Implants & Oral Surgery
All-on-4 Dental Implants in Washington, DC
A full arch of fixed teeth carried by four implants — planned, placed, and restored in one office by Dr. Kambez Shukoor, with same-day temporary teeth in most cases.
Google Rating
4.9 · 303 reviews
Availability
Same-day consults
Payments
Financing available
Definition
What Is All-on-4?
All-on-4 replaces an entire upper or lower arch with a fixed prosthesis supported by four dental implants. The back two implants are angled so they engage the denser bone toward the front of the jaw, which is what makes a complete arch possible on four anchor points rather than six or eight.
The prosthesis is screwed to the implants rather than resting on the gums, so it is never taken out at home — no adhesive, no nightly soaking, no palate coverage. Because the posterior implants are tilted, All-on-4 frequently avoids a sinus lift in the upper jaw and works in ridges that would not accept six upright implants.
Distinguishing details
- Implant count: four per arch — the fewest for a complete fixed arch
- Fixed, not removable: only the dentist takes it off, for servicing
- Same-day fixed temporary in most cases, where initial stability allows
- Candidacy: moderate bone volume, including many long-term denture wearers
- Angled posterior implants often avoid grafting or a sinus lift
- Typically four to six months from surgery to the definitive arch
All-on-4 is one of several full-arch routes. If you are still weighing them up, start with the full mouth arch implants overview, which compares this page against All-on-6 and implant-supported dentures.
Candidacy
Who All-on-4 Suits
All-on-4 is usually the right plan when an arch is failing rather than partly damaged, and when bone volume is moderate rather than generous.
Often a good fit
- Most or all teeth in an arch are missing or beyond saving
- Long-term denture wearers tired of slipping, adhesive, and sore spots
- Reduced posterior bone that would otherwise require a sinus lift
- A preference for teeth that never come out at home
Worth discussing first
- Heavy bite forces or significant grinding — All-on-6 may spread load better
- Healthy natural teeth still worth keeping in the arch
- Uncontrolled diabetes, active smoking, or untreated gum disease
- Very advanced ridge resorption, which may need grafting first
Process
The All-on-4 Treatment Process
Every stage happens in this office — the surgery, the temporary arch, and the definitive prosthesis — so nothing is handed off between a surgeon and a separate restorative dentist.
Consultation & 3D Imaging
Visit 1
A cone-beam scan maps bone volume, nerve position, and sinus anatomy across the arch so the four implant sites and their angles can be planned before surgery.
Treatment Planning
Planning stage
Extractions, implant positions, and the prosthetic design are planned together, and you receive the sequence and itemized fees in writing before anything begins.
Extractions & Implant Placement
Surgery day
Failing teeth are removed and four implants are placed under local anesthetic with sedation available — the two posterior implants angled to use the available bone.
Same-Day Fixed Temporary
Same day, where stability allows
When the implants reach enough initial stability, a fixed temporary arch is attached the same day, so you leave with teeth rather than a gap.
Healing & Osseointegration
3–6 months
The implants fuse to the bone while you wear the temporary arch, with short reviews to confirm integration is on track.
Final Custom Arch
Final visits
Digital scans drive the definitive prosthesis. Shade, tooth position, and bite are verified, then the final arch is torqued onto the four implants.
Compare
All-on-4 Compared to the Other Full-Arch Options
Four implants is not automatically less than six — it is the plan for a different set of conditions. Here is how the three routes differ.
All-on-4 (this page)
Four implants per arch, back two angled. Fixed. Works with moderate bone and often avoids a sinus lift.
Read the All-on-4 pageAll-on-6
Six implants per arch. Fixed. Wider load spread for heavy bites and zirconia arches, but needs more bone.
Read the All-on-6 pageImplant-Supported Dentures
Two to four implants per arch with a denture that clips on. Removable daily, lower cost, works with less bone.
Read the Implant-Supported Dentures pageDaily Life
Living With an All-on-4 Arch
Swelling and soreness peak around day two or three and are managed with prescribed medication. You stay on a soft diet while the implants integrate, then move back to a normal diet once the definitive arch is fitted — chewing force with a fixed arch is much closer to natural teeth than any removable option.
Brush the arch twice daily and clean underneath it with a water flosser and specialised floss. Come in for regular hygiene visits, where the prosthesis can be unscrewed for a deeper clean and the implants inspected. Nightguards are sometimes recommended for grinders to protect the prosthesis — see bruxism and nightguards.
Fees are quoted in writing before treatment starts, with insurance coordination and monthly payment options through CareCredit and Cherry — details on financial information.
FAQ
All-on-4 Questions
The questions Washington, DC patients ask most often about All-on-4 implants.
Related
Full-Arch & Implant Services
Compare All-on-4 against the other routes, or read about the groundwork some cases need first.
Full Mouth Arch Implants
The overview page comparing every full-arch route, and the place to start if you are still deciding.
Full Mouth Arch ImplantsAll-on-6
The same fixed arch on six implants — more load spread, more bone required.
All-on-6Implant-Supported Dentures
A denture that snaps onto two to four implants and still comes out daily for cleaning.
Implant-Supported DenturesBone Grafting
Rebuilds ridge volume where years of tooth loss or denture wear have thinned the bone.
Bone Grafting