All-on-6 or several separate implant bridges: the cost

Most people who end up considering All-on-6 did not lose their teeth all at once. Teeth fail one or two at a time, through gum disease, decay or old crowns giving up, until there is a mix of healthy teeth, weak teeth and gaps. At that point a dentist may suggest replacing the failing sections with implant bridges, or replacing the whole arch at once. The money works very differently in each case.

Two ways to replace many teeth

How the costs build up

With separate implant bridges, each section of missing teeth usually needs at least two implants, connectors and a bridge. Replace one section and the cost is modest. Replace three or four sections across the same jaw and you may be paying for eight or more implants, plus several bridges, plus treatment on the teeth you keep.

With All-on-6, six implants carry every tooth in the jaw. The price is mostly fixed whatever the number of teeth you had left, and extractions are often included. At Precious Dental, for example, All-on-6 is £6,500 for both jaws with free extractions, while a single implant is £300 and a zirconia crown £150. Those single-item prices let you compare the two routes for your own case.

A worked comparison for one jaw

Suppose a dentist suggests replacing a jaw's failing teeth with three implant bridges, each on two implants and carrying four teeth. Using Precious Dental's single-item prices as an illustration:

Illustration only, using Precious Dental's published single-item prices. A real plan depends on your scan, and the number of implants and units can differ.

In this example the separate bridges are not obviously cheaper, and they still leave you looking after a mix of natural teeth and bridges. With fewer failing teeth, separate bridges would cost less; with more, All-on-6 pulls ahead. That crossover point is different for everyone, which is why both options should be priced from the same scan.

The case for keeping your teeth

Price is not the only factor, and it should not be the first. Healthy natural teeth have their own nerves and support, and there is no replacement as good. The Oral Health Foundation describes implants as a way to replace missing teeth, not as a reason to remove healthy ones. If the teeth you would keep are sound, and your gums are healthy, separate bridges or other repairs may be the better choice even at a similar cost.

The case gets weaker when the remaining teeth have advanced gum disease or are heavily restored. The British Society of Periodontology notes that a history of gum disease is a risk factor for problems around implants too, so gum health matters whichever route you choose.

Hidden costs of the mixed route

• Treatment on the teeth you keep. Fillings, root canal treatment or new crowns may be needed to make them last.
• More stages. Separate sections are sometimes done at different times, which can mean more trips if you are treated abroad.
• Future failures. If a kept tooth fails later, you may need another implant, or eventually a full arch anyway.
• Implant positions. Implants placed for small bridges are not always where a full arch would need them, so they may not be reusable later.

Hidden costs of the full-arch route

• Losing sound teeth. If some teeth were healthy, that is a real loss, even if not a financial one.
• A larger single treatment. More surgery at once and a longer healing period.
• Upkeep of one large bridge. Cleaning underneath and regular checks for life. See the lifetime cost.

How to get a fair comparison

1. Ask for a 3D scan and a full examination, including gum health.
2. Ask the dentist to price both routes from the same scan, in writing.
3. Ask which teeth would be kept under the mixed route, and their likely outlook.
4. Ask what would happen if a kept tooth failed in five years.
5. If you are being treated abroad, count the trips each route needs and add them in the calculator.

A second opinion from a UK dentist is a sensible step if one dentist recommends removing teeth you believe are healthy. The NHS treatment abroad checklist suggests one in any case.

Questions to ask the dentist

• Which of my teeth can be kept, and how long are they likely to last?
• How many implants would separate bridges need, and where?
• What would each route cost in total, including extractions, scans and treatment on the teeth kept?
• How many visits or trips does each route need?
• If I choose separate bridges now, could the implants be reused for a full arch later?
• Which route would you choose for your own mouth, and why?

The last question is often the most revealing. A dentist who can explain clearly why one route suits your mouth better, and is comfortable recommending the cheaper one when it fits, is a dentist worth listening to.

What about a denture?

There is a third route that costs least up front: removing the failing teeth and wearing a full or partial denture. On the NHS in England, dentures fall within Band 3, currently £332.10. Many people manage well with dentures; others find them loose or uncomfortable, especially on the lower jaw. Implant treatment is usually considered when a denture is not working for you, not as an automatic first step.

Thinking ten years ahead

When you compare the two routes, picture your mouth in ten years. With separate bridges, the teeth you kept will be ten years older, and some may need treatment or replacement. With All-on-6, the implants and bridge need regular upkeep, and the teeth on top may be nearing replacement. Neither route is free of future costs. Ask the dentist which one they expect to need less work over that period for your mouth, and why.

The bottom line

When only a few teeth need replacing, keeping the rest and using separate implant bridges is often both cheaper and better. When most of the jaw is failing, All-on-6 usually costs less and is simpler to look after. The crossover depends on your mouth, so ask for both routes priced from one scan. If you still have teeth and want to know how they affect an All-on-6 price, read All-on-6 when you still have teeth.

Common questions

How many implants do separate bridges need?

Typically two implants for each short implant bridge of three or four teeth, though it varies. Replacing most of a jaw this way can need eight or more implants.

Is it better to keep my own teeth?

If they are healthy or can be made healthy, yes. Natural teeth are worth keeping. The question only arises when many are failing.

Why is All-on-6 cheaper for a whole jaw?

Because six implants carry all the teeth in one connected bridge, so you pay for fewer implants than if each section had its own.

Can I start with bridges and move to All-on-6 later?

Sometimes, but implants placed for small bridges may not be in the right positions for a full arch. Ask the dentist to plan with the long term in mind.

Sources

1. Oral Health Foundation — Dental implants
2. British Society of Periodontology — Patient FAQs: dental implants
3. NHS — Dental treatments (bridges)
4. Precious Dental — All-on-4 and All-on-6

Checked October 2026. Where we give our own view as a clinic, we say so.