It is fixed
The bridge is anchored to the implants and stays in the mouth. There is no plate across the palate, no overnight soaking, no adhesive.
The All-on-5 Procedure
One fixed arch, carried by five implants.
All-on-5 is a full-arch protocol: five titanium implants placed in one jaw, supporting a single bridge of teeth that does not come out. This page explains why five, what is actually in your mouth, how the surgery runs, and where the treatment has honest limits.
Implants5 per arch
ResultOne fixed bridge
Trips2 short visits
Healing gap3–6 months
What It Is
A whole jaw, rebuilt as one unit.
All-on-5 is not five separate tooth implants. It is one engineered bridge, designed and loaded across five supports.
It is one bridge
Ten to twelve teeth are made as a single span. The five implants are support points; the bridge ties them into one structure.
It is serviceable
The bridge is screw-retained — fixed for you, but removable by a dentist for cleaning, repair and review over the years.
All-on-5 is a protocol, not a brand of implant
"All-on-4," "All-on-5" and "All-on-6" describe how many implants carry the arch. The implants themselves are standard parts from the same global manufacturers — Nobel Biocare, Straumann, and others — used in clinics worldwide.
Why Five
The fifth implant has to earn its place.
A four-implant arch carries the bridge on two front and two angled rear supports. The teeth behind the last implant — the cantilever — are unsupported.
A fifth implant adds a support point that shortens that unsupported span and spreads the bite load more evenly. It is most often considered for:
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The upper jawMaxillary bone is softer than the lower jaw, so extra support is often valuable.
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Wider arches & heavier bitesA longer span or a strong, grinding bite places more demand on each support.
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Cases where four would be stretchedWhen the scan shows a four-implant layout leaves too much unsupported bridge.
It is not automatically the better choice. The fifth implant must have its own usable bone, and the bridge must still be cleanable around it. If those are not true, four or six may be the more honest plan.
Span comparison4 vs 5 supports
What is in your mouthCross-section
The Anatomy
Three parts, stacked.
A full-arch implant restoration is built in layers. Knowing the three parts makes every quote easier to read.
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A
The implant fixture A titanium screw placed into the jawbone. It becomes the root. Five of these carry the arch.
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B
The multi-unit abutment A connector that sits on the implant. It corrects angle and gives the bridge a clean, screw-retained seat.
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C
The bridge The visible teeth — one span, screwed onto the abutments through small access channels.
Bridge Materials
What the final bridge is made of.
The implants are titanium in every plan. The choice is the bridge itself — and it is a real trade-off between cost, durability and repair, not a simple "good, better, best."
Acrylic on titanium
Acrylic (PMMA) teeth set into a titanium bar — the long-established "fixed hybrid." Lighter, the easiest to adjust and repair, and the most affordable final bridge.
- Best for
- Value-led plans; a forgiving, serviceable result
- Trade-off
- Acrylic teeth wear and stain over years and may need renewing
- Repair
- Straightforward — often chairside
Composite hybrid
A composite-and-titanium bridge — a middle option. More wear-resistant than acrylic, still repairable, with a natural enough finish for most cases.
- Best for
- A balance of appearance, durability and cost
- Trade-off
- Not as hard or stain-proof as zirconia
- Repair
- Possible — more involved than acrylic
Monolithic zirconia
A bridge milled from solid zirconia ceramic. The hardest and most stain-resistant option, with the most natural finish — and the highest cost.
- Best for
- Longevity, appearance, resistance to wear
- Trade-off
- Costlier and heavier; a chip is a laboratory repair
- Repair
- Hard — usually means removal and lab work
Read the quote, not the adjective
"Zirconia" and "porcelain" are sometimes used loosely. A clear quote names the exact bridge material, the implant brand, the bar, and the warranty on each — separately. If those are blurred together, ask before you pay.
The Surgical Process
From scan to final bridge.
Six stages. The first runs before you travel; the long wait is the healing, done at home.
Stage 01 · Before you travel
Diagnosis & planning
A CBCT scan and clinical records map bone height, density and nerve and sinus position. The implant number, position and angle are planned against that — not assumed.
Stage 02 · Trip one
Extractions & site preparation
Any failing teeth are removed and the bone is shaped. In many full-arch cases, extraction and implant placement happen in the same visit.
