All on 4 is an innovative implant protocol developed for patients missing most or all of the teeth in one jaw, in which a full arch of fixed teeth is supported using just 4 implants. The concept was developed in the 1990s by Portuguese dentist Dr. Paulo Malò and quickly became a standard treatment option worldwide for patients who are edentulous (toothless) or nearly so.

The key innovation behind this technique lies in the angle at which the implants are placed: two implants are placed vertically at the front, while the two implants at the back are deliberately angled at 30-45 degrees. This angled placement helps avoid anatomical limitations commonly encountered in the upper jaw (the sinus cavity) or lower jaw (the nerve canal), eliminating the need for bone grafting in most patients. At the same time, angling the back implants creates a wider support base ("spread"), allowing just 4 implants to safely support a full-arch denture.

One of the most notable advantages of the All on 4 protocol is its compatibility with "immediate loading": a fixed temporary denture can be attached the same day, right after implant placement. This means patients don't leave their treatment trip without teeth — a major advantage both aesthetically and functionally.

The key difference between All on 4 and All on 6 is the number of implants used. All on 6, as the name suggests, uses 6 implants to support the denture and can offer extra stability in patients with wider jaw structures or better bone density. All on 4 involves less surgery and generally lower cost, offering an effective solution even for patients with limited bone volume. Which protocol is right for you is determined by your dentist after 3D imaging and a clinical exam; some patients may be recommended different protocols for each jaw (for example, All on 6 in the upper jaw and All on 4 in the lower).

This technique has been supported by extensive clinical research and long-term follow-up studies conducted worldwide over the past two decades. Its biggest contribution has been making severe bone loss cases — previously treatable only with extensive bone grafting procedures — accessible through a much less invasive approach.

This page covers who All on 4 is suitable for, the clinical steps involved, how it differs from alternatives like All on 6 and full-mouth implant treatment, the recovery process, and pricing in Alanya.

All on 4 is particularly well suited to patients who:

During assessment, your dentist reviews the condition of your existing teeth, bone quality and overall oral health as a whole. Some patients may have different needs for each jaw — for example, All on 4 in the upper jaw and a partial treatment plan preserving healthy teeth in the lower jaw. This illustrates why treatment must always be individually tailored.

All on 4 is generally applicable even in cases of significant bone loss, because the technique is designed to make use of the densest areas of remaining bone (typically at the front of the jaw). However, in some advanced cases where bone volume is extremely limited, alternative techniques such as zygomatic implants may be more appropriate. Factors such as smoking and uncontrolled diabetes are taken into account during assessment. Final suitability is determined after 3D tomography and a clinical examination.

This technique draws particular interest from patients who have used removable dentures for years and are tired of the everyday frustrations — dentures shifting, the risk of them slipping while speaking, or having to rely on adhesive cream. It's also a practical solution for patients with advanced periodontal disease whose teeth cannot be saved, since tooth extraction and implant placement can often be combined into a single session — avoiding a long separate healing period before implants can even begin.

Another key group of candidates includes patients who feel that treating each missing tooth individually would be impractical in terms of both cost and time. All on 4 addresses the whole jaw within a single comprehensive treatment plan, offering a more time- and budget-efficient path.