For people facing the loss of many teeth, All-on-4®1 offers a reliable path back to a complete, comfortable bite without the long waits and multiple surgeries traditionally associated with full-arch restoration. Rather than replacing each tooth individually, this treatment concept uses a small number of strategically placed dental implants to support a full arch of prosthetic teeth that look and function like natural teeth.
All-on-4®1 is designed to restore chewing function, speech clarity, and facial support in a single, coordinated treatment plan. The approach simplifies the process for patients who want a durable, low-maintenance solution that avoids removable dentures and reduces the number of implants required for a full-arch prosthesis.
At its core, the method blends surgical planning, implant technology, and prosthetic design so patients can quickly regain confidence in their smiles. The result is not simply a dental device but a thoughtfully engineered restoration that supports everyday life—eating, speaking, and smiling—more naturally than many traditional alternatives.
All-on-4®1 is commonly recommended for people who are missing most or all of the teeth in an arch, or for those whose remaining teeth are not salvageable due to extensive decay, periodontal disease, or trauma. It is also an option for patients seeking an alternative to removable dentures because they want a fixed, stable solution.
Candidacy is determined through a clinical evaluation that looks at overall oral health, jawbone condition, medical history, and lifestyle factors. Imaging—such as panoramic X-rays or a CBCT scan—helps the dentist assess bone volume and orientation to plan implant placement safely and predictably.
Not every case is identical, and good outcomes depend on careful planning and the collaboration between the patient and the clinical team. Patients with certain medical conditions or habits (for example, uncontrolled diabetes or heavy smoking) may need medical clearance or additional preparatory care to proceed safely.
Successful All-on-4®1 treatment begins with a comprehensive exam and detailed treatment planning. Using diagnostic imaging and impressions, the clinical team develops a surgical guide that shows exactly where each implant should go for optimal support and long-term stability.
During the procedure, four implants are typically placed in the jaw in a way that takes advantage of denser bone regions. The back implants are often angled to increase support and avoid more invasive bone-grafting procedures. That strategic placement is one reason the approach can be completed efficiently for many patients.
Once implants are in place and initial stability is confirmed, a provisional (temporary) fixed arch is attached so the patient leaves the appointment with a functioning set of teeth. This provisional restoration protects healing tissues, helps maintain correct bite relationships, and lets patients return to normal activities more quickly than with removable temporary options.
The day of surgery is coordinated to prioritize comfort and efficiency. Local anesthesia and, where appropriate, sedation options are used to minimize discomfort during the procedure. The clinical team follows careful protocols to ensure safety and a controlled surgical environment.
Immediately after surgery, patients will have the provisional arch in place. Initial healing usually involves mild to moderate swelling and some tenderness, which typically eases over the first few days. The team provides clear post-operative instructions focused on hygiene, diet, and activity to support uneventful healing.
Follow-up visits during the first several weeks allow the clinician to monitor implant integration and your adaptation to the provisional restoration. Adjustments can be made to the temporary prosthesis to improve comfort and function while the gums and bone heal around the implants.
With proper care, implant-supported arches can provide many years of dependable service. Long-term success depends on regular dental checkups, consistent oral hygiene, and periodic professional maintenance of the prosthesis and surrounding gum tissues.
Patients should expect routine visits to check implant health, evaluate the fit of the final prosthesis, and perform hygienic maintenance. The final restoration—crafted once healing is complete—will be tailored for strength, esthetics, and ease of cleaning to support lasting comfort and function.
Lifestyle choices, oral hygiene habits, and regular professional care all influence the lifespan of an implant-supported restoration. Working closely with your dental team helps protect investment in oral health and maximizes the potential benefits of the All-on-4®1 solution.
All-on-4®1 is a specialized restorative procedure that requires careful surgical planning and prosthetic expertise. A practice that combines clinical experience, modern imaging, and restorative skill can make the difference between a good outcome and a great one. Many patients find it helpful to review detailed treatment plans and ask specific questions about the team’s experience with full-arch implant restorations.
When you’re evaluating options, consider how clearly your provider explains the sequence of care, what to expect during healing, and how they will maintain the longevity of the restoration. Transparent communication and a personalized plan help set realistic expectations and support predictable results.
For experienced, thoughtful care with a patient-centered approach, contact the office of Po Dentistry to learn more about whether All-on-4®1 could be the right solution for your situation. Our team can explain the assessment process, outline treatment phases, and help you understand what to expect from consultation through final restoration. Please contact us for more information.
1All-on-4 is a registered trademark of Nobel Biocare
The All-on-4 treatment concept offers an implant-based solution to patients who have lost all of their upper and/or lower teeth. This remarkable method of care helps patients quickly rebuild complete and beautiful smiles. With All-on-4, your new, and complete set of implant-supported replacement teeth feel secure, stable, and much like your very own.
