Replace a Full Arch With Fixed Implant-Supported Teeth
All-on-4® dental implants provide a fixed full-arch tooth replacement option for patients who are missing most or all of their teeth or whose remaining teeth can no longer be predictably restored.
Instead of placing an individual dental implant for every missing tooth, the All-on-4 treatment concept uses four strategically positioned dental implants to support a complete upper or lower arch of replacement teeth.
For appropriately selected patients, a temporary fixed set of teeth may be attached on the same day the implants are placed. After the implants have healed and integrated with the jawbone, the temporary restoration is replaced according to the final restorative plan.
At Beverly Hills Cosmetic & Implant Center, Dr. Tamir Shams plans, places, and restores All-on-4 dental implants within one practice. With 19 years of dental implant experience and more than 2,000 implants placed, Dr. Shams combines 3D treatment planning, implant surgery, and restorative dentistry to create an individualized full-arch treatment plan.
- What Are All-on-4 Dental Implants?
- Why Do Patients Choose All-on-4?
- Who Is a Candidate for All-on-4 Dental Implants?
- The All-on-4 Treatment Process
- Are All-on-4 Dental Implants Painful?
- How Long Do All-on-4 Dental Implants Last?
- How to Care for All-on-4 Dental Implants
- All-on-4 vs. Traditional Dentures
- All-on-4 vs. 3-on-6 Dental Implants
- How Much Do All-on-4 Dental Implants Cost in Beverly Hills?
A 3D scan, a clear answer on which option fits you, and a written plan with timeline and cost. No obligation.
What Are All-on-4 Dental Implants?
All-on-4 is a full-arch dental implant treatment designed to replace an entire row of teeth using four dental implants as the foundation for a fixed restoration.
The implants are strategically positioned within the jaw to support a complete arch of replacement teeth.
Unlike a traditional removable denture, an All-on-4 restoration is secured to dental implants and is not routinely removed by the patient.
The treatment can be used for the:
- Upper arch
- Lower arch
- Both upper and lower arches when full-mouth rehabilitation is necessary
The goal is to provide stable, functional replacement teeth while using a carefully planned number of implants to support the complete arch.
Why Do Patients Choose All-on-4?
For the right candidate, All-on-4 can provide several advantages over conventional removable dentures or replacing every missing tooth with an individual implant.
Potential benefits include:
A Complete Arch Supported by Four Implants
Four strategically positioned dental implants can support an entire arch of replacement teeth, eliminating the need to place one implant for every missing tooth.
Fixed Implant-Supported Teeth
The restoration is secured to the implants rather than relying primarily on the gums for support. Patients do not routinely remove their fixed All-on-4 teeth at night or use denture adhesives to keep them in position.
Same-Day Temporary Teeth for Qualified Patients
When adequate implant stability and other clinical requirements are achieved, patients may be able to leave the office with temporary fixed teeth on the day of implant surgery.
These are temporary teeth used during healing—not the final restoration.
May Reduce the Need for Bone Grafting in Certain Cases
The strategic positioning of All-on-4 implants may allow some patients to use available bone without a separate grafting procedure.
However, All-on-4 does not guarantee that bone grafting can always be avoided. Your individual bone anatomy must be evaluated with 3D imaging.
Support for the Jawbone
Like other dental implants, All-on-4 implants transfer functional forces into the jawbone and can help maintain bone around the implant sites.
Customized Smile Design
The full-arch restoration can be designed around tooth size, shape, shade, proportion, bite, and overall facial appearance to create a smile that looks appropriate for the individual patient.
Who Is a Candidate for All-on-4 Dental Implants?
All-on-4 may be an option for patients who:
- Are missing all or most teeth in an upper or lower arch
- Have multiple failing or severely damaged teeth
- Currently wear removable dentures
- Want to explore a fixed alternative to traditional dentures
- Have sufficient bone in appropriate areas to support implant placement
- Are medically able to undergo dental implant surgery
- Are willing to maintain appropriate oral hygiene and professional follow-up
Patients with some degree of jawbone loss may still qualify for All-on-4.
Because implant position can be planned according to the patient’s available anatomy, certain patients who would require grafting for other implant approaches may be candidates without a separate bone graft.
A clinical examination and CBCT 3D scan are necessary to determine whether this applies to your individual case.
The All-on-4 Treatment Process
Your exact treatment sequence is customized according to your oral health, anatomy, and restorative needs.
Consultation & 3D Scan
Treatment begins with an evaluation of your teeth, gums, bite, jawbone, medical history, and goals.
CBCT imaging provides three-dimensional information about your bone and surrounding anatomical structures to help determine whether All-on-4 is appropriate.
Digital Treatment Planning
Dr. Shams uses your examination and imaging to plan the position of the four implants with the intended final restoration in mind.
Your treatment plan also addresses whether existing teeth need to be removed and whether any additional procedures are necessary.
Implant Surgery
On surgery day, any teeth included in the treatment plan are addressed and four dental implants are strategically positioned in the jaw.
Local anesthesia and appropriate sedation options may be used to help maintain comfort during treatment.
Temporary Fixed Teeth
If the implants achieve the necessary stability and clinical conditions are favorable, a temporary full-arch restoration may be secured to the implants.
This allows qualifying patients to leave with temporary teeth rather than remaining without an arch of teeth during healing.
Healing & Osseointegration
The implants then require time to heal and integrate with the surrounding jawbone through a process called osseointegration.
This commonly takes several months, although healing time varies.
Patients must follow dietary and oral-care instructions during this period because the implants are still integrating even though temporary teeth may already be in place.
Final Full-Arch Restoration
After appropriate healing, the restorative phase is completed according to your individualized plan.
