All-on-4 vs All-on-6 in Turkey: Cost, Candidacy and Which Is Right

Specialist Prosthodontist Dr. Sadık Taki compares All-on-4 and All-on-6 for UK patients — how candidacy, bone, cost and the crown-to-implant ratio decide which full-arch option is right, and how to verify the clinic.

I am Dr. Sadık Taki, a Specialist Prosthodontist in Antalya, and full-arch rehabilitation is the heart of my clinical work. UK patients arrive having read that "All-on-6 is better" or "All-on-4 is cheaper", and both statements are too simple. The honest answer is that the number of implants is a consequence of your anatomy, not a marketing tier. Let me explain how I actually decide.

What is the real difference between All-on-4 and All-on-6?

In both procedures, a full arch of missing or failing teeth is replaced by one fixed bridge screwed onto implants. All-on-4 uses four implants per arch, typically with the two rear implants tilted to capture more bone and often avoid a sinus lift. All-on-6 uses six, adding two more anchor points so biting forces are distributed across a wider footprint. More implants are not automatically "better" — they simply give more support where the bone and bite call for it.

Who is a candidate for each?

Candidacy is decided from a CT (CBCT) scan, not a photograph. I look at bone height and width, where the sinuses and the inferior alveolar nerve sit, your bite force, and whether you grind (bruxism).

• All-on-4 can be ideal where rear bone is limited, because tilted implants reach denser bone and often avoid grafting — meaning fewer surgical stages and a faster path to fixed teeth.
• All-on-6 suits patients with adequate bone who have a heavier bite, grind their teeth, or want the load spread more conservatively, which can protect the prosthesis and the bone over time.

Sometimes four well-placed, well-angled implants outperform six placed into poor bone. Placement quality beats raw count.

Why the crown-to-implant ratio decides more than the number

The quiet driver of long-term success in full-arch work is the crown-to-implant ratio and how load is distributed. When biting forces lever on the bone — because implants are short, poorly angled or unevenly spaced — marginal bone loss can accelerate. I studied exactly these planning variables in my three-year paper, "Effects of implant-related variables on the marginal bone loss around dental implants", in Quintessence International (DOI 10.3290/j.qi.a43864). The lesson for an All-on-4 vs All-on-6 decision is simple: a clinic that plans length, angulation and load before choosing a number is protecting your result; one that sells a fixed "4" or "6" package is not.

Does the choice change the cost?

Yes. All-on-4 uses two fewer implants per arch, so it is usually the lower-priced option, and both are substantially cheaper in Turkey than in the UK. But compare like for like. The figure should include the implant brand (we use Straumann and Nobel Biocare), the final prosthesis material (for example a high-strength milled hybrid or zirconia bridge), sedation, your X-rays and the guarantee. A quote that is cheaper because it uses anonymous implants and excludes aftercare is not actually cheaper. For a full money breakdown, see our Turkey vs UK dental costs guide.

What about lifespan and aftercare?

Both designs can last many years, but only with maintenance. A fixed full-arch bridge has to be cleaned under, its screws checked, and the bone monitored. My retrospective study, "Maintenance requirements and marginal bone loss associated with implant-retained overdentures", in Clinical Oral Investigations (DOI 10.1007/s00784-022-04437-6), found that ongoing maintenance is a genuine, recurring requirement of implant-retained restorations — I wrote a plain-language summary on Medium. So whichever number you choose, the aftercare plan matters as much as the surgery.

So which is right?

Let the scan decide. If your rear bone is limited and you want the most direct route to fixed teeth, All-on-4 is often the better-engineered choice. If you have good bone and a heavier or grinding bite, All-on-6 buys you a wider safety margin. What should never change is how you verify the clinic: Taki Dent is accredited by the Turkish Ministry of Health and International Health Tourism authorised (ST-6335), uses traceable premium implants, plans the crown-to-implant ratio in advance, and backs every full-arch case with a 5-year written guarantee. We were also recognised at the European Medical Awards 2025 for Dental Implantology.

Explore verified clinics, read the full UK patient guide, or learn how to choose the best dental clinic in Turkey.

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Medically reviewed and written by Dr. Sadık Taki, Specialist Prosthodontist. Always verify a clinic's accreditation and credentials directly before booking treatment abroad.