If you currently wear complete upper and/or lower dentures or are slated to have your remaining teeth extracted, you may be a candidate for All-on-4. First Performed by Dr. Paulo Malo in 1998, the All-on-4 treatment concept has helped hundreds of thousands of patients quickly reestablish attractive smiles that look, feel, and function just like a set of natural teeth!
The All-on-4 treatment concept offers a fixed and permanent alternative to removable dentures. Unlike dentures, All-on-4 does not rely on messy dental adhesives or natural suction to hold your new set of teeth in place. With All-on-4, your replacement teeth are permanently secured by dental implants, giving you a smile that looks not only great but also feels secure and stable. You'll feel comfortable and confident as you speak, smile, and chew with ease.
While traditional full arch implants also achieve outstanding results of care, the All-On-4 treatment concept does not involve bone grafting and requires fewer implants to support a full set of teeth. With just four strategically placed dental implants needed to support an entire set of upper or lower teeth, the All-on-4 treatment concept offers a cost-effective and satisfying solution for rebuilding a complete smile. Thanks to this remarkable method of care, patients can experience the satisfaction of having teeth placed the same day as surgery. This key feature allows patients to smile and function with confidence until healing is complete and the permanent restorations installed.
Once it's been determined that you're a candidate for treatment with All-on-4, the process of treatment planning and designing your new smile begins. 3D diagnostic records provide the detailed information required to determine the exact positions of the four supporting dental implants. Then, on the day of surgery, we'll remove any remaining teeth, place the 4 implants, and insert a set of attractive, sturdy, and functional set of temporary teeth. With All-on-4, temporary teeth can be placed right away with a customized, permanent set to follow once the implants become fully integrated with the surrounding bone.
With All-on-4, temporary teeth can be placed right away with a customized, permanent set to follow within just a few months after the implants become fully integrated with the surrounding bone.
Thanks to All-on-4, patients enjoy permanent teeth that look, feel, and function just like real teeth. And with a patient satisfaction rate that exceeds 95%, the All-on-4 treatment concept restores your smile, your confidence, and allows you to enjoy once again the foods you love!
Maintaining your All-on-4 smile requires the same care as a natural smile. By cleaning your teeth twice daily, after meals as possible, and scheduling appointments for routine checkups as well as care, you can keep your new smile strong and healthy for years to come. Our office will demonstrate the most effective methods of oral hygiene and answer all your questions as to how to care for your new smile.
All-on-4 is a full-arch tooth replacement approach that uses a small number of dental implants to support a fixed prosthesis. Instead of replacing each tooth separately, the method positions implants strategically to hold a complete set of prosthetic teeth that look and function like natural teeth. This approach often allows patients to avoid removable dentures and reduces the need for extensive bone grafting.
The concept integrates surgical planning, implant technology and prosthetic design to restore chewing, speaking and facial support. Patients typically receive a provisional fixed arch soon after implant placement, which helps maintain function during healing. All-on-4 is a registered trademark of Nobel Biocare, but the clinical principles are applied broadly in modern implant dentistry.
All-on-4 is commonly recommended for people who are missing most or all teeth in an upper or lower arch, or for those whose remaining teeth cannot be reliably restored. Candidates often choose this option to gain a fixed, stable restoration instead of relying on removable dentures. A thorough medical and dental evaluation is necessary to determine suitability because systemic health, oral hygiene and habits influence outcomes.
Diagnostic imaging such as panoramic X-rays or CBCT scans helps clinicians evaluate bone volume and anatomy for safe implant placement. Some patients with medical conditions like uncontrolled diabetes or those who smoke heavily may require medical clearance or preparatory care before proceeding. The final determination of candidacy depends on individualized treatment planning and a collaborative decision between patient and care team.
Unlike removable dentures that sit on the gums, an All-on-4 restoration is fixed to implants and is not intended to be removed daily by the patient. This fixed attachment improves stability, chewing efficiency and comfort compared with many conventional dentures. Because implants support the prosthesis, patients often experience better preservation of jawbone and facial structure over time.
Traditional denture wearers may also need frequent relining as the ridge changes, while implant-supported arches typically require different maintenance focused on the implants and soft tissues. All-on-4 can reduce the number of surgeries by using angled posterior implants and avoiding grafting in many cases, which can simplify treatment for appropriate candidates. Individual results vary, and clinicians tailor prosthetic design to balance esthetics, function and hygiene access for each patient.
Treatment begins with a comprehensive exam, detailed medical history and diagnostic imaging to map bone anatomy and identify anatomical landmarks. The clinician uses these records to design a surgical guide that indicates optimal implant positions to maximize support and long-term success. Planning also includes prosthetic considerations so the final restoration meets esthetic, phonetic and functional goals.
