All on 4 Dental Implants: Costs, Procedure, Pros & Timeline

All-on-4 dental implants replace an entire arch of teeth using just four precisely angled titanium implants, giving you fixed, natural-looking teeth the very same day for roughly £13,000–£18,000 per jaw, with the full process taking about four to six months.

If you’re weighing up this life-changing option, you’ll want more than marketing gloss. In the next sections we unpack everything you need to know: the exact costs and what they include, who makes a good candidate, each stage from assessment to final zirconia bridge, the advantages, the risks, how long the results last and the cleaning routine that keeps them trouble-free. Demand for full-arch solutions is soaring across the UK as dentures fall short and multiple single implants stretch budgets. By the end of this guide you’ll have the facts, figures and practical tips required to decide, with confidence, whether All-on-4 is the best route to reclaiming your smile.

What Exactly Are All-on-4 Dental Implants?

All-on-4 dental implants are a full-arch restoration in which just four titanium fixtures are placed in the jaw to anchor a fixed bridge of 10–14 teeth. The two front implants are inserted vertically, while the rear pair are angled at roughly 30–45 ° so they can lock into denser bone and avoid anatomical structures such as the maxillary sinus or the mandibular nerve. Once tightened to multi-unit abutments, the implants act like solid fence posts; a screw-retained bridge is attached on the same day, giving patients immediate chewing and smiling function.

You might also hear the concept marketed as “Teeth-in-a-Day”, “Smile-in-a-Day”, “Same-Day Teeth” or “Full Mouth Implants”. All of these refer to the same treatment philosophy: strategic reduction in implant numbers combined with immediate loading.

How does that differ from other options?

• Traditional single implants normally require 6–8 fixtures per arch, staged surgery and often bone grafts, which push up cost and healing time.

• Removable full dentures rely on suction and adhesive, can wobble, accelerate bone loss and restore only about 25 % of bite force.

• All-on-6 / 8 uses more implants for extra redundancy, but surgery is longer and the fee higher.

The tilted-implant biomechanics of All-on-4 spread chewing loads along the whole arch and bypass grafting in many cases. That efficiency is why the concept, introduced by Portuguese surgeon Dr Paulo Malo in the 1990s, has become mainstream.

Common bridge materials include:

• Acrylic on a titanium bar – kinder to opposing teeth and easy to repair, but can stain.

• Nano-ceramic hybrids – lighter and more aesthetic, mid-range price.

• Monolithic zirconia – ultra-strong, highly polished and plaque-resistant, yet the priciest option.

For patients who want fixed teeth quickly without breaking the bank, All-on-4 strikes a proven balance between biology, biomechanics and budget.

Key Takeaways for Definition Section

• Four implants, not eight, support a full arch of teeth.

• Immediate provisional bridge means you leave with fixed teeth on surgery day.

• Tilting rear implants often eliminates the need for bone grafts.

• Bridge material choice affects strength, looks and cost.

• It is still major surgery and a long-term investment requiring diligent aftercare.

Ideal Candidate Profile & Contra-Indications

All-on-4 works brilliantly for adults with several failing or missing teeth, loose dentures, or a hopeless bite who still have a decent band of bone at the front of the jaw. Good candidates are in stable general health, willing to stop smoking, keep diabetes under control and commit to meticulous cleaning. Before any drill touches bone, your dentist should order a CBCT scan, take digital impressions, review your medical history and analyse your bite in software.

Quick self-check

• My dentures wobble or remaining teeth are non-restorable

• I can open wide and don’t gag easily

• I’m prepared to quit or cut down smoking

• No uncontrolled heart disease, chemo or bisphosphonate therapy

• I’m happy to attend reviews and clean nightly with a water-flosser

Absolute contra-indications include untreated gum infection, heavy smoking (>10 a day), uncontrolled systemic disease, recent jaw radiotherapy, severe bruxism without a protective night-guard and unrealistic aesthetic expectations.

Bone Grafting and Sinus Lift: Will You Need Them?

Because the back implants are angled into dense anterior bone, most patients avoid sinus lifts or block grafts. Grafting is only needed when bone height is critically low or previous infection has created voids; some surgeons may instead use longer zygomatic implants.

Smoking, Age and Other Lifestyle Factors

Success exceeds 95 % in non-smokers but drops 10–15 % with regular tobacco. Age isn’t a barrier—plenty of healthy 80-year-olds sail through—yet alcohol abuse, heavy grinding and poor hygiene increase complications. Tweak those habits first to protect your investment.

Step-by-Step Procedure and Typical 4–6 Month Timeline

Getting All-on-4 implants is a marathon with several carefully timed sprints. The following overview shows what happens when, and what you will feel at each milestone.

