South Kensington
- 20 Old Brompton Road, London SW7 3DL
- Open seven days a week
- 020 7183 2362
Treatment comparison · Wimpole Street, Marylebone
All-on-4 or individual implants: two ways to rebuild a full arch
When most or all of the teeth in one jaw are missing or failing, there are two broad ways of using implants to replace them. All-on-4 supports a complete fixed arch on four carefully angled fixtures. The traditional route places a separate implant for each missing tooth, or a small group of implants under a bridge. Both give you teeth that stay in place; they differ in surgery, timing, cost and how the result behaves over the following decades.
Decision guide
Which is right for you?
Choose All-on-4 if…
- Most or all of the teeth in your upper or lower jaw are missing or beyond saving.
- You have some bone loss at the back of the jaw and would rather avoid grafting where possible.
- You want to leave the clinic with fixed provisional teeth in the shortest realistic timeframe.
- A single planned cost for the whole arch appeals more than a per-tooth fee.
Choose Traditional implants if…
- You are missing one, two or a few teeth rather than a whole arch.
- Scans show ample, healthy bone in the areas where teeth are missing.
- You prefer each tooth to work on its own, so a problem with one does not affect the rest.
- You are willing to accept a longer healing period in return for maximum flexibility later.
At a glance
Side by side
| Feature | All-on-4 | Traditional implants |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Replaces every tooth in one jaw with a single fixed bridge | Replaces one tooth, several teeth or a full arch depending on need |
| Implants used | Four per arch, two upright at the front and two angled at the back | Usually one per missing tooth, or several supporting a bridge |
| How the teeth attach | One full-arch prosthesis screwed to the four fixtures | Each fixture carries its own crown, or a short bridge spans two or more |
| Function | Fixed and non-removable; chewing power largely restored | Each tooth loads independently and behaves most like a natural tooth |
| Appearance | The arch is designed as one unit, including gum-coloured material where needed | Crowns are made individually and can be matched tooth by tooth |
| Timeline | Provisional teeth can often be fitted soon after surgery; final bridge after healing | Around three to six months per implant, including healing before the crown |
| Fee at Wimpole Street | Quoted after a clinical assessment and scan, as cases vary widely | From £2,950 per implant including the crown |
| Longevity | Fixtures commonly last 20+ years; the bridge itself may need renewing | Fixtures often last 25+ years or a lifetime; crowns 15–25 years |
| Suitability | Whole-arch tooth loss, including patients with moderate bone loss | One or more missing teeth where bone volume is adequate |
In the chair
What the treatment involves
All-on-4
Planning starts with a 3D scan so the four implant positions can be mapped around the strongest available bone. Any failing teeth are removed and the four fixtures placed in the same surgical visit; the two rear implants are tilted to gain length and avoid the sinus or nerve. Because the fixtures are locked together by the bridge, a provisional set of fixed teeth can usually be attached within a day or two. Over the following months the bone knits to the titanium, and once stable the provisional is replaced by the definitive arch in acrylic, composite or zirconia.
Traditional implants
Each site is assessed for bone height and width; if there is not enough, a graft or sinus lift may be carried out first, adding several months. The implant is placed and left to integrate for roughly three to six months, sometimes beneath a temporary tooth or denture. A small connector is then fitted and impressions or scans taken so the laboratory can make a crown to match its neighbours. Where several teeth are missing side by side, two or three implants can carry a bridge instead of each tooth having its own fixture.
Fees
Cost and longevity at Wimpole Street
A single traditional implant with its crown will start from £2,950 at Wimpole Street, so replacing several teeth scales roughly with the number of fixtures and crowns. All-on-4 is priced for the whole arch and depends on the extractions needed, the type of final bridge and whether any grafting is required, so we give a figure only after a consultation and scan.
For a full arch, All-on-4 is frequently the lower total because it uses four fixtures rather than eight or more and avoids most grafting. Over the long term, remember that the All-on-4 bridge is a single large component that will eventually need relining or replacing, whereas individual crowns can be changed one at a time.
All prices are indicative and are confirmed in a written treatment plan at your consultation. Fees are the same at every Medical & Dental clinic.
Weighing it up
Strengths and trade-offs
All-on-4
Strengths
- Restores a whole arch with only four fixtures
- Angled rear implants often make bone grafting unnecessary
- Fixed provisional teeth can usually be fitted very soon after surgery
- Fewer surgical episodes and appointments overall
- Total cost for an arch is generally lower than a fixture for every tooth
Trade-offs
- The bridge is a single unit, so a fracture or wear affects all the teeth on it
- Not designed for people missing only a few teeth
- Requires committed cleaning underneath the bridge
- Final fees vary and cannot be quoted without a scan
Traditional implants
Strengths
- Each tooth stands alone and can be repaired or replaced independently
- Closest match to the way natural teeth load the bone
- Crowns can be individually matched for shade and shape
- Very long track record, with fixtures often lasting a lifetime
- Suits any pattern of tooth loss, from one tooth upwards
Trade-offs
- Healing of three to six months before the final crown
- Bone grafting is more often needed, adding time and cost
- Per-tooth pricing makes a full arch considerably more expensive
- More surgical sites and appointments when many teeth are involved
FAQ
Common questions
The two front fixtures sit upright and the two rear ones are angled at up to about 45 degrees, which lets them engage longer stretches of dense bone. Joined together by a rigid bridge, the four share the load in a way that four separate crowns would not.
The titanium fixtures in both systems have similar long-term survival, often 20 to 25 years or more. The difference is in what sits on top: individual crowns typically last 15–25 years and are replaced singly, whereas an All-on-4 bridge is one large piece that may need renewing as a whole.
Often yes. The technique was developed precisely to use the bone that remains at the front of the jaw and to tilt the rear fixtures away from thinner areas. Severe loss can still rule it out, which is why a 3D scan comes first.
All-on-4 involves one larger surgical visit, so the first few days can be more swollen and tender than a single implant. Traditional implants spread the surgery out but require a longer wait before the final teeth are fitted.
Yes. A common plan is a fixed full arch in one jaw and individual implants for a few missing teeth in the other. The right combination depends on how many teeth are missing in each jaw and the bone available.
Implant consultations, including 3D scanning, are available now at our South Kensington and St Paul’s clinics with the same implant team. A written plan from either clinic is valid at Wimpole Street once we open on 1 October 2026.
Marylebone, W1
Wimpole Street opens 1 October 2026
Register your interest and we will contact you when the Marylebone diary opens. If you would rather not wait, the same clinicians can see you at South Kensington or St Paul's now.
Related treatments at Wimpole Street
Opening 1 October 2026
Wimpole Street is not yet seeing patients. Until then, please book or call our South Kensington clinic on 020 7183 2362 or our St Paul's clinic on 020 7183 3709. Questions about the new clinic: wimpolestreet@md.co.uk.
Until we open
Need an appointment before 1 October 2026?
The same clinical team already works from two other Medical & Dental clinics. Book at either one now and, if you prefer, move your ongoing care to Wimpole Street once the doors open.
St Paul's, City of London
- 5 Ave Maria Lane, London EC4M 7AQ
- Open Monday to Friday
- 020 7183 3709
