Oral Surgery
All-on-4 Implants in Downtown Los Angeles
A whole arch, fixed in place, on four implants.
Replacing every tooth in a jaw does not require an implant for every tooth. Four, positioned deliberately, can carry the lot. Smile LA Downtown Modern Dentistry plans it from a 3D cone beam scan.
The principle
Why four is enough
Replacing every tooth in a jaw does not require an implant for every tooth. The two implants at the back are placed at an angle rather than straight down, which lets them engage the denser bone further forward, spread the load across a longer span, and often avoid the areas where bone has already been lost — the reason All-on-4 can frequently be done without a graft where a conventional approach could not. The four are positioned from a 3D cone beam scan rather than to a standard layout, because where the bone is dense and where it is thin differs in every jaw. What sits on top is a fixed prosthesis: attached to the implants, cleaned in the mouth, and not taken out at night.
- Fixed, not removable The prosthesis is attached to the implants and stays in the mouth.
- Fewer implants than teeth A shorter, less involved course than one implant per tooth.
- Bone is preserved Implants transmit load into the jaw, which is what stops the resorption an unstabilized denture allows.
- Planned from a scan Implant success varies with bone density and position, so the 3D imaging comes first.
Against the alternatives
All-on-4, or something else
Four implants is one answer to a full arch rather than the only one. These are the options either side of it, and what separates them.
- Against All-on-6 Two more implants spread the load further and can suit a case with different bone. See All-on-6.
- Against an implant supported denture That is removable; this is fixed. See implant supported dentures.
- Against a conventional denture No adhesive, no periodic refitting as the ridge shrinks, and no bone loss. See full dentures.
Where it sits in a bigger plan
Full-arch implant work is frequently part of a full mouth reconstruction, alongside periodontal therapy and bone regeneration. Longer appointments of this kind are also where IV sedation is most often used.
The short answer
All-on-4 implants replace every tooth in one jaw with a fixed prosthesis carried on four dental implants. The two rear implants are placed at an angle so they engage the denser bone further forward and spread the load across a longer span, and all four are positioned from a 3D cone beam scan of your jaw. The result is a full arch that is attached to the implants and not taken out at night, often without the bone graft a conventional approach would need.
All-on-4 FAQ
- Why only four implants?
- Four implants are enough because the two at the back are angled to engage denser bone and spread the load across a longer span, which can carry a full arch. Replacing every tooth in a jaw does not require an implant for every tooth. Where each implant goes is planned from a 3D cone beam scan rather than a standard layout, because where the bone is dense and where it is thin differs in every jaw. Fewer implants also means a shorter, less involved course than placing one implant per tooth.
- Will I need a bone graft?
- Often not, because the implants are angled to avoid the areas where bone has already been lost. Engaging the denser bone further forward is the reason All-on-4 can frequently be done without a graft where a conventional approach could not. Whether that holds in your case is established by the 3D scan, which shows how dense the bone is and where. If the scan points to a different approach, that is discussed at the consultation.
- Is it removable?
- No, an All-on-4 prosthesis is fixed to the implants and stays in the mouth. It is cleaned in place rather than taken out at night, which is the main difference from an implant supported denture. Because the implants transmit load into the jaw, they also help stop the bone resorption that an unstabilized denture allows. If a removable option suits you better, implant supported dentures are the comparison to look at.
- How is it different from All-on-6?
- All-on-6 uses two more implants, which spread the load further and can suit a different bone situation. Both carry a fixed full arch, so the choice is about how the load should be supported in your jaw rather than about the end result you wear. Which is appropriate comes out of the 3D scan, since bone density and position vary from patient to patient. Neither is the only answer to a full arch, and the options either side are discussed at the consultation.
