All-on-6 Implants

As the number of supports increases, so does the number of contact points sharing the chewing force — in a six-support arrangement, the load is split across six implant bodies instead of four, and the cantilever at the back is shorter. This term describes the section of the restoration that extends unsupported behind the last implant and takes on a bending load when you bite. In some cases, this difference is what steers the plan towards six implants. If one implant is lost, the remaining supports may carry the load for a short time, though in most cases the bridge still needs to be removed, revised or remade. Bone density, the position of the sinus cavity, and the path of the nerve canal in the lower jaw are the anatomical limits that determine whether six sites can safely be prepared — and your dentist measures these limits on the CT scan slices.

The surgical appointment for a single jaw usually takes a few hours. Your dentist can deliver the temporary restoration the same day or within a few days. Fusion of the implants with the bone depends on bone density, and typically ranges from two to four months in the lower jaw and three to six months in the upper jaw. Six supports extend the impression and try-in stages, so a few weeks are set aside for the permanent restoration. In jaws that have had grafting, the timeline extends by however long the graft needs to heal. Smoking, bone quality and general health all affect how quickly healing happens. The whole process is completed within a few months in most cases.

Because it's screwed into place, the fixed bridge stays in your mouth and isn't removed by the wearer. In the upper jaw, an implant-supported bridge doesn't cover the palate; leaving the palate open can mean a different experience for some patients in terms of taste and getting used to speaking. Because the structure doesn't move, you bite directly through the implants. As the implants stimulate the bone, the aim is to slow the rate of bone loss in areas where teeth are missing. This is also expected to help preserve fullness in the lower part of the face. There's no need for denture adhesive or taking it out at night with a fixed bridge — the day-to-day care routine is quite different between the two options.

Like any surgical procedure, this treatment carries risk. Swelling, bruising and difficulty chewing can appear in the first few days. Because six sites are prepared, swelling can be more pronounced than with a four-implant arrangement. Infection can develop, and fusion with the bone can fail to establish. Implant loss can occur early on; if this happens, the area is left to heal and the plan is reconsidered. Closeness to the sinus cavity and the nerve canal in the lower jaw can cause altered sensation. This is temporary in most cases, though permanent numbness or tingling can develop, albeit rarely. In the upper jaw, a torn sinus membrane, sinus infection, or an implant displacing into the sinus cavity are complications that are rarely seen but are factored into the planning. In people with a clenching habit, mechanical problems such as screw loosening and crown fracture can come up fairly often. If hygiene lapses, gum recession and inflammation around the implant can develop. This isn't uncommon over the long term, and it's monitored through regular check-ups and thorough cleaning.