During surgery, four implants are commonly placed in the arch with the posterior implants angled to engage denser bone and avoid vital structures. Local anesthesia and, when appropriate, sedation options are used to maintain comfort and safety throughout the procedure. Implant stability is assessed at placement, and a provisional fixed arch is often attached the same day to restore immediate function.
The provisional prosthesis protects healing tissues, maintains bite relationships and allows the team to make adjustments as soft tissues mature. Follow-up visits monitor healing, soft-tissue response and implant integration, with modifications made to the temporary restoration as needed. Once osseointegration and tissue maturation are confirmed, the team fabricates and fits the final prosthesis for long-term use.
On the day of surgery patients receive a review of post-operative instructions and the clinical team confirms anesthesia and sedation plans. Local anesthesia combined with sedation when indicated helps minimize discomfort during the procedure, and the team works to keep the experience efficient and calm. After implant placement and attachment of the provisional arch, patients may experience swelling, tenderness and mild bruising that usually peak within 48 to 72 hours.
Recovery instructions typically include a soft-food diet, careful oral hygiene around the surgical sites and avoidance of strenuous activity for several days. Medications and specific rinses may be recommended to control inflammation and reduce infection risk while tissues heal. Regular follow-up appointments allow the clinician to evaluate healing, adjust the provisional prosthesis and address any questions that arise.
Healing times vary, but most patients complete initial bone healing and soft-tissue maturation over three to six months. During this period the provisional restoration provides function while the implants integrate with the jawbone. Clinicians monitor implant stability with clinical exams and imaging to determine the appropriate timing for the final prosthesis.
Once integration is confirmed and soft tissues are stable, the final prosthesis is fabricated to optimize fit, esthetics and ease of maintenance. This definitive restoration may use strong, lightweight materials and is customized to support comfortable chewing and natural appearance. Long-term follow-up schedules are established to ensure function and to perform routine maintenance on the prosthesis and surrounding tissues.
Long-term success of an implant-supported arch depends on daily hygiene, including thorough cleaning around implant abutments and under the prosthesis where accessible. Patients often use specialized tools such as interdental brushes, floss designed for implants or water irrigation to maintain tissue health. Regular professional maintenance appointments allow clinicians to evaluate implants, adjust occlusion and professionally clean areas that are difficult to reach at home.
Lifestyle factors such as tobacco use and uncontrolled systemic conditions can affect implant longevity, so coordination with medical providers is important. Wear of prosthetic teeth may occur over many years, and clinicians will recommend repair or replacement strategies when indicated to preserve function. A predictable maintenance plan, established with your dental team, helps protect your investment in oral health and prolong the lifespan of the restoration.
As with any surgical procedure, All-on-4 carries potential risks including infection, implant failure and peri-implant inflammation if hygiene is inadequate. Nerve injury, sinus complications and prosthetic issues are less common but can occur depending on anatomy and surgical complexity. Careful planning, experienced surgical technique and adherence to post-operative instructions reduce the likelihood of complications.
If complications arise, early intervention is important; the clinical team can manage infections, adjust prosthetics or address implant problems to preserve outcomes. Patients should report persistent pain, swelling or changes in sensation promptly so clinicians can evaluate and treat issues before they worsen. Open communication and scheduled follow-up visits help detect early signs of trouble and support timely management.
Assessment of bone quality begins with diagnostic imaging, most commonly CBCT scans and panoramic X-rays, which reveal bone volume, density and anatomical limitations. These images inform implant size, angulation and the need for adjunctive procedures such as bone grafting when necessary. Clinical evaluation also includes intraoral examination of soft tissues, occlusion and residual ridge shape to finalize the surgical plan.
When bone volume is limited, posterior implants can be angled to engage denser anterior bone and often avoid more invasive augmentation. In cases where grafting is required, staged approaches or simultaneous grafting are considered based on the patient’s overall health and treatment goals. A precise, image-guided plan improves predictability and helps the team place implants in positions that support long-term prosthetic success.
Choose a team with specific experience in full-arch implant restorations, demonstrated training in implant surgery and prosthetic reconstruction, and access to modern imaging like CBCT. Look for clinicians who explain the treatment sequence clearly, discuss alternatives and provide a personalized plan that addresses esthetics, function and long-term maintenance. Transparent communication about medical considerations and the expected course of care is an important marker of a qualified team.
Visiting the practice to review the office environment, available technology and the clinical team’s approach to follow-up care can help you make an informed choice. At Po Dentistry in Lancaster, the team emphasizes whole-health dentistry and coordinated planning to support safe, predictable outcomes for complex restorations. Ask specific questions about imaging capabilities, restoration materials and the planned maintenance schedule to ensure your expectations align with the proposed care.
Our goal is to help every patient experience the benefits of good oral health and a beautiful smile. We value the trust you have placed in our office and strive to provide solutions that meet your dental needs and expectations of care.
