Total tooth loss or critical destruction is not just an aesthetic issue. It is a serious discomfort: the inability to properly chew favorite foods, changes in diction, and even psychological barriers—people stop smiling and feel older than their years. Fortunately, modern implantology clinics offer solutions that allow you to restore a “full mouth of teeth” in just a few visits.
What is Total Tooth Restoration
Total restoration (or full rehabilitation) is a technique in which the entire dentition of one or both jaws is restored. Instead of placing an implant for every missing tooth (which is expensive and traumatic), doctors use the All-on-4 or All-on-6. These are non-removable constructions. Unlike conventional dentures, they do not cover the upper palate, do not cause a gag reflex, and do not fall out at the most inconvenient moment.
The Essence of All-on-4 and All-on-6
- All-on-4: 4 titanium implants are placed in the jaw—two vertically in the front and two at an angle in the lateral sections. This allows for reliable fixation of the prosthesis even with a small volume of bone tissue.
- All-on-6: Implantation for complete tooth loss using 6 implants. Two additional supports make the construction more stable and allow for a more even distribution of chewing load.
Main Differences Between the Systems
The main difference lies in the number of teeth you get “at the finish line” and the reliability of the supports.
- Number of teeth: With All-on-4, the dentition is usually restored up to the 6th teeth (total of 12 per jaw). With All-on-6, a full row of 14 teeth can be restored (up to the 7th teeth).
- Load: 6 implants distribute pressure during chewing better.
- Price and complexity: All-on-4 is less expensive and requires fewer surgical interventions, which is important for elderly patients.
How the Installation Procedure Works
The process is divided into several key stages:
- Diagnostics — consultation, 3D image (CT), and bone condition assessment.
- Surgery — removal of destroyed teeth and installation of implants. If the patient is very anxious or has health problems (e.g., hypertension), the surgery can be divided into two stages—first one jaw, then the other.
- Temporary prosthetics — you do not leave the clinic without teeth! During the integration period (3–4 months), temporary teeth are placed—acrylic or made of more durable plastic (PMMA).
- Permanent prosthetics — after full integration of the implants, the temporary prosthesis is replaced with a permanent one made of zirconium dioxide, metal-ceramics, or ceramic composite.
How to Choose Between All-on-4 and All-on-6
The choice of system is always a joint decision between the doctor and the patient, based on the clinical case. For example, larger people with a wide jaw and higher body weight are more often recommended All-on-6, as they need more supports for high-quality chewing. For petite women or elderly people, All-on-4 is quite sufficient. If there is very little bone, 4 implants are easier to “fit” into the existing volume without additional bone grafting. Finally, four supports are financially more accessible than six.
Rehabilitation and Care
After the surgery, it is important to follow the recommendations of the attending physician. In the first few days, swelling is possible—this is normal. A follow-up examination is usually scheduled for day 3–4, and sutures are removed after 7–10 days. Eating is both possible and necessary, but for the first few months, food should be soft to allow the implants to integrate. Hygiene is a process on which 90% of the implant’s longevity depends. Implants fear plaque no less than natural teeth. Once every six months, a professional cleaning with the removal of the construction is mandatory.
Dental implantation in Tallinn using the All-on-4 and All-on-6 systems is the “gold standard” for total tooth loss. The choice of a specific technique depends on your physical parameters and bone tissue volume. In any case, it is an investment in quality of life that, with proper care, will last 20–30 years and even longer.
