Full-arch rehabilitation
Also known as: Full-arch implant treatment, Full mouth dental implants, Implant-supported full arch
Replacement of all the teeth in one jaw with a prosthesis carried by a limited number of implants, either fixed in place or removable by the patient.
Key facts
| Number of implants | Across the studies reviewed by the ITI consensus on loading protocols for fixed prostheses in edentulous jaws, the number of implants ranged from 2 to 10 in the mandible and 4 to 12 in the maxillaVerified spec[1] |
|---|---|
| Timing | The consensus states that immediate loading of microtextured implants with a one-piece fixed interim prosthesis is as predictable in the edentulous mandible and maxilla as early and conventional loading, and that primary implant stability is critical regardless of the loading protocolVerified spec[1] |
| Typical use | Most included studies applied inclusion criteria of insertion torque of at least 30 Ncm, an implant stability quotient of at least 60, and a minimum implant length of 10 mmVerified spec[1] |
| Limitations | The need for simultaneous procedures such as bone augmentation or sinus floor elevation is considered a relative contraindication for immediate loadingVerified spec[1] |
| Main stages | Assessment and three-dimensional imaging; a decision on whether the prosthesis will be fixed or removable; extraction of any remaining teeth if required; implant placement; an interim prosthesis; then the definitive prosthesis once tissues have settled. The interim stage is often several months long and is part of the treatment rather than a delay in it. |
| Prosthetic ecosystem | A fixed full-arch bridge and an implant-retained overdenture are different treatments with different implant numbers, cleaning demands and costs. Being told a price for "full mouth implants" without knowing which of the two is meant makes comparison impossible. |
Overview
Full-arch rehabilitation replaces an entire upper or lower set of teeth on a small number of implants, and divides into two quite different treatments: a bridge fixed permanently in place, and an overdenture the wearer removes for cleaning. It may be considered by people who have lost, or are about to lose, all the teeth in a jaw and who cannot tolerate or do not want a conventional denture; whether it is appropriate depends on bone volume, general health, bite and cleaning ability, all assessed in person. The number of implants is not fixed by rule — studies reviewed by the ITI consensus used between two and ten in the lower jaw and four to twelve in the upper. Immediate loading, where a temporary fixed bridge goes on at surgery, is well documented for this indication provided the implants are stable enough at placement, but it becomes a relative contraindication when grafting or a sinus lift is carried out at the same time. Anyone comparing quotes should first establish whether the price is for a fixed bridge or an overdenture, and how many implants it includes.
This is general information. Whether any treatment suits you depends on clinical examination, including imaging — no website can determine that.
Sources
Numbers match the citations beside each claim above.
Clinical evidence
- [1]Loading Protocols for Fixed Prostheses in Edentulous Jaws — ITI Consensus Statement — International Team for Implantology (ITI), 2013. Accessed 2026-07-21.