All-on-6 is a fixed bridge for a whole jaw on six implants. At TB Dent in Trebinje we recommend it whenever there is enough healthy bone, because six implants leave a reserve: if one is ever lost, the bridge can stay. Treatment works just like All-on-4: one surgery, a temporary fixed bridge after 24 hours and the final bridge after three to four months, in two trips. All-on-6 costs from €6,650 per jaw.
What are All-on-6 dental implants?
All-on-6 replaces all the teeth in one jaw with a screw-retained bridge on six implants, instead of an implant for every tooth. The bridge doesn't come out: it stays fixed, you clean it in your mouth and you can eat everything with it.
The difference from All-on-4 is not mainly the number of implants but the reserve. With four implants, the whole jaw rests on four supports. If one is lost, a fixed bridge can no longer be made on the remaining three. With six, five remain, and the fixed bridge can stay. The chewing force is also spread over more supports.
Can it be five implants?
Yes. The number follows the bone, not a fixed concept. When the bone allows five but not six, we place five. You get the exact plan after a CBCT scan, before you travel.
Who is All-on-6 for?
All-on-6 is for people who have lost most or all of their teeth in one jaw, or whose remaining teeth can't be saved, and who want fixed teeth instead of a denture. At TB Dent we recommend six implants whenever there is enough healthy bone for them.
We place four when the bone doesn't allow six, or when the patient chooses four for financial reasons. The deciding factor is the amount and quality of bone, the same in the upper and the lower jaw. If bone is missing, what can be done is explained in Dental implants with bone loss.
Is All-on-6 better than All-on-4?
When there is enough bone, we prefer six for the reserve. But we have no measurable data showing that a bridge on six implants lasts longer than one on four, when both are done properly and checked regularly. When the bone doesn't allow six, All-on-4 is the right choice. The full comparison is in All-on-4 vs All-on-6.
How does the All-on-6 procedure work?
All-on-6 at TB Dent takes five appointments over two trips, seven working days in Trebinje in total. The appointments and intervals are the same as for All-on-4; only the surgery takes longer.
What happens before you travel?
You send us your CBCT scan, a 3D X-ray of the jaw. On it the surgeon sees whether there is enough bone for six implants, and you get the plan and exact price before you book flights. Bring the scan with you and, if you have health problems, a written clearance from your physician.
What happens on the day of surgery?
Any remaining teeth are removed and the six implants placed in the same appointment, under local anaesthetic with articaine. It takes about an hour and a half per jaw. We don't offer sedation; general anaesthesia is only possible in hospital. A scan is taken for the temporary bridge, and the next day it is fitted. So you spend one night without teeth.
What is recovery like after All-on-6?
Recovery after All-on-6 is the same as after All-on-4; the surgery just takes about half an hour longer. During surgery we give a dexamethasone injection to keep swelling down. Pain afterwards varies, and most patients have little or none. Bruising is common and fades on its own.
You can eat soft food from the next day. Surgery is usually on a Saturday morning, so many patients are back at work on Monday. You can fly or take a long drive two days after surgery; more in Flying after dental implants.
How long does healing take?
About four months in the lower jaw and three to four months in the upper jaw. That is how long the implants need to fuse with the bone, and it can't be sped up. During that time you wear the temporary fixed bridge. If you can only come once a year, the temporary bridge lasts up to twelve months.
How much does All-on-6 cost?
All-on-6 at TB Dent costs €6,650 (13,000 KM) per jaw with Neodent implants and €7,670 (15,000 KM) with Straumann. That is €1,534 more per jaw than All-on-4. The price includes the implants, abutments, temporary fixed bridge, final bridge, anaesthesia and check-ups. A zirconia bridge costs €1,534 extra per jaw, and both jaws together cost 10% less.
What is not included, how payment works and an example with travel costs are in All-on-4 cost. Why there are two implant systems is in Straumann vs Neodent.
What are the disadvantages of All-on-6?
All-on-6 has three downsides compared with All-on-4. It costs more, the surgery takes longer, and you need enough bone for six implants. If there isn't enough bone for six, we recommend All-on-4 instead.
Like any fixed bridge on implants, All-on-6 needs good cleaning and regular check-ups. Without them, the warranty doesn't apply.
What is life with All-on-6 like?
The bridge doesn't come out, you can eat everything, and speech and taste stay the same. Getting used to it takes a few days. You clean it with a toothbrush and toothpaste, and a water flosser or superfloss is a must.
The first check-up is one month after the final bridge, then every six months. We give a ten-year warranty on the implants and five years on the bridge. On the day of surgery you receive your implant passport.
Who places All-on-6 at TB Dent?
All-on-6 is done by Dr Darijo Pandžić, a specialist in oral surgery, and Dr Nikola Krnojelac, an oral surgery resident. We do around 40 All-on-6 and 60 All-on-4 cases a year. The bridges are made by our partner laboratory in Mostar.
Step by step with four implants is in All-on-4 dental implants. Travel and entry rules are in Dental tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Send us your CBCT scan on WhatsApp; all our doctors speak English.
This article is also available in German.
Questions patients ask about All-on-6 dental implants
What does All-on-6 mean?
A fixed bridge for a whole jaw on six implants. It doesn't come out, and if one implant is lost, the bridge can stay on the remaining five.
Is All-on-6 better than All-on-4?
When there is enough bone, we prefer six for the reserve. There is no measurable data that six last longer than four when both are done properly. When the bone doesn't allow six, All-on-4 is the right choice.
How long does All-on-6 surgery take?
About an hour and a half per jaw, including removing the remaining teeth, under local anaesthetic.
How much does All-on-6 cost?
At TB Dent, €6,650 per jaw with Neodent and €7,670 with Straumann, both bridges included. Both jaws together cost 10% less.
What are the disadvantages of All-on-6?
A higher price, a longer surgery and the need for enough bone for six implants.
How many trips does All-on-6 take?
Two: one for surgery and the temporary bridge, and one three to four months later for the final bridge. Seven working days in Trebinje in total.
