All-on-4® replaces every tooth in an arch with a fixed bridge anchored on four precisely angled implants. It’s often possible without bone grafting — and you leave the day of surgery with teeth.
You don’t need an implant for every missing tooth. Four well-placed implants can carry a complete arch of 10 to 14 teeth.
The two front implants go in straight. The two back implants are tilted — up to about 45 degrees — so they reach the denser bone toward the front of the jaw and steer clear of the sinuses in the upper jaw and the nerve in the lower jaw. That angle is what lets many patients skip bone grafting, even after years of bone loss.
Titanium fuses with living bone, so the bridge is held as firmly as natural roots hold teeth. For the whole mouth, that’s typically eight implants: four on top and four on the bottom. If your bone is softer, Dr. Planes may recommend a fifth or sixth implant for extra support — your 3D scan decides.
It’s the most efficient way to go from failing teeth or dentures to a fixed smile.
How a four-implant arch stacks up against placing an implant for every tooth — and against a conventional denture.
| Feature | All-on-4® | Implant per tooth | Conventional denture |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implants per arch | 4 (sometimes 5–6) | 8–12 | None |
| Bone grafting | Often not needed | Frequently needed | — |
| Teeth on surgery day | Fixed temporary arch | Sometimes | Same-day denture |
| Treatment time | 3–6 months total | 6–12+ months | Weeks |
| Stability | Fixed | Fixed | Moves when eating |
| Relative cost | $$$ | $$$$$ | $ |
All-on-4® is the foundation. The bridge it carries can be made in two materials — and you can start with one and upgrade later.
Acrylic teeth on a reinforced frame. Lighter and easier to adjust, with a lower up-front cost. Acrylic wears and can stain or chip over time, and typically needs refreshing every several years.
Milled from a single block of high-strength ceramic in our in-house lab, then shaded and glazed by hand. Zirconia resists chipping, staining and odour, and looks remarkably lifelike.
The best way to know is a 3D scan. In general, it suits you if:
All-on-4® isn’t always the answer — and we’ll say so.
Retirees, business owners, grandparents — people from Sebastian to Stuart who decided they were done hiding their smiles.
For years I cropped myself out of every family photo. Now my granddaughter tells me to stop smiling so much. I never invested in myself before — this was the best money I have ever spent.
I was losing a tooth every few months and living on soup. I came in on a Tuesday with a mouth full of problems and drove home the same evening with fixed teeth. First thing I ate the next week was a grouper sandwich.
Two other offices told me I didn’t have enough bone. Dr. Planes showed me my 3D scan, explained exactly where the implants could go, and never once rushed me. Physically, I just feel better.
I was terrified of dentists. With IV sedation I remember checking in and then waking up with teeth. The team called me that night and again the next morning to see how I was doing.
My lower denture floated around every time I talked. Four implants later it snaps in and stays put. I wish somebody had told me ten years ago this was an option.
Seeing my Smile Design Preview before anything was done made the decision easy. The final teeth look exactly like the preview — natural, not that fake bright white.
Can’t find your question? Call (772) 302-4518 — a treatment coordinator will answer it.
All dental implant questionsFour per arch for most people — eight for a full mouth. Softer bone or a larger arch sometimes calls for five or six. Your 3D CBCT scan and Dr. Planes’ review determine the number before you commit.
Yes. Many patients treat one arch first — often the one causing problems — and the other later. Your plan will show how both arches are designed to work together.
Often, yes. The angled rear implants are designed for exactly that situation. When bone is extremely thin we can graft at the same visit or use alternative implant positions; you’ll know which before scheduling.
Roughly two to three hours per arch, including extractions. You’ll be sedated and comfortable, and you go home with fixed temporary teeth the same day.
It’s uncommon, but if an implant fails to fuse with bone we replace it. Your temporary bridge is usually supported by the remaining implants while that site heals. Ask your coordinator for the written warranty terms.
They overlap. “Teeth in a Day” describes receiving fixed temporary teeth on the day of surgery; All-on-4® describes how the arch is anchored. Most of our All-on-4® patients receive their teeth the same day.
Six quick questions, about a minute. A treatment coordinator will follow up with pricing and financing options that fit your situation — no obligation.
