Last fact-checked: 6 September 2023

The Ultimate Guide to All-on-6

You don’t have to live with tooth loss or endure ill-fitting dentures. Replace your missing teeth with a whole arch prosthesis and six dental implants, and save up to 75% at one of Dental Departure’s global partners.

The All-on-6 is a permanent full-arch restoration treatment that provides more strength and stability when compared to traditional dentures. This technique uses six dental implants strategically placed throughout the jaw (upper or lower) to evenly distribute force. 

An immediate-load temporary prosthesis can be attached to the implants on the same day right after the surgery; only a few months later, a permanent prosthesis can then be attached giving you a natural-looking new smile and restored dental function.

Discover how this innovative makeover technique can improve your life and let Dental Departures help you connect with one of our background-checked dental specialists from top destinations like Hungary, Thailand, Turkey, Bali, Mexico and Costa Rica.

Prices abroad can be up to 75% cheaper, reason enough for patients to acquire treatment overseas. See below for All-on-6 treatment concept price comparisons:

Traveling overseas for medical treatment is becoming increasingly common for patients from developed Western nations. Dental tourists make up almost half of medical tourism due to the rising cost of dental care or insufficient insurance coverage back home. 

As you may have learned, the high-cost of the All-on-6 treatment is not affordable for most people living in North America, Europe or Australia – with prices per arch averaging around US $27,000 (CAN $37,000; UK £22,000; EUR €25,000; AUS $38,000; NZ $39,000). 

As a result, millions of patients travel abroad each year seeking significantly lower prices for the same treatment compared to their home countries, with savings of between 50% and 75% throughout Central and South America, Central and Eastern Europe, South East Asia and the Middle East.

One of the advantages of the All-on-6 treatment is that implants and prostheses can be fitted in a matter of hours – which is why it is also known as ‘teeth in a day’. Our partner clinics are usually equipped with an in-house laboratory in their facilities for quick processing, this allows you to leave with your new temporary set of teeth on the same day. 

Cheaper doesn’t mean outdated and low quality. The globalization of dental technology ensures that standards of dental training and practices throughout the world are on par. The worldwide integration of new techniques and best practices across different countries has greatly impacted the field of dentistry in recent years by promoting cooperation, knowledge sharing, and access to advanced dental solutions on a universal scale. 

Many of our top dentists received parts of their advanced training in Western countries and are affiliated with a few international professional organizations. Additionally, online educational resources allow dentists to acquire new skills and knowledge regardless of their geographical location, as a result, new methods and technology are adopted quickly and can easily be implemented across the globe.

Why Is Dental Care Cheaper Abroad?

Leading dental destinations such as Thailand, Hungary and Mexico generally have a lower cost of living compared to the US, UK and Australia. Several factors specifically help bring down the cost of dental care and pass on substantial savings to patients:

• Property and leasing costs for operating a dental clinic, including utility costs, are considerably much less.                                                                  
• Staff payroll and dentists’ salaries are lower relative to the country’s lower living wage.                                                                                               
• Insurance, legal and malpractice costs are much less, and sometimes not required.                                                                                                             
• Dental care prices are aligned to meet the country’s economic needs as most of the locals cannot afford to pay international prices.                         
• Some governments help promote medical tourism by offering subsidies and tax incentives for clinics servicing international patients as they consider medical tourism an integral part of the economy. 

Quality of Dental Care Abroad: Is it Safe?

Countries popular with dental tourists invest heavily in their dentistry to attract and retain international patients. While their public health facilities may lack some basic infrastructure, however, private dental clinics have world-class standards and are well-equipped to proficiently treat international patients.

Our dental clinic partners also have affiliations, particularly with regard to hygiene and safety standards, and may specify they are signed up to the International Organization for Standardization or similar official bodies.

Heading abroad for any kind of dental procedure can have its risks, especially for those who are unprepared for having done very little research. Potential problems can be compounded when visiting a new country for the first time – while trying to navigate the wealth of contradictory information online about clinics, their reputation and prices can be enough to put many people off.

Dental Departures makes it quick and easy to find specialist implantologists around the world who have the right expertise and experience to carry out the All-on-6 and other similar smile restoration treatments. We’ve partnered with thousands of fully verified dental clinics across the world that are ready to treat patients just like you.

Dental Departure’s Clinic Verification Checklist

At Dental Departures, we know how important it is to find reliable dentists whom you can trust, which is why we conduct thorough background checks on dentist qualifications, their legal and criminal records and professional associations. We perform site visits to check on the facilities and review their before and after photos. We investigate online patient reviews along with publishing other important information on our site, such as maps and updated pricing to help you find an ideal clinic in your destination and book an appointment with complete confidence.

