South Kensington
- 20 Old Brompton Road, London SW7 3DL
- Open seven days a week
- 020 7183 2362
Treatment comparison · Wimpole Street, Marylebone
Full mouth implants or All-on-4: two ways of rebuilding a whole arch on fixed teeth
When every tooth in a jaw needs replacing and you want the result fixed in place, there are two established routes. The first places a larger number of individual implants, usually six to ten or more per arch, each carrying its own crown or a short bridge. The second, All-on-4, supports a single full-arch bridge on four implants, with the back pair angled to make use of the densest bone. Both produce teeth that stay in; they differ in how many surgical sites are involved, how long the process takes, how the bridge is serviced later, and what happens if bone is in short supply.
Decision guide
Which is right for you?
Choose Full mouth implants if…
- A scan shows adequate bone across the arch, or you are willing to undergo grafting to achieve it.
- You would like each tooth or short section to be repairable on its own if something ever fails.
- You want the closest possible imitation of a natural set of teeth, with crowns emerging individually from the gum.
- You can accept a treatment period of six to twelve months or longer, possibly in several stages.
Choose All-on-4 if…
- Bone loss in the back of the jaw would otherwise call for sinus lifts or block grafts.
- You would rather have one surgical session per arch than several.
- You want fixed provisional teeth early in the process rather than going without.
- The overall budget for a whole arch matters and four fixtures suit it better than eight or ten.
At a glance
Side by side
| Feature | Full mouth implants | All-on-4 |
|---|---|---|
| Implants per arch | Typically 6 to 10 or more | Four, with the rear two angled |
| What sits on them | Individual crowns or short bridges | One connected full-arch bridge |
| Surgical sessions | Often several, sometimes staged | Usually one per arch |
| Timeline | Around 6 to 12 months or more, longer with grafting | Shorter overall; provisional bridge early, final bridge after healing |
| Bone requirements | Good bone needed at every site; grafting common if not | Angled fixtures often avoid grafting despite some bone loss |
| Fee at Wimpole Street | Priced per implant from £2,950 each; total depends on the number placed | Quoted for the whole arch after assessment and scan |
| Fixture lifespan | 25 years or more | 20 years or more |
| Prosthesis lifespan | Individual crowns around 15 to 25 years | Bridge may need relining or remaking over time |
| If something breaks | One crown is replaced without touching the rest | The bridge is removed for repair as a single unit |
| Best suited to | Patients with ample bone wanting maximum flexibility | Patients with some bone loss wanting fewer operations and a quicker result |
In the chair
What the treatment involves
Full mouth implants
Planning begins with a 3D scan and a wax or digital mock-up of the finished teeth. Any failing teeth are removed and, where bone is thin, grafts or sinus lifts are carried out first, sometimes with a healing interval of several months. Implants are then placed under local anaesthetic or sedation, often in more than one session so that each site can be positioned precisely. After three to six months of integration, connectors are fitted and the laboratory makes individual crowns or short bridges, tried in and adjusted before they are secured. A removable or fixed temporary is worn throughout.
All-on-4
The same scan and mock-up stage applies, but the surgical plan concentrates on four sites per arch: two upright fixtures at the front and two tilted fixtures further back, positioned to engage dense bone and steer clear of the sinuses and nerve. Remaining teeth are usually removed at the same appointment. Where the implants are firm enough, a fixed provisional bridge is attached soon after surgery, an approach our South Kensington and St Paul’s teams already follow. Over the following months the bone integrates, and a definitive bridge in acrylic, composite or zirconia replaces the provisional once healing is complete.
Fees
Cost and longevity at Wimpole Street
Individual implants at Wimpole Street will start from £2,950 each including the crown, so a full arch of eight to ten fixtures scales accordingly before any grafting is added. All-on-4 is priced as a complete arch and depends on extractions, the material of the final bridge and the complexity of the surgery, so we provide a written figure only after a consultation and scan.
For most patients All-on-4 comes to less for a whole jaw simply because fewer fixtures are placed and grafting is often avoided. The trade-off appears later: a full-arch bridge is a single component that will need relining or replacing over the years, while individual crowns on separate implants can be renewed one at a time. Both approaches need regular hygienist care, which should be factored into long-term costs.
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
Full mouth implants
Strengths
- Each implant works independently, so one failure does not affect the others
- Crowns can be replaced singly
- Load spread across many fixtures
- Closest match to the look and feel of natural teeth
- Extensive long-term evidence
Trade-offs
- Highest overall cost because of the number of fixtures
- Longer treatment, frequently 6 to 12 months or more
- Grafting likely where bone is deficient
- Several surgical procedures may be required
All-on-4
Strengths
- Four fixtures per arch, so fewer surgical sites
- Angled rear implants often make grafting unnecessary
- Single operation per arch in most cases
- Fixed provisional teeth early in the process
- Often the lower total for a complete arch
Trade-offs
- Designed only for full-arch replacement
- Bridge is one piece; repairs involve removing the whole unit
- Less scope for adjusting individual teeth
- Demands diligent cleaning beneath the bridge and regular professional maintenance
- Suitability depends on imaging and assessment
FAQ
Common questions
The rear of the upper jaw sits beneath the sinuses and the rear of the lower jaw houses a nerve, both of which limit how long an upright implant can be. Angling the posterior fixtures lets them run forward through thicker bone, gaining length and anchorage without grafting.
More fixtures spread chewing forces more widely and give redundancy if one is lost. In practice four well-positioned implants support an arch reliably for most patients; the extra fixtures in a full-mouth plan buy flexibility and independence between teeth rather than a step change in strength.
The bridge is usually removed, the failed fixture is replaced or an additional one placed, and the bridge is refitted or remade. With individual implants the same problem would involve only the affected tooth, which is the main argument for the larger number of fixtures.
Sometimes, particularly if grafting proves unsuccessful or bone turns out thinner than expected. The reverse is harder once four fixtures have been positioned for a bridge. This is why the decision is made carefully at the scanning stage.
Ideally not at all. With All-on-4 a fixed provisional bridge is normally attached soon after surgery once the implants are stable. With individual implants a removable or fixed temporary covers the gap while the fixtures integrate over several months.
Yes. Scans and consultations for both approaches are available now at South Kensington and St Paul’s, where these procedures are already carried out. Treatment planned there can continue at Wimpole Street after 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
