A full fixed arch on six implants for extra support
All-on-6 restores a complete arch of teeth on six implants rather than four, spreading the load across more points of support. It is a strong full-arch option in the right case, planned and placed at Apex Dental by Dr Jonathan Mifsud.
When six implants are the better choice
All-on-6 follows the same idea as All-on-4 but adds two more implants. Those extra supports spread the forces of chewing more evenly, which can be useful where there is good bone to work with or where a wider, more heavily loaded bridge is planned — often in the upper jaw. It is not automatically better than All-on-4; it is better for certain cases, and the 3D scan tells us which yours is.
Six implants supporting a fixed full arch
Load spread more evenly across the jaw
Often suited to the upper jaw or larger bridges
Chosen from your scan, not as a default
All-on-6 versus All-on-4
Both are excellent, well-evidenced ways to replace a full arch, and survival rates in the studies are similar. The real question is your bone and how the bite will load the bridge. Where bone is limited, All-on-4 makes the most of it; where there is more to work with, All-on-6 can offer extra support and resilience. We will talk you through the trade-offs honestly so the decision fits your case, not a sales pitch.
Similar implant survival in the research
All-on-6 adds load distribution and resilience
All-on-4 maximises limited bone
Decision based on your 3D scan and bite
The evidence behind full-arch implants
Full-arch rehabilitation on four or six implants is well documented in the literature. Here is a selection of published research on survival and outcomes, with links to the original studies.
A clinical case series treating full arches with the All-on-4 and All-on-6 concepts using a digital workflow reported an overall implant survival rate of 98.3%.
A retrospective study compared immediate full-arch rehabilitation on four or six implants with follow-up of up to 10 years, reporting high survival for both approaches.
Systematic reviews report 10-year survival above 95% for both four- and six-implant full-arch designs, with the choice driven by bone volume and load distribution rather than survival alone.
Survival and success figures are drawn from published clinical studies and reflect averages across many patients; your own outcome depends on your case, bone, general health and aftercare.
Frequently asked questions
Full-arch implants in Malta
Book a consultation with Dr Jonathan Mifsud. A 3D scan will show whether All-on-6 or All-on-4 is the right full-arch solution for your jaw.