Specifically, we check on the following:

• License and registration with the respective country’s dental governing body
• Dentists’ experience and specialized training in more complex procedures, such as a full-arch dental implant reconstruction
• Membership of well-respected organizations, such as the International Congress of Oral Implantologists
• Local or international accreditations
• Cleanliness and sanitation standard of the facility
• Adherance of international protocols set out by the International Organization for Standardization, or similar.

This extensive verification process ensures you will only get to see the best full-mouth implant dentists abroad. So make sure you are heading to a quality-checked clinic by booking with Dental Departures. Get in touch with our Customer Care Team, or see below for convenient ways to book your appointment today. 

Dental Technology and Equipment Abroad

As you can see on our list of global clinics, our partners are well-equipped with state-of-the-art dental technology and advanced patient services that allow faster processing time and improved accuracy. You’ll find that advanced technology in dental care is less invasive and overall enhances patient journey and satisfaction. 

Advanced digitization used by our partner clinic includes computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacture (CAD/CAM), which utilizes digital technology to assist in the design that allows quick and precise fabrication of your prosthesis usually at an in-house laboratory - sometimes as quickly as a few hours!

Forget a mouthful of putty and oversized trays, your dentist will use an intraoral 3D scanner to take a digital impression; then images are uploaded to the CAD software for design and customization. Once you and your dentist are satisfied with the prosthesis design, a digital milling machine will shape the dental material accordingly and precisely. Your dentist may apply small finishing touches to the prosthesis after the fitting for maximum comfort and beauty.

Dental Implant Success Rates

Backed by studies, the dental implant success rate is exceptionally high, with different factors that can influence the outcome. According to clinical data, worldwide studies over a 10-year period have shown that implants have a 90%–95% success rate. 

However, as no implant procedure can ever be guaranteed, it's important to note that success rates can vary depending on several factors. The outcome may be affected by the patient's overall health, oral hygiene, the quality of the patient's jawbone, the location and number of implants supporting the prosthesis and the skill of the specialist performing the procedure.

When choosing a clinic from our verified list, you can expect highly skilled dentists using a top implant brand/system to ensure the same high success of implant survival rate - or even better - compared to the success rate back home. 

Increase your chance of a winning outcome by booking with Dental Departures, ask our Customer Care Team about money-back guarantees, warranties and insurance.

Read More: Dental Departures’ Ultimate Guide to Dental Implants

As dental implant technology continues to improve and the success rate increases over time, more and more patients will be traveling abroad to get dental treatments. Fueled by deep discounts and high-quality care combined with a fun-filled holiday, it’s no wonder why dental tourism is a growing phenomenon. 

You may already have a dream destination in mind, or you would rather pick somewhere closest to home. For instance, Americans living close to the US-Mexico border have numerous options from border towns like Tijuana, Mexicali or Los Algodones - or flying to an exotic location like Costa Rica to get the next dental treatment. 

Most people in the UK, Western Europe and Scandinavia prefer more cost-effective destinations such as Hungary, Croatia and Turkey where patients can make huge savings while flying, or even driving, for only a few hours from home. 

Likewise, if you live down under in Australia or New Zealand, it’s more practical to fly to destinations in Southeast Asia particularly Thailand, Malaysia, Bali and the Philippines; all of which are excellent places to get your All-on-6 treatment combined with an enchanting holiday break.

Have a look at these top dental destinations that have become well-known for offering high-quality and affordable dental care, along with our recommended clinics offering the All-on-6 implant treatment:

Mexico:

- Marietta Dental Care

- Sani Dental Group

- Mark Shtern Dental Clinic

Turkey:

- BergeDent Clinic

- All on Dental Clinic Istanbul Turkey

- Beyaz Ada Clinic

Hungary:

- Evergreen Dental

- Digital Dental Art

- Dental Angels Smile Clinic

Thailand:

- Bangkok International Dental Center (BIDC) - Main Headquarters

- Bangkok Smile Malo Dental Headquarters (Soi Sukhumvit 5)

- The Ivory Dental Clinic

At our partner clinics, patients can save between 50% - 70% per cent, for example:

• In the United States, All-on-6 treatments average $28,000. At a Mexico dentist: USD $9,000
• In the United Kingdom, All-on-6 treatments average £24,000. At a Thailand dentist: £10,000
• In Australia, All-on-6 treatments average AUD $36,000. At a Bali dentist: AUD $11,000

[Note: These are estimated prices calculated at the time of writing and treatment costs vary depending on a number of factors. Please see our clinic listings for up-to-date prices.]

