Medically reviewed by Dr. Timur Mozner, DDS - General Dentistry | 20+ Years Experience | Last Updated: September 2026
The difference is the number of implants that anchor your new arch of teeth. All-on-4 uses four implants, All-on-6 uses six. All-on-4 usually costs less and can work with less bone, because the back implants are angled to grab denser bone and often skip grafting. All-on-6 spreads the bite across two more implants, which some cases need for stability. Your jaw decides which one fits, and that is read from a 3D scan before anything is scheduled.
The Core Difference: Four Angled Implants Versus Six Upright Ones
Both procedures replace a full arch of missing or failing teeth with a fixed bridge that stays in your mouth. Neither slips, and neither comes out at night. What changes is how the load is carried.
All-on-4 places two straight implants at the front of the arch and two implants tilted at the back, sometimes up to 45 degrees. That tilt lets the surgeon anchor into the denser bone near the front of the jaw and reach past the thin or hollow areas at the back, which is often where bone has shrunk after teeth are lost.
All-on-6 adds two more implants, usually placed further back and more upright. Six anchor points share the biting force, so each implant takes less strain. Where the bone is there to support them, more implants can mean a more even load across a longer bridge.
Side-by-Side: How All-on-4 and All-on-6 Compare
| Factor | All-on-4 | All-on-6 |
|---|---|---|
| Implants per arch | 4 (2 straight, 2 angled) | 6 (spread across the arch) |
| Bone needed | Less; angled implants often avoid grafting | More, especially at the back of the jaw |
| Bone graft or sinus lift | Frequently avoided | More often required if bone is thin |
| Load distribution | Carried by four points | Shared across six points |
| Surgery length | Shorter | Slightly longer |
| Typical cost | Lower of the two | Higher, more implants and time |
| Same-day temporary teeth | Yes, in most cases | Yes, in most cases |
The right column is not automatically the better one. More implants only help when there is enough healthy bone to hold them. Force six implants into a jaw that cannot support them and you gain nothing.
Which Costs Less: All-on-4, Because It Uses Fewer Implants
All-on-4 is the lower-cost option in almost every practice. Two fewer implants, less surgical time, and a lower chance of needing bone grafting all pull the price down. Nationally, full-arch treatment in zirconia runs roughly $25,000 to $38,000 per arch, and the All-on-6 version tends to sit at the higher end because of the extra hardware and chair time.
All-on-4 typically lands lower than All-on-6, since it uses two fewer implants and less chair time. Your final number is set less by the implant count alone and more by what your case needs: extractions, whether a bone graft or sinus lift is required, and the material chosen for the permanent bridge. Ask for an itemized quote before treatment starts, so you can see the surgical fee, the bridge, and any grafting listed separately rather than folded into one figure.
That range sits above the low prices in national teeth-in-a-day advertising for a reason worth checking. A full-arch case includes a surgeon's time, the implants, a bridge fabricated on the day of surgery, and a permanent bridge built afterward. Where a headline price looks far lower, ask which of those four pieces it actually covers.
Your Jawbone Decides the Choice, and a 3D Scan Reads It
You do not pick All-on-4 or All-on-6 off a menu. The decision comes from what your bone can support, and that is measured, not estimated.
Before any full-arch plan is set, Creative Dental of Syosset takes a 3D cone-beam scan of your jaw. It shows bone volume and density in three dimensions and maps the position of nerves and the sinus floor, which a flat X-ray cannot do. If the scan shows solid bone across the arch, All-on-6 may be on the table. If bone is limited at the back of the jaw, All-on-4 with angled implants is often the more realistic path.
Where bone is short for either option, bone grafting before an implant is sometimes possible, though it only works in limited situations and it usually adds months before implants can go in. Smoking, gum health, and how well conditions like diabetes are controlled all factor in too. You are told which option fits your case before you commit to anything.
Who Does What: A Surgeon Places the Implants, Dr. Mozner Builds Your Teeth
A full-arch case is a team effort with a clear split of roles. Dr. Mozner plans the case from your cone-beam scan, delivers the same-day temporary bridge, and makes and fits the permanent bridge about three to four months later, once the implants have fused to the bone.
That restorative phase is where the outcome is shaped. Your bite design, the fit of the bridge, and the final look of your arch are handled by the dentist you keep seeing for check-ups and follow-up care afterward. Dr. Mozner holds advanced training in implant dentistry, including bone grafting and sinus lifts.
Both Options Send You Home With Teeth the Same Day
Whether your plan is All-on-4 or All-on-6, most patients leave on the day of surgery with a full fixed set of teeth. Those same-day teeth are a temporary bridge screwed onto the implants, not your final one. The permanent bridge follows once the implants have fused to the bone over three to four months.
That immediate bridge is the point of the modern approach. There is no stretch of weeks spent without teeth while you heal.
You eat soft food while the surgical sites settle, move toward firmer food over the healing months, and return to a normal diet once the permanent bridge is seated.
When Each Option Tends to Make Sense
All-on-4 tends to fit patients who have lost bone at the back of the jaw, who want to avoid grafting where possible, and who are weighing cost carefully. The angled implants make use of the bone that is still there.
All-on-6 tends to fit patients with enough healthy bone across the whole arch who want the load spread across more anchor points, and it is more often discussed for lower arches or for people with heavy bite forces. It more frequently calls for grafting or a sinus lift when bone is thin.
Neither is universally better. The scan and your bite decide it, case by case.
Full-Arch Implant Care at Creative Dental of Syosset
Creative Dental of Syosset is a general practice on South Oyster Bay Road, serving Syosset, Oyster Bay, Plainview, and the surrounding Long Island area. Dr. Timur Mozner trained at SUNY Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine, completed an AEGD residency at NYU, and was named to America's Best Dentists in 2015, 2017, and 2021.
Full-arch patients often arrive after years of temporary fixes and a lot of hesitation. The consultation starts with the cone-beam scan and a straight conversation about which option your bone can support and whether same-day teeth are realistic for you. For patients who find dental work difficult, noise-canceling headphones are available.
You can review our insurance information before your visit. For the six-implant version in full, read our All-on-6 dental implants guide, or see the full dental implants overview.
To find out whether All-on-4 or All-on-6 fits your jaw, book a full-arch consultation or call (516) 921-3290. Creative Dental of Syosset, 34 S Oyster Bay Rd, Syosset, NY 11791.
Common Questions About All-on-4 vs All-on-6
Is All-on-6 stronger than All-on-4?
More implants share the biting load, which can help in arches with the bone to support six. That does not make All-on-6 the right answer for everyone. In a jaw with limited bone at the back, four angled implants placed into denser bone can be the more stable and predictable choice.
Why does All-on-4 usually cost less?
Two fewer implants, shorter surgery, and a lower likelihood of needing bone grafting all reduce the price. All-on-4 typically lands toward the lower end, with grafting, sinus lifts, and bridge material moving your final number.
Do I get to choose between All-on-4 and All-on-6?
The choice comes from your cone-beam scan and your bite, not from a preference. The scan shows how much healthy bone you have and where, which determines how many implants your jaw can support.
Can I get same-day teeth with either option?
Yes, in most cases. Both All-on-4 and All-on-6 can send you home with a fixed temporary bridge on the day of surgery, as long as the implants are stable enough on day one to carry it.
What if my scan shows I do not have enough bone?
Bone grafting or a sinus lift is sometimes an option, though it works only in limited situations and adds months before implants can be placed. In some cases a staged plan is the safer route, and you are told which applies before you decide.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please schedule a consultation with our team to discuss your individual needs.