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A Permanent Alternative to Dentures — All-on-4 Implants Explained
All-on-4 replaces a full arch of teeth using just four dental implants supporting a fixed set of new teeth — a permanent alternative to traditional dentures, often delivered in a single surgical visit.
At FaceLab, every All-on-4 case is performed by our maxillofacial surgical team and planned in 3D from your own scans — supported by our in-house Protomed CMF lab for custom surgical guides and same-day temporary teeth.
Performed at ourThe Shoppes at City of Dreamsclinic, Colombo — Unit No. L8-37, Level 8, The Shoppes at City of Dreams, No. 1, Justice Akbar Mawatha, Colombo 02, Sri Lanka
In one sentence
All-on-4 is a full-arch tooth replacement that uses four dental implants to support a fixed set of new teeth — often delivered in a single surgical visit.
When patients consider All-on-4
- Most or all of your teeth in one or both arches are failing or already missing
- Traditional dentures have stopped fitting, are moving, or are painful to wear
- You have been told you need extensive bone grafting before traditional implants
- You want a permanent set of teeth, not a removable plate
- You want to avoid having a separate implant placed for every single missing tooth
- You want a same-day or single-visit solution if your case allows it
- Your existing dental work has reached the end of its useful life and a full rebuild makes more sense than patchwork
How All-on-4 works at FaceLab
Every All-on-4 case is planned in 3D before any surgery. The procedure pathway runs in three stages.
- 1
3D planning and digital scan
A 3D X-ray (CBCT) and intraoral scan map your existing teeth, bone structure, and bite. Our team designs the implant positions and your new teeth digitally before anything is scheduled. Our in-house Protomed CMF lab fabricates a patient-specific surgical guide for the operation.
- 2
Surgical placement of four implants
Under local anaesthesia, with sedation available if you prefer it, four implants are placed in strategic positions in your jaw. The angled placement allows even patients with significant bone loss to be candidates — no bone grafting required in most cases. The surgery typically takes two to three hours.
- 3
Same-day temporary teeth, then your final set
A fixed temporary set of teeth is attached to the implants on the same day — so you leave the clinic with new teeth. After three to six months of healing, the final permanent set — colour-matched and shape-tailored to your face — is fitted.
What makes FaceLab's All-on-4 different
All-on-4 is offered by several clinics in Sri Lanka. What sets FaceLab apart is the surgical team behind it, the in-house manufacturing, and what we do when a case is more complex than the standard four-implant plan.
Maxillofacial-surgeon-led, every case
Your four implants are placed by a maxillofacial surgeon — not a general dentist trained in implant placement as part of a broader practice. For full-arch cases the difference matters: the procedure is more anatomically demanding than a single implant, and any complications need a surgical specialist to manage.
Fully guided digital surgery
Every implant placement is planned in 3D from your CBCT scan. A custom 3D-printed surgical guide is produced by our in-house Protomed CMF lab so the implants go exactly where the digital plan specifies. The result: better positioning, shorter surgery, and a temporary set of teeth that fits properly on day one.
In-house temporary and final teeth
Your temporary and final sets of teeth are designed and fabricated in-house — not outsourced to an external lab. This shortens turnaround time, allows fine-tuning of fit and shape, and means your dental team is the one designing your new smile.
Zygomatic backup for severe bone loss
All-on-4 works for many patients with reduced jawbone. But if your bone loss is severe, the standard four-implant plan may not work — and that is where most clinics refer you elsewhere. Our maxillofacial team can place zygomatic implants (anchored in the cheekbone) as a backup, so a full-arch reconstruction remains possible in difficult cases.
One coordinated team, start to finish
All-on-4 is not a single event — it is the start of a long restoration journey. Our surgical, restorative, and periodontal teams coordinate on every case, from the placement surgery through to the final teeth and long-term maintenance. One clinic, one record, one team.
When All-on-4 may not be the right choice
All-on-4 is a powerful procedure but not the right answer for every patient. A thorough consultation rules out anything that should be addressed differently first.
- Only a few teeth are missing — individual implants may be more conservative
- Your existing teeth are healthy enough to save — we always recommend saving them first
- Active gum disease or infection — these need treating before any implant work
- Severe medical conditions affecting bone healing or anaesthesia tolerance
- Heavy smoking — significantly reduces success rates; stopping beforehand is strongly recommended
- You are not ready for the maintenance commitment — All-on-4 needs regular cleaning and reviews to last
Frequently Asked Questions
In most All-on-4 cases, a fixed temporary set of teeth is attached to your implants on the same day as the surgery — you leave the clinic with new teeth in place. The final permanent set is fitted three to six months later, after the implants have fully integrated with your jawbone.
No. The whole point of All-on-4 is to move you from a removable denture to a fixed set of teeth that are permanently attached to implants. They do not come out at night and are cleaned in your mouth like natural teeth.
Not every case suits the standard four-implant plan. If your bone loss is more severe, we may recommend All-on-6 (six implants instead of four) or zygomatic implants (which anchor into the cheekbone, avoiding the upper jaw entirely). Our maxillofacial team performs all of these in-house, so a full-arch restoration remains possible even in difficult cases.
The implants themselves are designed to last decades — many patients keep them for life. The set of teeth attached to the implants typically needs review every 10–15 years depending on wear. Regular cleaning and maintenance reviews are the biggest predictor of long-term success.
All-on-4 surgery is performed under local anaesthesia, with sedation available if you would prefer it. Most patients report less discomfort than they expected — the surgery itself is straightforward, and pain management afterwards is well-controlled.
For the first few weeks while your implants integrate, you will be on a soft-food diet to protect the healing. After that, most patients return to normal eating — often including foods they had avoided with dentures. Once the final set of teeth is fitted, you eat as you would with natural teeth.
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Have a specific case in mind?
Share your situation with our team on WhatsApp, or book a consultation at our The Shoppes at City of Dreams clinic.