How Do Prices Vary? Are There Any Hidden Costs?

The overall cost of your smile restoration abroad may be determined by a few factors. Primarily, if a patient requires a full mouth restoration (dual arch) for the upper and lower jaw or just one arch. 

Other factors to consider that may affect your overall treatment cost include:

• Extractions: If there are any teeth remaining in the jaw receiving the fixed prosthesis, they will need to be removed before the implant procedure.
• Sinus lift or bone grafting may be required before implant placement. 
• Implant brands from several well-known systems are available at varying costs. Also, the type of material used for your prosthesis can affect the final cost.
• A night guard is recommended to protect from grinding the fixed bridge when you sleep.

Book with Dental Departures for Transparent Implant Prices

You’ll be glad to know that our clinics provide fully transparent estimated pricing with all treatment costs included, such as X-rays, and temporary and final prostheses, to name a few. There shouldn’t be any discrepancies when you are handed the final bill. If however, there’s an additional treatment required, such as a bone graft, your dentist will disclose the payment details during your initial consultation–which is free of charge when booking through us.

Get in touch with our Customer Care Team to find current promotional packages available through our site; promotions usually includes treatment process like implant surgery and final attachment of the fixed prosthesis, medication, extractions, aftercare and even a complimentary hotel stay close to the clinic.

The All-on-X is a permanent full-arch restoration of missing teeth using a few dental implants. Similar to the All-on-4®, which belongs to Nobel Biocare as the trademarked name for that particular treatment, the All-on-X is in fact - the generic term. The “X” refers to how many dental implants are to be used, which can be anywhere from four to eight implants per arch. 

Traditionally, dental patients with missing teeth would receive individual dental implants to replace each tooth. However, the All-on-X approach provides an alternative solution for patients who have lost all or almost all teeth within an arch (upper or lower jaw). Instead of replacing all missing teeth, dentists use fewer dental implants to serve as anchors for a fixed dental bridge, which is usually a full set of artificial teeth that spans across the entire arch.

Dental implants provide a strong and stable foundation for artificial teeth. This stability allows for improved chewing and speaking functions just like natural teeth, unlike traditional dentures, which rest on the gums and may require adhesives to stay in place. Dentures are notorious for slipping or shifting during eating or speaking, impacting everyday function. 

Oftentimes for added stability, dentures are made with a palette that hinders the patient’s ability to taste food and drinks, this makes the simple task of eating - unenjoyable. A full-arch restoration, on the other hand, will not need to cover the palette - so patients can fully taste and enjoy their meals - and with restored chewing ability, patients can eat pretty much whatever they want. 

Other Full-Arch Restoration Brands

Our network of top implantologists commonly use the full arch restoration system from  several well-known brands approved by the American Dental Association and other professional bodies, including but not limited to: 

• Straumann® (Pro Arch)

• Astrotech® 

• Nobel Biocare®

• Osstem Implants®

• BioHorizon® (TeethXpress)

• 3i USA®

• Zimmer®

• Bicon®

All-on-6 treatment usually requires two separate trips that are about four months apart. The time period between the trips is the process of osseointegration, which is when dental implants become fused with the jawbone before a permanently fixed prosthesis can be loaded. A temporary hybrid denture can be loaded immediately after inserting the implant; allowing patients to eat and speak normally during this healing period. 

First Trip:

1. Consultation: During this initial appointment, the dentist who specializes in implant surgery will assess the patient’s oral health by taking several tests, which may include X-rays, 3D cone beam scan and photo evaluations, to determine suitability for the All-on-6 treatment. 

2. Fabricate hybrid denture: An impression of the mouth will be taken to process an immediate hybrid denture, which will then be attached during the surgical phase as a temporary prosthesis so patients are not without teeth after the surgery. Temporary prostheses are made from lighter and non-durable materials as they are not meant to last a long time.

3. Surgery: Extractions are performed before implant surgery if there are any remaining teeth on the same arch. The surgical process begins with the inserting six dental implants into the jawbone. The implants are strategically placed throughout the jaw to optimize stability, equally distribute force and support for the final prosthesis. To complete the surgery, an immediate hybrid denture that’s already pre-made is then attached to the implants through abutments and screws.

More about the implant surgery:

• The procedure is usually performed under local anesthesia but may be carried out with additional intravenous sedation, or for longer and more complex surgeries, general anesthesia may be available. 
• In the case of dual arch surgery, both jaws (upper and lower) can be operated in the same session.
• Surgery can take between two and six hours depending on the complexity of the procedure.

