Paying for All-on-6 across two trips

All-on-6 is not one appointment. It is a treatment in two halves with a healing period in between, and for patients travelling from the UK each half is a separate trip. That structure gives you a sensible way to pay: a share when the first half is done, the rest when the second is. This article explains how stage payments usually work, what each stage pays for, and what to ask before you hand over any money.

What happens on each trip

The first trip carries most of the surgical work and the second most of the laboratory work. Both are substantial, which is why many clinics split the payment between them.

Common ways clinics take payment

• Deposit, then two stages. A deposit at booking, a payment on the first trip and the balance on the second.
• Two stages, no deposit. Payment on each trip for the work done on it.
• Full payment on the first trip. Simpler for the clinic, but it means you pay for the final teeth months before they are made.

Each clinic sets its own terms. Our view as a clinic is that stage payments tied to completed work are fairest for the patient, because you never pay far ahead of the treatment you have received. Whatever terms a clinic uses, ask for them in writing before you book flights.

The deposit

A deposit secures your dates. Before paying one, ask:

1. How much is it, and what does it secure?
2. Is it refundable, in full or in part, and until when?
3. What happens if the scan on the first day shows All-on-6 is not suitable for you?
4. Is it deducted from the treatment price?
5. Can I pay it by credit card, directly to the clinic?

Paying a deposit by credit card directly to the clinic may bring Section 75 protection for the whole treatment, according to Citizens Advice, as long as the total cost is between £100 and £30,000. See Section 75 and All-on-6.

Paying on the first trip

The first-trip payment usually covers the work that is done then: the scan, extractions, implants and temporary teeth. If the scan shows you need a sinus lift or bone graft, that is normally added and paid on the same trip. Ask the clinic in advance whether you pay before or after surgery, and make sure any extras match the prices you were given in writing. At Precious Dental the published prices for extras are a sinus lift at £350 per procedure, bone graft at £150 per cc and a zygomatic implant at £2,000, each only if needed.

Get a receipt that names the clinic, the date, the amount and what it covers.

Between the trips

The four months at home are mostly free of clinic costs, but not of all costs: your second flights, soft food in the early weeks and perhaps a check-up with your UK dentist. If the temporary teeth need adjusting, ask the clinic whether a local dentist can help and who pays. Our article on costs between your two trips covers this period.

Paying on the second trip

The balance usually pays for the final bridge: the titanium bar, the zirconia or acrylic teeth and the fitting appointments. Ask whether the balance is due before the bridge is made, or after it is fitted and you are happy with it. If it is due before, ask what happens if the bridge needs remaking. Keep the final receipt, your implant passport and the guarantee terms together.

A sample plan

Here is how the money might flow for both jaws at a clinic charging £6,500. The split is illustrative; your clinic's terms decide the real one.

Laid out this way, a single large payment becomes several smaller ones over about five months, which many people find easier to manage. If you are on a fixed income, planning All-on-6 on a pension has more on spreading the cost.

Currency and fees

If the clinic charges in pounds, as Precious Dental does, there is no exchange-rate risk between booking and paying. If it charges in euros or lira, the cost in pounds can move between payments; the NHS suggests factoring in fluctuating exchange rates. Check whether your card charges a foreign transaction fee, and whether the clinic adds a card fee.

If the plan changes

Sometimes the scan on the first trip changes the plan: an extra procedure, a different number of implants or, occasionally, a different treatment altogether. Ask for the revised plan and price in writing before anything is done, and make sure the payment schedule is updated to match. What happens if All-on-6 turns out not to be suitable is covered in what if the scan says no.

Questions to ask before booking

• What is your payment schedule, stage by stage?
• Is there a deposit, and on what terms is it refundable?
• Do I pay before or after the work on each trip?
• Do you charge in pounds? Do you add a card fee?
• Can I pay you directly by credit card?
• If the plan changes after the scan, when will I see the new price?

What to keep after each payment

• A receipt naming the clinic, the date, the amount and what it covered.
• The card statement or bank record of the payment.
• The latest version of the written plan, if anything changed.
• After the second trip: your implant passport, X-rays, scans and the guarantee terms.

Keep them together in one folder, paper and digital. They are what you would need for any guarantee claim, card claim or future dental work.

If you are paying from savings, consider moving the amount for each stage into an easily accessible account shortly before each trip, so the money is ready and your card limit or daily payment limit does not get in the way on the day.

The bottom line

Two trips mean two natural payment points. Ask for a written schedule that ties each payment to the work done, keep deposits modest and clearly refundable, pay the clinic directly, and get a receipt at each stage. Then put the figures into the calculator so your travel and reserve sit alongside them.

Common questions

Do I pay everything on the first trip?

It depends on the clinic. Many split the payment between trips. Ask for the schedule in writing before you book.

Is a deposit refundable?

Each clinic sets its own terms. Ask how much is refundable, until when, and what happens if the scan shows All-on-6 is not suitable.

What if I need extras on the first trip?

Extras such as a sinus lift or bone graft are usually paid when they are done. Ask for their prices in advance.

What if I cannot travel for the second trip on time?

Tell the clinic as early as possible. Ask in advance how a delay affects your payments and your temporary teeth.

Sources

1. Oral Health Foundation — Dental implants (healing around four months)
2. Citizens Advice — Getting your money back if you paid by card or PayPal
3. NHS — Treatment abroad checklist
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.