow most concerns to be resolved without an extra appointment.