Home / All-on-4 & Full-Arch
All-on-4 and full-arch
A full arch,
screwed into place,
and it stays there.
Four to six implants carry a complete upper or lower set of teeth. It does not come out at night, it does not cover the roof of the mouth, and you do not put adhesive on it.
Why people come here
- Surgery and the finished teeth done by one dentist, under one roof
- Diplomate of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists
- Fellow of the Misch Institute — and faculty at its successor
- A written, itemized plan before anything is scheduled
The idea
Angle the back implants and you avoid the graft.
The reason four implants can carry twelve teeth is geometry. The two back implants are placed at an angle so they engage denser bone further forward, which spreads the load and — in the upper jaw — often means going around the sinus rather than lifting it.
The prosthesis is one rigid piece. Because it is screwed to the implants rather than resting on the gum, the pressure goes into bone instead of soft tissue, which is why it does not rock, rub or need to be glued down.
What it is not
It is not a denture that has been clipped on. A snap-in overdenture is a different, less expensive treatment and a perfectly good one — but it comes out, and this does not.
The day, and the months after
How a full arch is delivered.
Planning
Imaging, photographs and a design of the finished teeth. Everything downstream is built from this.
2–3 weeksSurgery day
Remaining teeth are removed, the ridge is prepared and the implants are placed. Longer than a single implant, and planned as a whole morning.
3–5 hoursThe fixed temporary
In selected cases a fixed provisional arch goes on the same day. You leave with teeth, not a gap.
Same dayHealing and soft diet
Twelve weeks of integration, on a soft diet at first. The temporary is doing a real job here, not just cosmetics.
3–4 monthsThe final arch
Scanned, made in a stronger material and fitted. The bite is refined over a couple of visits.
3–4 visitsCandidacy
Who a full arch suits.
Think again
Better served another way
- A few failing teeth in an otherwise sound arch — treat those instead
- Uncontrolled diabetes or other health issues that compromise healing
- Heavy smoking that is not going to change
- Someone who wants a fixed arch mainly because it sounds impressive
Well suited
Full-arch cases
- An upper or lower arch that is failing as a whole, not tooth by tooth
- A denture wearer who is finished with adhesive and movement
- Advanced gum disease where the remaining teeth are not worth saving
- Someone who wants teeth that stay in and is prepared for the healing period
Four implants can carry twelve teeth. The arithmetic surprises people, and it is the reason a full arch often costs less than replacing the same teeth one at a time.Kennett Center for Advanced Dentistry
Questions
Full arch, answered.
Do I really leave with teeth the same day?
Often, yes — a fixed provisional arch is placed at the end of surgery when the implants are stable enough to carry it. It is not guaranteed in every case, and the honest answer only comes once the implants are in and their stability is measured.
Is it four implants or six?
It depends on bone, bite force and which arch. Four is the published protocol; upper arches and heavy grinders often do better on five or six. We plan for what the case needs rather than what the name suggests.
Can I clean it?
Yes, and you have to. A fixed arch is cleaned underneath with a water flosser and specialized brushes, and it comes off in the office periodically for a proper clean and inspection.
What if an implant fails?
A full arch is designed with redundancy. Losing one implant early is usually managed by replacing it and continuing; it is a setback, not a restart.
Start with an exam and a straight answer.
A consultation includes an examination, 3D imaging and a written, itemized plan. If implants are not the right treatment for you, Dr. Patellis will say so and tell you what is.