All-on-4, All-on-6 or All-on-8: Differences and How to Choose

All-on-4, All-on-6 and All-on-8 refer to how many implants support a complete fixed dental arch: four, six or eight respectively. The difference is not "more is better", but depends on the quantity and quality of the bone and on how the chewing load is distributed. This guide explains what each protocol means, when it is indicated and how the choice is made.

What All-on-4, All-on-6 and All-on-8 mean

All-on-4, All-on-6 and All-on-8 are protocols for rehabilitating a whole dental arch with a fixed prosthesis supported, respectively, by four, six or eight implants. The "4", "6" and "8" simply indicate the number of implants that act as pillars for the complete arch. In all three the result for the patient is similar — fixed, non-removable teeth — but the way the load is spread over the bone changes.

More implants mean more points of support and a load distributed over a larger surface. It is not, however, a scale where "eight is always better than four": each extra implant needs enough bone to be placed safely. The choice, then, is not a matter of preference or budget, but of anatomy. You can see the general framing on our dental implants page.

All-on-4: when four implants are enough

All-on-4 supports a complete arch on four implants, with the two rear ones placed at an angle to make use of the available bone and avoid, in many cases, additional procedures such as a sinus lift. It is the protocol designed for people with reduced but sufficient bone volume, and it often allows immediate loading: a fixed temporary arch the same day as surgery.

It is a well-established and heavily documented solution, indicated for patients who have lost all or almost all the teeth in an arch, or who wear a removable denture and want a fixed alternative. Four well-placed implants, on adequate bone, offer a stable base. The decisive check remains the 3D CT scan, which measures bone volume and density at every point of the arch.

All-on-6: when six implants are needed

All-on-6 distributes the arch over six implants. The two extra pillars compared with All-on-4 increase the points of support and spread the chewing load over a wider surface, something that can matter in arches with greater chewing force or when the bone allows it and lets the supporting structure be reinforced.

It is typically considered when there is enough bone to place six implants and when the case benefits from a more distributed load. It is not "safer" by definition: it is more indicated in specific anatomical and functional conditions. Here too the decision comes from the three-dimensional image of the bone and from clinical assessment, not from a fixed rule that is the same for everyone.

All-on-8: for which cases it is considered

All-on-8 uses eight implants to support the arch and is considered above all for wide arches, usually the upper one, or when maximum load distribution over a high number of pillars is wanted. It does, however, require greater bone availability, because each implant has to be placed where bone volume is adequate.

It is the least common of the three protocols, reserved for selected cases after careful radiological assessment. Precisely because it depends so much on individual anatomy, we do not publish a standard price for All-on-8: the quote is defined case by case after the 3D CT scan and consultation. You can find the ranges for the solutions with a published price on our transparent price list.

Immediate loading: fixed teeth in a day

Immediate loading is the possibility of screwing a fixed temporary arch onto the implants the same day as surgery, so you leave the practice with fixed teeth rather than without teeth. It is possible when the implants reach enough primary stability at the moment of placement — a condition that is verified during surgery, not promised beforehand.

The definitive prosthesis comes later, after the three to six months of osseointegration needed for the bone to bond stably with the implants. Immediate loading applies to all three protocols, but is often associated with All-on-4 because it was created precisely to restore chewing function quickly. It is an important practical advantage, not a biological shortcut: bone healing times stay the same.

How the choice is made: the 3D scan decides, not the number

The choice between All-on-4, All-on-6 and All-on-8 is clinical before it is economic. The factors that determine it are the volume and density of the residual bone, the distribution of the chewing load, the shape of the arch and general health. None of these is assessed on a photograph: they need a 3D CT scan and an examination.

• Amount of bone: how much volume is available and where, to place the implants safely.
• Load distribution: how to spread the chewing force across the arch.
• Additional procedures: whether a bone graft or sinus lift is needed when bone is not enough.
• General health: medical conditions and habits (for example smoking) that affect healing.

