All-on-4 vs All-on-6 Dental Implants: Cost, Differences & Which to Choose
All-on-4 and All-on-6 are the two most common ways to replace a full arch of teeth with a fixed bridge on dental implants. The headline difference is in the name — four implants versus six implants — but the choice between them comes down to your bone, your anatomy, and a dentist's plan. Here is an honest look at how they differ, how candidacy is decided, and where the cost goes.
This article is general dental information, not medical advice. It cannot tell you which treatment you need. Whether All-on-4, All-on-6, grafting, or another option is right for you can only be confirmed by a qualified dentist after an exam and imaging. Always consult your treating clinician before making a decision.
What are All-on-4, All-on-6, and All-on-X?
When most or all teeth in a jaw are missing or failing, a full-arch implant solution replaces the entire row at once. Instead of one implant per tooth, a small number of implants act as anchors for a single fixed bridge of replacement teeth. The implants fuse with the jawbone over time, and the bridge stays in — you don't take it out like a removable denture.
All-on-4 uses four implants per arch, typically two upright at the front and two angled at the back so the technique can use the bone that's available — which is part of why it can often avoid bone grafting.
All-on-6 uses six implants per arch — the same idea with two additional anchor points, which some dentists prefer when there is enough bone and they want load spread across more implants.
All-on-X is simply the umbrella term for this family of techniques, where "X" stands in for the number of implants the dentist plans to use.
All-on-4 vs All-on-6: the real differences
These are general characteristics of the two techniques, not outcome statistics. Your dentist confirms what applies to your case.
| Factor | All-on-4 | All-on-6 |
|---|---|---|
| Implants per arch | Four implants | Six implants |
| Typical placement | Two straight at the front, two angled at the back to use available bone | Two more added mid-arch for extra anchorage |
| Bone density needs | Designed to work with less bone, often avoiding grafting | Generally wants more available bone to seat the extra implants |
| Support and load spread | Stable full arch on four points | Load shared across more points, which some dentists prefer for larger arches |
| Relative cost | Fewer implants, so usually the lower-cost option | Two extra implants typically add to the cost |
| Who confirms it | The treating dentist, after a scan and exam | The treating dentist, after a scan and exam |
How a dentist determines which is right for you
The decision between All-on-4 and All-on-6 is clinical, not a matter of preference or budget alone. After a clinical exam and a 3D CBCT scan of your jaw, the dentist evaluates:
- Bone volume and density — whether there is enough healthy bone to seat four or six implants, or whether grafting would be needed.
- Anatomy — the position of nerves and sinuses, which limits where implants can safely go.
- Bite and arch size — how force is distributed across the arch when you chew.
- Overall health — general and oral health factors that affect healing and implant success.
No calculator or article can confirm your candidacy — only the treating dentist can, in person. For an outside reference on how implants work in general, the US National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research publishes patient-friendly background on dental implants.
What All-on-4 vs All-on-6 costs — and the abroad option
Because All-on-6 adds two implants per arch, it usually costs more than All-on-4 — the extra fixtures and components add up. But the larger cost lever is often where the treatment happens. Major dental work in the US can run into many thousands of dollars per arch.
MyCureVoyage coordinates dental implant treatment at vetted, accredited hospitals in Thailand and China, where the cost of delivering the same care is lower. On our catalog dental pricing, patients can save around 70% on the hospital fee versus an illustrative US baseline. Your exact, itemized estimate is built during consultation — we never quote a fabricated figure, and the price you see comes from the catalog, not this page.
Figures cover the implant / hospital fee; they exclude flights, accommodation, and your recovery stay.
Price and plan your dental implants
MyCureVoyage coordinates dental implants in Thailand and China only — with vetted, accredited hospitals and concierge support. Start with the procedure overview, compare costs by country, or jump to a destination.
Dental implants abroad
The full overview: cost, hospitals, recovery, and how the process works.
Dental implant cost by country
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Dental implants in Bangkok
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Dental implants in Shanghai
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Thailand vs Mexico for implants
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A week of dental treatment in Thailand
A day-by-day look at how a typical treatment week unfolds.
All-on-4 vs All-on-6 — frequently asked
What is the difference between All-on-4 and All-on-6?
Both are full-arch implant techniques that replace a whole row of teeth with a fixed bridge anchored on dental implants. The core difference is the number of implants used to support that arch: All-on-4 uses four implants, while All-on-6 uses six. All-on-X is the umbrella term for these full-arch-on-a-fixed-number-of-implants protocols. The right number depends on your jawbone, anatomy, and the dentist's plan — not a rule that more is always better.
Is All-on-6 better than All-on-4?
Neither is universally 'better' — they suit different mouths. All-on-4 is designed to work with less available bone and often avoids grafting, which can mean fewer steps and lower cost. All-on-6 adds two implants for more anchor points, which some dentists prefer for larger arches or specific bite situations. A dentist decides which is appropriate after imaging and an exam. This is general information, not medical advice.
Does All-on-4 vs All-on-6 change the cost?
Generally, yes — to a degree. All-on-6 adds two more implants per arch, so the implant and component cost is usually higher than All-on-4. But the bigger cost driver is often where the treatment is done. MyCureVoyage coordinates dental work at vetted, accredited hospitals in Thailand and China, where full-arch implant treatment is typically far less expensive than in the US — your itemized estimate is built during consultation from our catalog, never a fabricated figure.
How is candidacy for All-on-4 or All-on-6 determined?
A dentist confirms candidacy after a clinical exam and a 3D scan (CBCT) of your jaw. They assess bone volume and density, the position of nerves and sinuses, your bite, and your overall oral and general health. Only then can they recommend All-on-4, All-on-6, grafting, or an alternative. No website can determine your candidacy — it must be confirmed in person by the treating clinician.
How much can I save on full-arch implants abroad?
Cross-border care can substantially reduce the cost of major dental work versus US prices, because the cost of delivering care is lower abroad — not because the care is. MyCureVoyage places patients only with internationally accredited hospitals in Thailand and China. Use the savings calculator for a catalog-based estimate, then your Care Companion builds the full itemized picture during consultation. We never quote fabricated prices.
See what full-arch implants would cost you
Get a free, catalog-based estimate of your savings in Thailand or China, then start your consultation and let your Care Companion build the full itemized picture — including whether All-on-4 or All-on-6 is the plan a dentist recommends.