The final teeth are carefully evaluated for fit, bite, function, aesthetics, and cleansability before treatment is completed.
Are All-on-4 Dental Implants Painful?
All-on-4 implant surgery is performed using local anesthesia, and sedation options may be available depending on the patient’s needs and treatment plan.
The anesthesia is intended to maintain comfort during the surgical procedure.
After treatment, patients can experience soreness, swelling, bruising, tenderness, and temporary changes in chewing comfort. The degree of discomfort varies according to the extent of surgery, whether teeth are extracted, individual healing, and other factors.
Dr. Shams will provide specific postoperative instructions, including recommendations for managing discomfort, eating, oral hygiene, and caring for the surgical sites.
How Long Do All-on-4 Dental Implants Last?
All-on-4 implants are intended to provide long-term support for a full-arch restoration, but no implant treatment should be guaranteed to last for a specific number of years.
Longevity depends on factors such as:
- Oral hygiene
- Gum and bone health
- Regular professional maintenance
- Smoking and tobacco use
- Medical conditions
- Teeth grinding or excessive bite forces
- Implant health
- Restoration design
- Following recommended home-care instructions
It is also important to distinguish between the dental implants and the prosthetic teeth attached to them.
The implants may remain healthy and functional while components of the full-arch restoration eventually require maintenance, adjustment, repair, or replacement.
How to Care for All-on-4 Dental Implants
Although All-on-4 teeth cannot develop cavities in the same way natural teeth can, the gum and bone tissues surrounding the implants still require consistent care.
Daily cleaning is essential.
Your home-care routine may include:
- Brushing as directed
- Cleaning underneath the full-arch restoration
- Using floss threaders or other recommended interdental aids
- Using a water flosser when appropriate
- Attending regular professional maintenance appointments
- Following individualized instructions from your dental team
Beverly Hills Cosmetic & Implant Center will show you how to clean around and underneath your implant-supported teeth.
Good maintenance helps protect the tissues supporting your implants and allows potential problems to be identified early.
All-on-4 vs. Traditional Dentures
The primary difference between All-on-4 and conventional dentures is how the replacement teeth are supported.
A traditional removable denture rests primarily on the gums and is removed by the patient for cleaning.
An All-on-4 restoration is supported by four dental implants and remains fixed in place rather than being routinely removed by the patient.
Implant support can provide greater stability and reduce movement compared with a conventional removable denture.
However, All-on-4 requires surgery and represents a different financial and maintenance commitment. The best option depends on your oral health, anatomy, goals, lifestyle, and budget.
All-on-4 vs. 3-on-6 Dental Implants
Both All-on-4 and 3-on-6 are fixed full-arch implant solutions offered at Beverly Hills Cosmetic & Implant Center, but their designs differ.
All-on-4 uses four implants to support a complete full-arch restoration.
3-on-6 uses six implants to support three separate fixed bridge segments across the arch.
Neither approach is automatically better for every patient. Bone availability, anatomy, bite, hygiene considerations, restorative space, aesthetic goals, and other clinical factors help determine which treatment is appropriate.
Dr. Shams can compare your full-arch options after evaluating your individual case.
How Much Do All-on-4 Dental Implants Cost in Beverly Hills?
All-on-4 costs vary according to the complexity of treatment and whether one or both arches require restoration.
Factors that may affect your cost include:
- Upper, lower, or both arches
- Condition of existing teeth
- Extractions
- Available bone
- Additional surgical procedures
- Temporary restoration
- Final restorative materials
- Complexity of treatment
Because four implants can support an entire arch, All-on-4 may be more cost-efficient than replacing each missing tooth with an individual implant.
At your consultation, you will receive a written treatment plan outlining the recommended treatment, timeline, and cost.
Financing options and insurance assistance may be available.
Frequently Asked Questions About All-on-4 Dental Implants
All-on-4 refers to a full-arch dental implant treatment in which four strategically positioned dental implants support a complete arch of replacement teeth.
All-on-4 is designed as a fixed restoration. The teeth remain secured to the implants and are not routinely removed by the patient. Professional removal may be performed when clinically necessary for maintenance or treatment.
Some patients can receive temporary fixed teeth on the same day their implants are placed. Eligibility depends on implant stability, available bone, oral health, bite considerations, and other clinical factors. Same-day teeth are temporary and do not eliminate the healing period.
Possibly. The strategic positioning of All-on-4 implants can allow some patients with bone loss to receive treatment without a separate grafting procedure. Other patients may still require bone augmentation or a different implant approach. A CBCT scan is necessary to evaluate your anatomy.
Implant placement and temporary teeth may occur on the same day for qualifying patients, but biological healing continues for several months. After the implants have integrated with the jawbone, treatment proceeds to the final restorative phase.
All-on-4 provides fixed implant-supported teeth, while conventional dentures are removable and primarily supported by the gums. All-on-4 may provide greater stability, but it also requires implant surgery and a different level of financial and maintenance commitment. The appropriate option depends on the individual patient.
All-on-4 uses four implants to support a complete full-arch restoration. The 3-on-6 approach uses six implants supporting three separate fixed bridge sections. Dr. Shams evaluates your anatomy, bone availability, restorative needs, and goals to determine which approach may be appropriate.
Dr. Tamir Shams, DMD, plans, places, and restores dental implants at Beverly Hills Cosmetic & Implant Center. He has practiced implant and cosmetic dentistry since 2007, has 19 years of dental implant experience, and has placed more than 2,000 dental implants.
See If You’re an All-on-4 Candidate
If you are missing most or all of your teeth, have failing teeth, or are looking for a fixed alternative to conventional dentures, All-on-4 may be one of your treatment options.