Healing phase:

A healing period of three to four months is necessary for the implants to fuse with the jawbone. This integration ensures a strong foundation for the final prosthesis. During the healing phase, patients are advised to only eat a soft food diet and follow a regular cleaning routine as directed by the dentist.

Second Trip:

Final restoration: The patient returns to the clinic after the implants have fused with the jawbone for a minimally-invasive removal of the temporary bridge. The dentist will then take another impression of the mouth to process the final and permanent prosthesis. 

Once the final prosthesis is ready, it will be attached to replace the temporary bridge providing the patient with fully functional and aesthetically pleasing teeth. The dentist may make minor finishing touches to adjust for proper fit and comfort.

Does the Fixed Bridge Require Special Care? What Else Should I Consider?

After having your All-on-6 treatment, special care should be taken into consideration:

• During the healing phase, you will be wearing a temporary fixed bridge which allows the implant to fuse with your jawbone. It is important to avoid hard and chewy food such as toffees, nuts and ice cubes, as they could disrupt osseointegration - which could result in a delay in the healing process or your bone may not heal properly. 
• Patients are instructed to use an antiseptic mouthwash for the first two weeks; and afterwards, brushing daily with a soft bristle toothbrush is advised.
• After the final attachment of the permanent bridge, patients should maintain healthy oral hygiene habits by carefully brushing, using special flossing tools, wearing a night guard (for those who suffer from bruxism) and having regular check-ups with a dentist to ensure longevity of dental implants and prosthesis. 

Read More: Dental Departures’ Ultimate Guide to Dental Implants.

• Dental Departures collects and publishes honest patient reviews, allowing prospective patients to use their own judgment.
• Our vigorous clinic verification process makes traveling abroad for dental care safer and less stressful for patients.
• We have 24-hour live chat support available on desktop or mobile
• Our Customer Care Team offers support throughout your entire treatment process, from the time you book to the time you get home.
• It’s completely free to book via our site, via email or over the phone - no credit card required!
• Free, no-obligation treatment quotes are swiftly provided
• See and compare transparent price estimates on each of our clinic listing pages (some clinics don’t publish them on their website).
• Free cancellation policy up to 24 hours before your appointment
• No added costs for using our service–our unique Best Price Guarantee ensures you won’t be paying more than you should.
• Exclusive promotions and packages are available only through Dental Departure’s Website.

Q. Where is the cheapest country for All-on-6 treatment?

A. You’ll find the lowest prices in countries like Mexico, Costa Rica, Thailand and Bali, while European dentists in Hungary and Croatia may charge slightly more.

Q. Do dentists abroad speak English?

A. Yes, we make sure that dentists who practice at our network of clinics speak English.

Q. What happens if my new teeth fail out?

A. Clinics commonly offer guarantee and warranty periods on their work, so if something goes wrong, they’ll fix it for free (subject to terms and conditions).

Q: How long do All-on-6 dental implants usually last?

A: All-on-4 dental implants can last up to a lifetime with proper care and regular maintenance. Worldwide studies over a 10-year period show that implants have a 90%–95% success rate. Yearly dental check-ups with your dentist and good oral hygiene practices can contribute greatly to the longevity of the implants.

Q: Will the All-on-6 look like natural teeth?

A: Yes. Our partner dentists are experts in designing a smile that matches the look of the patient’s face and the shape of the jaw, along with using natural-looking materials.  The design of the prosthesis is based on impressions or a 3D scan of the patient’s mouth.

If you’d like to find out more about All-on-6 or any other dental treatments, get in touch with our Customer Care Team, or see below for convenient ways to book your appointment today. 

Know before you go: read our verified patient reviews, view clinic photos and take virtual tours of our partner clinics. Then contact our Customer Care Team or book with us online for great care at the best available prices!

Sources:

In-house dental laboratory. Website accessed 30 June 2023.https://www.dentalproductsreport.com/view/bringing-dental-lab-house

International Organization for Standardization. Website accessed 30 June 2023.https://www.iso.org/home.html

Full Arch Implant rehabilitation using all on 6 concept -A Case series. Website accessed 30 June 2023. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/350290414_Full_Arch_Implant_rehabilitation_using_all_on_6_concept_-A_Case_series

International Congress of Oral Implantologists. Website accessed: 27 June 2023. https://www.icoi.org/

Worldwide studies over a 10-year period have shown that implants have a 90%–95% success rate. Website accessed: 15 June 2023.  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7615316