Stage	Approx. timeframe	What the patient experiences
1. Consultation & digital planning	Week 0–2	CBCT scan, photos, mouth scan, finance chat; no pain, just data-gathering
2. Surgical day – extractions + four implants	Week 3–4	2–3 hrs per arch under local with IV sedation; leave with fixed acrylic bridge
3. Early healing & osseointegration	Week 4–12	Mild swelling days 1-3, soft-food diet, sutures dissolve; monthly check-ups
4. Final bridge design & try-ins	Week 12–20	Digital impressions, bite and shade checks; no needles, mainly chair-side tweaking
5. Fit of definitive zirconia/ hybrid bridge	Week 16–24	Old temporary removed, new bridge torqued down, bite adjusted; instant solid feel
6. Long-term maintenance	Post-month 6 onward	6-monthly hygienist cleans, yearly bridge removal & deep-clean

The timings can slip a little if bone quality demands extra healing, yet most UK cases wrap up within six months.

Initial Consultation and Digital Planning (Weeks 0-2)

After a thorough chat about your goals, health and budget, the dentist takes a low-dose CBCT scan to map bone, plus an intra-oral scan and photographs. Software virtually positions the four implants and designs a provisional bridge so the lab can start milling it before you even book surgery. You’ll also discuss sedation (oral, IV or GA), sign consent forms and, if needed, arrange 0 % finance approval.

Surgical Day – Extractions & Implant Placement (Weeks 3-4)

You arrive fasting, pop on heart-rate and blood-pressure monitors and drift off under IV sedation or strong local anaesthetic. Any hopeless teeth are removed, the gums are cleaned, and sequential drills create four osteotomies. Two posterior implants are tilted about 35 °, avoiding sinus or nerve zones, then multi-unit abutments raise the connection above the gum. Within hours the prefabricated acrylic bridge is screwed on, your bite is checked and you walk out smiling—albeit a bit woozy.

Early Recovery & Osseointegration (Weeks 4-12)

Expect chip-munk cheeks for 48 h, then steady improvement. Stick to cold packs, prescribed ibuprofen/paracetamol, salt-water rinses and a mushy diet. Sutures dissolve by week 2. Inside the bone, a biological weld (osseointegration) forms; avoid steak and crusty baguettes until your clinician clears you.

Fabrication and Fit of Final Bridge (Weeks 12-24)

When torque tests confirm solid implants, fresh scans capture the healed gum contour. You’ll attend one or two try-ins where the lab tweaks tooth size, hue and speech. Options include lighter nano-ceramic or bullet-proof monolithic zirconia; prices differ but strength and stain-resistance climb with cost. On fit day the temporary comes off, the definitive bridge is torqued to 35 N cm, and any high spots are polished away.

Long-Term Maintenance Schedule (Post-Month 6)

All-on-4 isn’t fire-and-forget. Book hygienist sessions every six months for air-flow cleaning, and an annual appointment where the dentist unscrews the bridge, deep-cleans the titanium and retorques new screws. Regular X-rays or a CBCT every few years check bone stability. With this routine, studies show over 95 % of All-on-4 implants still thriving a decade later.

Costs, Financing and Value for Money in the UK

In the UK, an All-on-4 full-arch restoration costs considerably less than placing six or eight separate implants, but it is still a sizeable investment. Current private fees cluster in the bands below:

• Single arch (upper or lower): £13,000 – £18,000

• Both arches completed together: £24,000 – £30,000

Those figures usually bundle everything from first consultation to final zirconia bridge:

1. CBCT scan and digital planning files

2. Extractions and IV sedation on surgery day

3. Four premium-brand implants with multi-unit abutments

4. Same-day provisional acrylic bridge

5. Laboratory production and fitting of the definitive bridge

6. All review visits for the first 12 months

Prices climb or dip according to five common variables:

• Implant system used (Nobel Biocare and Straumann command more than generic brands)

• Bridge material (acrylic–titanium < nano-ceramic < monolithic zirconia)

• Type of anaesthesia (local only vs IV sedation vs general)

• Experience of the clinician and on-site technology

• Location—central London surgeries bill more than provincial practices

NHS funding is rarely available. Only patients with extreme functional need following cancer surgery or major trauma may be referred to a hospital unit; waiting lists run into years.

Tempted by “teeth-in-a-day” packages in Turkey or Hungary? Headline prices of £6k–£9k per arch appear seductive, but you must add flights, hotel stays, time off work and the cost of UK remedial care if problems arise. Overseas clinics are outside the General Dental Council’s remit, so legal redress is limited.

Many British clinics, including Wigmore Smiles & Aesthetics, soften the blow with finance:

• 0 % interest for 12–24 months (subject to credit check)

• Low-interest spread over up to 60 months

• No-penalty early settlement to cut overall interest

Below is a quick cost–benefit snapshot:

Treatment option	Typical cost (per arch)	Chewing efficiency	Removable?	Aftercare complexity
All-on-4 (UK private)	£13k–£18k	~90 %	No	Moderate
All-on-4 (abroad)	£6k–£9k*	~90 %	No	High if issues occur
Conventional full denture	£800–£1,500	~25 %	Yes	Low
6–8 separate implants & crowns	£18k–£25k	~95 %	No	Moderate

*Excludes travel, accommodation and revision work.

Budgeting Tips Without Cutting Corners

• Ask for an itemised quote that names the implant brand, bridge material and sedation type.

• Verify the dentist’s GDC registration and implant training record.

• Read the small print on warranties; five years on implants and two on the bridge is standard.

• Confirm where the laboratory work is fabricated—UK labs make future repairs simpler.