That is why we are wary of plans decided remotely on a single photo: the right number of implants for you emerges only from the real three-dimensional image of the bone. At Gaia Clinic CBCT/3D diagnostics are performed on site, in a roughly 650 m² facility with an Italian-Albanian team and certification from the National Institute of Public Health (ISH).

The material of the definitive prosthesis

The number of implants is only half the choice: the other half is the material of the final arch that screws on top. It is a decision separate from the protocol — it applies to All-on-4, All-on-6 and All-on-8 — and it affects the aesthetics, the weight, the strength and the final quote. It is worth understanding before signing, because two quotes with the same number of implants can differ precisely here.

The two most common options are considered alongside the clinical case:

• Acrylic resin on a titanium framework: lighter, cushions the load well and is relatively easy to repair. The resin aesthetic component does tend to wear and stain more than ceramic over time, and needs periodic touch-ups.
• Zirconia: a more natural aesthetic result and a surface very resistant to stains and wear. It is more rigid and involves more complex processing; it is considered when aesthetics and colour stability over time are priorities.

There is no material that is "best" for everyone: the choice depends on the arch (upper or lower), the aesthetics wanted, chewing habits and budget. Because it changes the cost of the work, the final price of the prosthesis is only set at the quote stage, after the 3D CT scan. It is another reason a figure decided remotely, without knowing which material it includes, cannot be compared with a detailed quote.

Costs: what we know and what depends on the case

At Gaia Clinic the prices of the standard solutions are published: an All-on-4 rehabilitation of one arch starts from €6,500 and All-on-6 from €7,900. These are "from" prices, because the real cost depends on the material of the prosthesis, any preliminary procedures and your specific case. For All-on-8, as noted, there is no standard price: it is defined after the 3D CT scan.

The number of implants affects the quote, but it must not become the criterion for choosing. Choosing All-on-4 only because it costs less, when the case would call for six implants, or paying for eight implants when four would be enough, are both mistakes. The correct logic is the opposite: first the right solution is established clinically, then the cost is read. Learn more about how long these solutions last in the guide on how long dental implants last.

Frequently asked questions

Is All-on-6 better than All-on-4?

Not in absolute terms. All-on-6 adds two points of support and spreads the load over a larger surface, but it needs more bone and is not automatically safer. All-on-4 is the right choice when available bone is reduced but sufficient. Which protocol is best for you depends on your anatomy, which is assessed only with a 3D CT scan.

Can I have fixed teeth the same day?

In many cases yes, thanks to immediate loading: a fixed temporary arch is screwed onto the implants the day of surgery. It is possible when the implants reach enough primary stability, a condition verified during surgery. The definitive prosthesis comes after the three to six months of osseointegration needed for the bone to integrate with the implants.

Why don't you publish the price of All-on-8?

Because it depends too much on the individual case to have an honest standard price. All-on-8 requires greater bone availability and is considered for wide arches or particular situations. The quote is defined after the 3D CT scan and consultation, so it reflects your real case rather than a generic estimate. The solutions with a published price are on our transparent list.

How do I know how many implants I need?

With a 3D CT scan and a clinical examination. The amount and density of bone, the load distribution and the shape of the arch determine the right number of implants. No serious plan is decided on a photograph or remotely. At Gaia Clinic 3D diagnostics are performed on site and guide every decision before any quote.

How long before the definitive prosthesis?

Usually three to six months, the time osseointegration needs for the bone to bond stably with the implants. During this phase you wear the fixed temporary arch, where immediate loading is possible. Only once osseointegration is complete is the definitive prosthesis made, in the chosen material. The exact time depends on individual healing and is checked at follow-ups.

Zirconia or resin on titanium for the definitive arch?

It depends on your priorities. Zirconia has a more natural aesthetic result and resists stains and wear better; resin on titanium is lighter, cushions the load and is easier to repair. The choice is made with the clinician based on the arch, the aesthetics wanted and chewing habits. The material cost is part of the quote defined after the 3D CT scan.

If you are weighing up a full rehabilitation and want to understand which protocol suits your case, the starting point is a real diagnosis. Tell us your situation and get a free quote, written and with no obligation, within 24 hours. Reviewed by the Gaia clinical team.