Surgery and recovery: what's the same and what differs
From the patient's chair, four and six feel more alike than different. These are the steps, with the few places they diverge.
Medically reviewed by Dt. Hüseyin Yavuz Özbek, implant surgeon · Updated October 2026The steps are the same for four and six implants: a 3D scan and plan, extractions if needed, implants placed under local anaesthetic (sometimes with sedation), temporary fixed teeth often within days, a few months of healing on soft food, then the final teeth. Six means two more implant sites, so surgery takes a little longer and there may be a little more swelling. If six needs a graft first, the timeline can be longer.
Step by step
| Step | Four implants | Six implants |
|---|---|---|
| 3D scan and plan | Same | Same; the scan also checks bone further back |
| Extractions | Same, usually on the day | Same |
| Anaesthetic | Local anaesthetic, sometimes with sedation | Same |
| Implant placement | Four sites | Six sites, so a little longer |
| Graft or sinus lift | Often avoided | Sometimes needed first |
| Temporary fixed teeth | Often within days | Often within days |
| First days | Swelling and tenderness | Similar, sometimes a little more |
| Healing on soft food | A few months | A few months; longer if grafted |
| Final teeth | Fitted after healing | Fitted after healing |
Where they really differ
- Grafting. This is the big one. If your bone needs building up before six implants can go in, that adds a procedure and often months of waiting. If four tilted implants avoid that, the timeline is simpler.
- Surgery time. Two more implants add some time in the chair. It's not usually a reason to choose one over the other.
- The first week. Two more sites can mean a little more swelling. Most people manage with ordinary painkillers from the clinic.
What's identical
- You go home with fixed temporary teeth in most cases
- Soft food while the implants heal, to avoid overloading them
- The same daily cleaning under the bridge
- Final teeth after a few months, usually zirconia or acrylic on a framework
For a detailed, week-by-week recovery guide and what to eat, see allon6implant.co.uk. If you're travelling for treatment, the two-trip plan is explained at allon6turkey.co.uk.
Common questions
Is recovery longer with six implants?
Usually not by much. There are two more implant sites, so some people have a little more swelling or tenderness in the first days. If a graft or sinus lift is needed for six, healing can take longer.
Will I have teeth straight after surgery?
Often, yes, with both four and six: a temporary fixed bridge is fitted within days if the implants are firm enough. If they aren't, a temporary denture is used while they heal.
How long until the final teeth?
Usually a few months, while the implants bond with the bone. Your clinic will tell you its timing; it depends on your bone and whether grafting was needed.
Sources
- Oral Health Foundation — Understanding dental implants (stages and healing)
- NHS — Dental treatments
- Nobel Biocare — All-on-4® treatment concept
Checked October 2026. Where we give our own view as a clinic, we say so.
Only a scan can settle it.
Send us an X-ray or scan if you have one. A dentist will tell you which option suits your bone, and say so honestly if neither is the right step.