MODERN METHODS OF IMPLANT-SUPPORTED REHABILITATION FOR COMPLETELY EDENTULOUS PATIENTS: ALL-ON-4, ALL-ON-6, AND THEIR CLINICAL EFFECTIVENESS

Abstract

Complete edentulism is a major oral health condition that significantly impairs mastication, speech, facial esthetics, and quality of life. Conventional removable dentures often provide limited retention and stability, particularly in patients with severe alveolar bone resorption. Implant-supported full-arch rehabilitation has become the gold standard for restoring function and esthetics, offering improved comfort, chewing efficiency, and long-term clinical outcomes. Among the most widely used treatment concepts are the All-on-4 and All-on-6 protocols, which restore a completely edentulous arch using four or six strategically placed dental implants.

This review examines the clinical principles, indications, advantages, limitations, and effectiveness of the All-on-4 and All-on-6 treatment concepts. It compares their biomechanical characteristics, implant survival rates, prosthetic outcomes, and long-term clinical performance based on current scientific evidence. Although both protocols demonstrate implant survival rates exceeding 95% and provide predictable functional and esthetic rehabilitation, the All-on-6 concept offers superior load distribution and prosthetic stability, whereas the All-on-4 approach is less invasive, more cost-effective, and often eliminates the need for bone augmentation. The choice of treatment should be individualized according to bone quality, anatomical conditions, functional demands, and patient-specific factors.