All On Six Implants

Who needs an All on Six Implants?

All on six implants are a durable, stable, and retentive option compared to conventional dentures. Who can benefit from it:

Patients who have lost all or most of their natural teeth.

Patients with a gagging sensation who do not tolerate conventional dentures.

Patients who seek a better retention for their prosthesis.

Healthy patients with no medical contraindications for surgery.

Advantages of All on Six Implants

• Higher restoration retention compared to conventional dentures and all on four implants.
• More favorable force distribution, which prevents bone resorption.
• Complete esthetic restoration for a natural-looking smile.
• Durable.
• Easy cleaning and maintenance.
• Improved eating ability.
• Reduces the gagging sensation caused by poorly fitting dentures.

Disadvantages of All-On-Six Implants

• Cost: More expensive compared to other solutions (All-On-Four dental implants and conventional dentures)
• Invasiveness: More invasive compared to All-On-Four dental implants, as 6 dental implants are inserted
• Candidacy: Not suitable for everyone as it requires enough bone to support the implants. If there is severe bone deficiency, a separate bone graft surgery is required before dental implant insertion.
• Diet limitation: You are advised to follow a soft diet during the 4-6 months after dental implant insertion until complete bone healing around dental implants.

All on Six Implant procedure at Camden High Street Dental Practice

Initial consultation and preparation

 As a first step, our professional team will collect your medical history data to ensure that you are an ideal candidate for the implant and to confirm the absence of any medical conditions or medications that contraindicate the surgical procedure.

A thorough intraoral examination is essential for recording the number of missing teeth, assessing the soft tissue condition, evaluating the amount of existing bone, analyzing the bite, and measuring the distance between both arches.

The final piece of information is to examine the quantity and quality of bone in the proposed implant sites and their proximity to any nearby vital structures. Digital X-rays and 3D cone beam CT scans are taken for a detailed examination.

Our expert team will analyze the gathered information and determine the most appropriate locations and dimensions for the six implants.

Implant placement

The surgical procedure takes around 2 to 4 hours. The procedure begins with a local anesthesia injection at the intended surgical sites, combined with sedation medication to ensure your comfort during the surgery.

A prefabricated surgical stent can guide the lead surgeon to the implant sites and angulation for drilling.

Six implants are evenly distributed across the jaw to provide broader restoration support and more favorable stress distribution.

A temporary denture is placed at the end of the surgery for your convenience until the final prosthesis is constructed.

Final prosthesis

The final prosthesis is constructed after 4 to 6 months of the surgery. During this period, the healing or fusion between the implant and the surrounding bone takes place, a process known as osseointegration.

The final restoration for an All-On-Six dental implant can be:

• Removable restoration: A removable denture similar to conventional acrylic dentures is fabricated. It has an attachment on the fitting surface that snugly fits onto its corresponding part of the implant abutments. They are easier to clean because the denture can be taken out for cleaning.
• Fixed restoration: The fixed restoration is attached to the implant abutment using screws. They cannot be removed at home and can only be taken out professionally at the dental clinic. This type of restoration has special care instructions during cleaning.

The choice between the types of dental restorations depends on the patient’s preference and our experts’ recommendation based on your condition.

Recovery after All on Six Implants surgery

• You can resume all your daily activities as usual the day after surgery.
• Avoid smoking after surgery because it may interfere with healing.
• Follow a soft diet for a few weeks after surgery to promote healing and avoid any complications. Avoid sticky and hard foods.
• Remember to take the prescribed medications. A painkiller is prescribed to reduce post-surgical pain for 2-3 days. In addition to antibiotics, to avoid infection at the surgical site.
• Swelling is normal after implant placement surgery and may persist for a few days. Apply ice packs for 20 minutes, then remove them for 20 minutes.
• If you encounter minor bleeding, bite on a gauze for around 30 minutes.
• If you experience severe pain worsening over time, persistent swelling, or pus drainage, schedule an emergency dental visit at our center immediately, as it could indicate an infection.

Risks/complications of All on Six Implants

All on six implant surgery is generally safe, but like any surgery, it carries risks such as bleeding, infection, and improper wound healing. The chances for the occurrence of surgical complications depend on your overall health. There may be a low chance of damage to nearby vital structures, such as nasal sinuses and nerves.
Post-operative complications may involve minor swelling and inflammation at the surgical site, which typically resolves within a few days.
Implant failure is rare and may happen due to improper maintenance, bone loss, or improper treatment planning.

Care and maintenance of All on Six Implants

Caring for your All-On-Six dental implants and restorations depends on the type of final restoration you have.

If you have a removable restoration, it can be easily removed and cleaned with a soft toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste. When not in use, such as before sleeping, store the denture in a container filled with water. Additionally, clean around your dental implants using a water flosser or a soft toothbrush to prevent gum inflammation around the implants.

If the restoration is a fixed bridge, it cannot be removed at home during cleaning because it is securely attached to your dental implants with screws that can only be removed by dental professionals. Use a small interdental toothbrush or a water flosser to clean beneath the bridge and around the implants.

Schedule regular follow-up visits every six months to ensure the proper functioning of your implant and restoration, and to address any potential issues as early as possible.

All-On-Six Dental Implants Compared to Other Restorative Solutions

Removable dentures

A removable denture is the traditional method used to restore a full arch of missing teeth. It consists of an acrylic base that supports the artificial teeth. Its retention depends on the amount of underlying bone and soft tissue. Denture wearers may struggle with poor retention, which can cause embarrassing moments when the denture falls during speech. Additionally, dentures can lead to bone resorption and are less durable than implant-supported dentures. However, they are less costly and less invasive than implant placement.

On the other hand, All-On-Six dental implants provide highly retentive and durable restorations; they stimulate the underlying bone to prevent bone resorption and offer a naturally appearing restoration.

All-On-Four Implants

The All-On-Four dental implant technique is similar to the All-On-Six procedure. The main difference lies in the number of implants used: only four are inserted in the All-On-Four method, while six are used for the All-On-Six. The All-On-Four surgery is less invasive and more affordable than the All-On-Six; however, the All-On-Six offers better force distribution.