All-on-X Dental Implants in Istanbul: Fixed Full-Arch Teeth Planned Around Your Bone

What does the X in All-on-X mean?

The X in All-on-X is the number of implants that carry the bridge in one jaw.

Rather than placing one implant for every missing tooth, all the teeth of the arch are joined into a single bridge and spread across a few strong anchor points. Cleveland Clinic describes full-arch restorations as multiple implants, usually four to six, supporting all of the upper or lower teeth. People search for it as "all on x", "All on X implants" or "full-arch implants"; the idea is the same. Choose the option below that is closest to your situation to open its service page.

Every option above is part of our wider dental implants service in Istanbul, and the bridge itself is a type of implant-supported prosthesis.

All-on-4, All-on-6, All-on-8 or another option: how do they compare?

The options differ mainly in how many implants carry the teeth and whether the result is fixed or removable.

Cleveland Clinic separates fixed implant dentures, sometimes called hybrid dentures, which you cannot take out at home, from removable ones that snap on and off. All-on-X belongs to the fixed group. If a removable plate suits you better, see our removable dentures service; for crowns and bridges on your own teeth, see fixed prosthodontics.

Who is a candidate for All-on-X?

All-on-X is usually suited to adults who have lost, or are about to lose, most or all teeth in one jaw and who have enough bone to anchor implants.

• You wear a full or partial denture and are tired of it moving or needing to come out.
• Most remaining teeth are loose, broken or badly decayed and cannot be saved predictably.
• Your general health allows minor oral surgery under local anaesthetic.
• You are willing to stop smoking and clean under a fixed bridge every day.

Some conditions need to be controlled first. Cleveland Clinic mentions untreated gum disease, poor oral hygiene, severe bone loss and unmanaged diabetes, and says smoking or vaping can disrupt healing. Cambridge University Hospitals (NHS) notes that smokers have a much greater implant failure rate and are expected to stop at least six months before treatment, and that tooth grinding can overload implants.

Reduced bone does not automatically rule you out. Tilting the back implants is one way to use the bone that is there; grafting is another, and the NHS trust says grafting adds at least four months to treatment. Which route fits you is decided from your scan, not in advance.

What happens during All-on-X treatment at Taksim Clinics?

All-on-X at our clinic is normally carried out over two trips to Istanbul with a healing period at home in between.

1. Online pre-assessment. You send photos, an X-ray and your medical history; we explain what still has to be checked in person.
2. Examination and 3D CBCT scan. Dr. Abdurrahman Öztürk examines your gums, bite and remaining teeth, and the scan shows bone height, width and the position of nerves and sinuses.
3. Digital plan. Implant number, angles and positions are planned on the scan, so X is based on measurement. We go through the plan with you before anything is done.
4. Extractions and implant placement. Teeth that cannot be kept are removed and the implants are placed under local anaesthetic.
5. Temporary fixed teeth. When the implants are stable enough, a temporary bridge can be fitted. The American Academy of Periodontology notes temporary teeth may sometimes be worn straight away; otherwise healing caps are used first.
6. Healing at home. The implants fuse with the bone over several months while you wear the temporary teeth.
7. Final bridge. On your second visit we take scans, check fit and bite, and screw in the final bridge.

How long does All-on-X take?

From first surgery to final bridge, All-on-X usually takes several months, because the bone needs time to grow around the implants.

Cleveland Clinic gives about three to six months for implants supporting a full-arch denture to integrate, and the AAP describes two to six months. The visit lengths below are our clinic's indicative plan and change from patient to patient.

Which bridge material will you get: acrylic or zirconia?

The final All-on-X bridge is usually made either as a metal-acrylic (hybrid) bridge or from zirconia, and both have trade-offs.

A 2023 narrative review in Dentistry Journal (Cinquini and colleagues) looked at full-arch implant bridges. It reported that metal-acrylic bridges more often showed tooth fractures and wear, while zirconia bridges mainly showed minor chipping. In the one study that compared survival directly, metal-acrylic arches had more complications, but the difference was not significant after adjusting for follow-up time. The authors point out that the studies are small, with no randomised trials.

The implants themselves are usually titanium; Cleveland Clinic notes that some are ceramic and that both are biocompatible. More on bridge design is on our prosthodontics page.

Why plan All-on-X at Taksim Clinics?

We plan each All-on-X case from a 3D scan and explain the reasoning for the number of implants before treatment starts.

When both jaws, the bite and the gums all need work, we plan it as full mouth rehabilitation rather than treating each jaw in isolation. After you fly home, our team stays reachable on WhatsApp.

Watch: the dental implant journey in Istanbul

In this one-minute video Dr. Abdurrahman Öztürk walks through implant treatment in Istanbul, from the examination and 3D scan to the final teeth. All-on-X follows the same steps, with several implants planned together for one bridge.

How do you care for an All-on-X bridge, and what are the risks?

A fixed All-on-X bridge needs daily cleaning, including underneath it, and regular professional check-ups.

• Brush twice a day and clean under the bridge with floss threaders and interproximal brushes, as Cleveland Clinic advises for fixed implant dentures.
• Eat soft foods while the implants heal and follow the instructions you receive after surgery.
• Do not smoke, and ask about a night guard if you grind your teeth.
• Keep your check-ups so the bridge, screws and gums can be inspected.

Like any surgery, All-on-X carries risks. Cambridge University Hospitals lists numbness around the area, which is very rare and usually resolves, and notes that occasionally an implant fails to bond with the bone and has to be removed. Cleveland Clinic also mentions infection, nerve damage and sinus problems. Over the years the main concern is peri-implant disease: the AAP explains that peri-implant mucositis affects only the gums and can be reversed if caught early, while peri-implantitis also destroys supporting bone and usually needs surgery. Previous gum disease, poor plaque control, smoking and diabetes raise the risk.

Contact us promptly if you notice red, tender or bleeding gums around the implants, pus, a loose or cracked bridge, or numbness that does not improve. Our periodontics team handles gum and implant maintenance.

Where is the clinic?

Clinic location: Gümüşsuyu Mah., Mete Cad., Beyoğlu, Istanbul — a few minutes on foot from Taksim Square. For directions and opening hours, see our contact page.