• Build in funds for six-monthly hygiene visits; skimping here is false economy.

Advantages and Possible Drawbacks You Should Weigh

Choosing fixed teeth in a day feels a bit like buying a high-performance car: the rewards are huge, but so is the responsibility. Use the lists below to balance the sunshine with the shade before signing a treatment plan.

Life-Changing Benefits

• Walk out with secure, natural-looking teeth on the very day of surgery.

• Regain roughly 90 % of normal chewing force, compared with about 25 % for full dentures.

• Fixed bridge preserves jawbone, eliminating the sunken-in look and denture sore spots.

• No acrylic palate, so foods taste better and speech sounds clearer.

• Just four implants mean less invasive surgery, fewer components to maintain and usually lower fees than All-on-6/8.

• Confidence boost: laugh, sneeze or sing without worrying that teeth will shift.

Potential Disadvantages & Risks

• Up-front cost still far higher than conventional dentures.

• Any surgery carries risks of infection, sinus or nerve perforation and postoperative bleeding.

• Nationwide studies show 2–6 % of implants can fail within the first year.

• Hybrid bridges may chip or fracture; zirconia, although stronger, can feel slightly bulkier.

• Cleaning demands are strict—daily water-flossing and interdental brushing are non-negotiable.

• Long-term pressure on the front jaw may cause gradual bone thinning beneath the bridge.

Managing Complications and Failures

Early warning signs are mobility, persistent pain or swelling around the implant sites. Report these immediately; prompt intervention often saves the case. If one fixture fails, options include placing a replacement implant, converting to an All-on-5/6 or temporarily bonding the bridge to the remaining three implants while the area heals. Regular six-monthly reviews and X-rays help catch minor issues before they become wallet-draining headaches. With swift management, most problems are resolvable and long-term success rates remain above 94 %.

Aftercare, Cleaning Techniques and Expected Longevity

Your new bridge may feel rock-solid, but its survival hinges on meticulous cleaning and routine professional checks. Neglect can turn a £15 k smile into a costly repair job, so lock the following habits into your daily schedule.

Daily Home Care Routine

• Soft-bristle electric brush morning and night

• Angle a water-flosser under the bridge for 60 s per side

• Thread super-floss or an interdental brush horizontally to sweep out debris

• Finish with an alcohol-free antimicrobial rinse; spit, don’t rinse with water afterwards

Dietary Guidelines During Healing & Beyond

First 48 h: liquids only. Weeks 1–2: puréed or fork-mashable foods. Weeks 3–8: soft pasta, omelettes, poached fish; cut tougher items into pea-sized bites. Long-term: enjoy a normal diet but avoid ice, olive stones, hard toffee and pen-chewing.

Professional Maintenance Visits

• Hygienist every six months for air-flow or ultrasonic cleaning around abutments

• Annual “MOT”: bridge unscrewed, deep debridement, new screws torqued to spec and X-ray to verify bone levels

• Night-guard review for grinders; replace inserts when worn

How Long Do All-on-4 Implants Last?

Peer-reviewed data show 94–98 % implant survival at 10 years, with many bridges still serviceable at 15+. Longevity depends on hygiene, non-smoking, bruxism control and sticking to the recall schedule—treat them well and they should outlast your next car.

Quick Answers to Common All-on-4 Questions

Pressed for time? The short answers below tackle the questions patients fire at us most before committing to All-on-4.

What is the downside of All-on-4?

Biggest drawbacks are the upfront price, meticulous hygiene demands, small risk of implant loss or bridge fracture, and additional stress on front jawbone over time.

How long does the surgery take?

One arch usually takes 2–3 hours from first injection to final screw-tightening; add 30–45 minutes for recovery if you choose IV sedation.

Are All-on-4 implants permanent?

The titanium posts fuse for life, but the bridge is a serviceable component—expect routine maintenance and possible replacement after 10–15 years.

Can I get All-on-4 on the NHS?

Funding is strictly limited to exceptional hospital cases such as cancer or major trauma, so most denture wearers need to seek private treatment.

How painful is the procedure?

Modern local anaesthetic plus optional IV sedation means zero pain during surgery; post-op tenderness peaks day two and over-the-counter ibuprofen normally controls it.

What if one implant fails?

If one implant fails, your dentist usually keeps the bridge on the remaining posts, then replaces the lost fixture or upgrades to an All-on-5 after healing.

Ready to Start Your All-on-4 Journey?

You now know the numbers, the steps and the commitment involved. If the thought of swapping loose dentures or failing teeth for a solid, good-looking smile in just one surgical day excites you, the next move is a comprehensive implant assessment. At Wigmore Smiles & Aesthetics we carry out dozens of All-on-4 cases each year, combining 3D iTero scans, digital smile design and the latest Nobel Biocare implant systems to deliver predictable results.

Your consultation includes a CBCT scan, bite analysis and a no-pressure chat about sedation choices, bridge materials and our 0 % finance plans spread over up to 24 months. Ready to see whether you’re a candidate? Call us on 01582 432181 or request an appointment through the contact form at Wigmore Smiles & Aesthetics and take the first step towards teeth you can truly trust.