Full mouth dental implants typically cost $20,000 to $28,000 per arch, meaning both upper and lower arches together run $40,000 to $60,000 or more depending on the technique, materials, and preparatory work involved. That’s a wide range, and where you land within it depends on several factors you can actually control or plan for.
What a Full Arch Actually Costs
The most common approach to full teeth replacement is the All-on-4 system, which uses four implants per arch to support a full set of fixed teeth. This runs $20,000 to $28,000 per arch. The All-on-6 system, which adds two more implants for extra support, costs $23,000 to $32,000 per arch. The $3,000 to $5,000 difference between the two breaks down to roughly $800 to $1,200 per additional implant when you factor in the longer surgery time (2.5 to 4 hours versus 2 to 3 hours for All-on-4) and more complex fabrication of the final prosthesis.
Whether you need four or six implants per arch depends on your bone density, bite forces, and the arch being restored. The upper jaw, which has softer bone, sometimes benefits from the extra two implants. For many patients, though, four implants provide more than enough stability. Your dentist’s recommendation here matters more than the price difference.
Costs Before the Implants Go In
The per-arch price you see quoted often doesn’t include the preparatory work many patients need. Before implants can be placed, you’ll typically go through a consultation and 3D imaging scan. The consultation and exam runs $100 to $350, while the 3D cone beam CT scan (which maps your jawbone in detail) adds $300 to $600.
If your jawbone has thinned from years of missing teeth or gum disease, you may need bone grafting to build it back up before implants can hold. A sinus lift, which adds bone to the upper jaw near the sinuses, costs $1,500 to $5,000 depending on the extent of the work. Extractions of remaining unhealthy teeth add to the total as well. Some practices bundle these preparatory procedures into one package price, while others bill them separately, so always ask what’s included in any quote you receive.
How Materials Change the Price
The material of the final prosthesis (the teeth you’ll actually see and chew with) creates the biggest variable in cost after the implant count. Your two main options are acrylic-hybrid dentures and zirconia bridges.
Zirconia costs 30 to 50% more than acrylic for the final restoration. That premium buys you a material that resists staining, holds its color over time, and wears down much more slowly. Zirconia’s smooth surface is also easier to keep clean. The trade-off: if a zirconia bridge suffers significant damage, you often need to replace the entire piece because the material can’t be easily patched.
Acrylic is the more budget-friendly option and easier to repair if a tooth chips or breaks. However, acrylic is more porous, which means it picks up stains from coffee, tea, and wine more readily. It also wears down faster, so you’re more likely to need repairs or replacements over the years. For patients stretching their budget, starting with acrylic and upgrading to zirconia later is a common strategy, since the implants themselves stay the same regardless of which material sits on top.
The Full Timeline From Start to Finish
Full mouth implants aren’t a single appointment. The process typically takes six to eight months from your first visit to the final permanent teeth, though you won’t be without teeth during that time.
The first week involves a comprehensive exam, 3D imaging, and treatment planning. Over the next few weeks, any necessary extractions, bone grafting, or infection control is handled. Implant placement surgery happens around weeks four to six, taking two to three hours per arch under local anesthesia with sedation. In many cases, a temporary fixed bridge is attached the same day, so you leave the office with functional teeth.
The longest phase is healing. Over the next two to six months, your jawbone fuses with the titanium implant posts in a process called osseointegration. During this time, you’ll eat soft foods for the first two to three months and visit for checkups every four to six weeks. Swelling and tenderness from the surgery typically resolve within one to two weeks. Once healing is complete, your dentist takes new impressions, customizes the shade and shape of your permanent teeth, does a try-in appointment for fit, and then places the final restoration.
How Long Full Arch Implants Last
A systematic review of clinical studies found that full arch implant prostheses have short-term survival rates (5 to 10 years) between 93.3% and 100%, with the implants themselves surviving at rates of 87.89% to 100%. Long-term data beyond 10 years shows a slight decreasing trend but remains high. The implant posts, made of titanium, can last decades or a lifetime with proper care. The prosthesis on top will eventually need replacement or repair, with zirconia lasting longer than acrylic before that point.
This longevity is part of why full arch implants compete financially with traditional dentures over time. Dentures need relining, adhesives, and periodic replacement, and they accelerate bone loss in the jaw because they sit on top of the gums rather than stimulating the bone the way implants do.
Insurance and Financing Options
Dental insurance coverage for implants varies widely by plan. If the implant work is deemed medically necessary (rather than purely cosmetic), your plan may cover a portion. But most dental insurance plans carry annual maximums that are far too low to make a meaningful dent in a $40,000+ treatment. You’ll want to call your insurer and ask specifically whether implant placement, the abutments, and the prosthesis are covered, since plans sometimes cover some components but not others.
Third-party financing fills the gap for most patients. CareCredit, the most widely accepted healthcare credit card, is available at over 285,000 provider locations and offers promotional financing periods that let you spread payments over time. Many implant practices also offer in-house payment plans. Some patients split treatment into phases, paying for the upper arch one year and the lower arch the next, to spread out the financial impact. If you’re comparing quotes from different practices, make sure each quote covers the same scope of work: imaging, extractions, bone grafting, the implants themselves, the temporary teeth, and the final prosthesis.
What Drives the Price Up or Down
- Geographic location: Prices in major metro areas can run significantly higher than in smaller cities or suburban practices. CareCredit’s national research found All-on-4 costs ranging from $11,640 to $27,500, with geography as a major variable.
- Bone condition: Patients with adequate bone skip the grafting phase entirely, saving $1,500 to $5,000 and weeks of healing time.
- Number of arches: Replacing just the upper or lower teeth cuts costs roughly in half compared to a full mouth restoration.
- Implant count: Four implants per arch versus six adds $3,000 to $5,000 per arch.
- Prosthesis material: Choosing acrylic over zirconia reduces the restoration cost by 30 to 50%.
- Sedation type: IV sedation or general anesthesia costs more than local anesthesia with oral sedation.
The lowest realistic cost for a single arch with acrylic and no bone grafting starts around $12,000 in lower-cost markets. A full mouth zirconia restoration with bone grafting in a major city can exceed $60,000. Most patients land somewhere in the middle, and a detailed treatment plan from your provider will give you a specific number based on your anatomy and goals.