If most or all of the teeth in one jaw are missing or failing, a full arch can be carried on four to six implants instead of one per tooth. It is a bigger undertaking than a single implant, and the planning matters more.
All-on-4 and All-on-6: what the numbers mean
The number is how many implants carry the arch. Fewer implants placed at an angle can sometimes use bone that would otherwise need grafting; more implants distribute load differently. Which is appropriate is a function of your bone volume, bite force and opposing teeth – not a preference.
We will show you both options on your own 3D scan and explain why we are recommending one.
Timeline and visits
Full-arch treatment is usually two phases. Surgery with a temporary prosthesis, then the final prosthesis after healing.
- Phase 1 – assessment, extractions if needed, implant placement, temporary teeth. Plan on 7 to 10 days in Korea.
- Healing – typically 3 to 6 months, spent at home with the temporary in place.
- Phase 2 – final prosthesis, fitted and adjusted over roughly 7 to 14 days.
You should not expect to leave the first trip without teeth. A temporary prosthesis is part of the plan.
Living with a full arch
A fixed full arch is cleaned differently from natural teeth – interdental brushes, a water flosser, and regular professional maintenance. We teach this before you leave, in English, and give you written instructions.
Long-term maintenance is not optional. Implants do not decay, but the gum and bone around them can become inflamed, and that is what puts a full arch at risk.
We give you a written treatment plan and a cost estimate before anything begins, so you know the total before you commit. If the plan changes after we see your CT scan, we tell you why and what it changes before we proceed.
Frequently asked questions
Will I have teeth when I fly home after surgery?
Yes. A temporary prosthesis is fitted as part of the first phase. It is not the final result and it has eating restrictions, which we explain in writing.
How long should I stay in Korea for the first phase?
Plan on 7 to 10 days. We confirm the exact schedule after we review your scan, so you can book flights around it.
Is All-on-4 suitable if I have very little bone left?
Sometimes – angled placement can use bone that a conventional approach cannot. But there is a limit, and in some cases a graft or a different design is the honest answer. The CT scan decides.
What happens if one implant fails later?
A full-arch design usually allows a failing implant to be addressed without redoing the whole arch, but it depends which one and where. Contact us with images and we will advise.
Related treatments
Ask us before you travel
Send a recent X-ray or a clear photo and tell us what is bothering you. We will reply in English with what the treatment involves, how many visits it needs, and how long to stay in Korea.
Email Us in English