Stage 03 · Trip one
Placing the five implants
Five implants are positioned in the jaw, often with the rear pair angled to use available bone and avoid the sinus or nerve. Each is torqued to a measured tightness.
Why torque matters: the insertion tightness measured here is what decides whether a fixed provisional can be loaded immediately.
Stage 04 · Trip one
The fixed provisional
When the implants reach safe stability, a provisional bridge is fitted so you travel home with fixed teeth. If stability is borderline, loading is delayed — a safety call, not a setback.
Stage 05 · At home · 3–6 months
Osseointegration
The bone grows onto the implant surfaces and locks them in place. You live normally on the provisional, on a sensible diet, while this happens.
Stage 06 · Trip two
The definitive bridge
You return for the final bridge in the chosen material. Fit, bite, speech and finish are checked, then it is torqued into place and documented for future maintenance.
Two Bridges, Not One
The provisional is part of the treatment — not a shortcut.
Most patients are surprised that two bridges are normal. Each does a different job.
First
The provisional bridge
Fitted on trip one. It lets you eat, speak and smile while the implants heal — and it protects the implants from uneven force during the months of integration. It is built to be temporary.
Then
The definitive bridge
Made after healing, when the implants are confirmed integrated and the gum has settled into its final shape. This is the bridge designed to last — in your chosen material, with its own warranty.
Candidacy
When All-on-5 is the right answer — and when it is not.
A good clinic will tell you if you are not a straightforward case. These are the factors that decide it.
All-on-5 tends to suit people with a failing or missing full arch who want a fixed result instead of a removable denture, and who can commit to two trips and ongoing maintenance.
It becomes more complex — or is delayed — when bone volume is low (grafting may be needed first), when gum disease or infection is active, when a health condition affects healing, or when heavy grinding is not controlled. None of these is automatically a "no"; they change the plan, the timeline and the cost.
Decision gatesConfirmed by exam
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Enough bone — or a graft planEach of the five sites needs usable bone, or a clear plan to build it.
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Infection under controlActive gum disease is treated before implants are placed.
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Healing you can rely onConditions like uncontrolled diabetes or heavy smoking raise the risk and are discussed honestly.
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A bite that can be managedHeavy grinding is planned for — often with a night guard — not ignored.
Honest Limits
What a brochure leaves out.
All-on-5 is a well-established, predictable treatment. It is still surgery, and a fixed bridge is not maintenance-free. A plan you can trust says so.
Implants can fail
An implant may not integrate, or can be lost later. Rates are low in well-planned cases, but the plan should say what happens if one does.
It needs maintenance
The bridge is cleaned daily and reviewed by a dentist. Screws can need re-tightening; acrylic teeth wear. Budget for the long term, not just the surgery.
Plans can change
Bone grafting, a sinus lift, or a delayed load can be discovered at surgery. A good quote states the cost and time impact of each in advance.
Procedure Questions
About the treatment itself.
Is All-on-5 better than All-on-4?
Not by default. The fifth implant helps when it shortens an unsupported span or improves load sharing — typically in the upper jaw or a wider arch. If the bone or bite does not call for it, four can be the better-engineered plan. The number should follow your scan.
Does it hurt?
The surgery is done under anaesthetic, with sedation available. Afterwards, swelling and soreness for several days are normal and managed with medication. Pain that worsens instead of easing should always be reviewed.
How long does the final bridge last?
Well-integrated implants can last many years — often decades — with good hygiene and reviews. The bridge on top has a shorter life: acrylic teeth wear and may be renewed, while zirconia lasts longer. Maintenance is part of the deal.
What if I do not have enough bone?
Low bone volume does not rule out treatment. Options include grafting, a sinus lift in the upper jaw, or angled and longer implants that use the bone you have. It can add a stage, cost and healing time — which is why a CBCT scan and an honest plan come first.
Can the bridge be removed?
Not by you — it is fixed. But because it is screw-retained, a dentist can remove it for deep cleaning, repair or assessment, then re-fit it. That serviceability is a real advantage over a cemented design.
Next Step
Have your case looked at first.
Send a panoramic X-ray or CBCT scan and photos. You will get a preliminary read on whether All-on-5 fits your case — and what the alternatives are — before any travel is booked.