Living with failing teeth or struggling with uncomfortable dentures affects every aspect of your life—what you eat, how you speak, your confidence in social situations. The All-on-4 technique offers a revolutionary solution: a complete arch of beautiful, permanent teeth supported by just four strategically placed implants. Even more remarkable, you can often walk out with a full set of functional teeth the same day as your surgery. At Dental Sedation Ottawa, we specialize in making this life-changing procedure completely comfortable through comprehensive sedation options—from IV sedation to complete sleep with general anesthesia—so you can transform your smile without fear or anxiety.
All-on-4 is an innovative dental implant technique that replaces an entire arch of teeth (all upper or all lower teeth) using just four titanium implants per arch. The name literally describes the concept: "all" of your teeth supported "on" just "4" implants. It sounds almost too simple, but this Nobel Biocare-developed system has proven remarkably successful since its introduction in the 1990s, with over 20 years of research supporting its effectiveness.
The key innovation is strategic implant placement and angulation. Instead of placing implants straight up and down throughout your jaw—which would require 6-8 implants and often extensive bone grafting—the All-on-4 technique positions the two front implants vertically and angles the two back implants at up to 45 degrees. This angling allows the back implants to anchor in the strongest available bone while bypassing anatomical structures like sinuses and nerves. The result is maximum stability with minimum implants.
A full arch prosthesis—essentially a fixed bridge containing 10-14 teeth—attaches to these four implants with incredible strength. Unlike traditional dentures that rest on your gums and slip around, All-on-4 teeth are permanently fixed in place. You can't remove them. They feel like your own natural teeth. You brush them like natural teeth. You eat whatever you want with complete confidence.
The same-day teeth aspect is particularly transforming. In most cases, we place the four implants and attach a temporary full-arch bridge during the same appointment. You arrive with failing teeth or old dentures, undergo surgery under comfortable sedation, and leave a few hours later with a complete, functional smile. After 3-6 months of healing, we replace the temporary bridge with your permanent, custom-made final teeth.
Ready to learn more? Schedule a consultation today.
At our Ottawa dental clinic, we understand that full-mouth dental surgery sounds intimidating. We make comfort and anxiety-free care our absolute priority through specialized sedation dentistry options specifically designed for extensive procedures like All-on-4.
Deep, controlled sedation administered directly into your bloodstream, allowing our anesthesia team to adjust your comfort level continuously throughout the 2-4 hour procedure. Most patients have little to no memory of the treatment and report that it felt like minutes rather than hours. Ideal for most All-on-4 cases.
Discover IV sedation →Complete sleep with zero awareness, administered by board-certified medical anesthesiologists (Dr. Hesham Talab, MD MSc PhD FRCPC FASE and Dr. Asad Mirghassemi, MD MSc FRCPC). Best for severe dental phobia, patients with strong gag reflexes, those with special needs or medical conditions, or anyone who simply wants to sleep through the entire procedure and wake up with a new smile. Hospital-grade safety, monitoring, and post-procedure recovery care right in our clinic.
Learn about general anesthesia →With All-on-4 under appropriate sedation, your entire treatment—extractions of any remaining teeth, placement of all four implants, and attachment of temporary teeth—happens in one single appointment. Instead of years of multiple surgeries and countless dental visits, you undergo one comfortable procedure under sedation and emerge with a complete smile. For many patients, this comprehensive approach actually reduces overall anxiety by eliminating the prolonged treatment timeline.
Questions? We're here to help.
Whether from years of dental problems, advanced gum disease, or previous tooth loss, when you're down to just a few struggling teeth or no teeth at all, All-on-4 provides complete restoration.
If you have numerous teeth with decay, fractures, failed root canals, or severe gum disease affecting most of your upper or lower arch, removing them and replacing with All-on-4 often provides better long-term outcomes than attempting to save compromised teeth.
If you're struggling with traditional removable dentures that slip when eating, cause sore spots, affect your speech, or make you feel self-conscious, All-on-4 eliminates all these problems with permanently fixed teeth.
This is where All-on-4 truly shines. The angled implant technique works even with significant bone loss, often eliminating the need for extensive bone grafting that other implant approaches require. Many patients who were told they're not candidates for implants discover they can have All-on-4.
Traditional full-arch implants typically require sinus lifts (upper jaw) or nerve repositioning (lower jaw)—extensive surgical procedures with long healing times. All-on-4's angled design usually bypasses these anatomical structures entirely, avoiding these grafting procedures.
The ability to walk out with a complete, functional smile the day of surgery is life-changing for many patients. No prolonged period of being toothless or wearing temporary dentures that don't fit properly.
Most adults in reasonable health qualify for All-on-4. You'll need adequate bone in the front and sides of your jaw (which most people have even with significant bone loss elsewhere). Uncontrolled diabetes, active cancer treatment, or recent bisphosphonate use may require special consideration or timing adjustments.
Ready to take the next step? Our team is here for you.
Removable false teeth that rest on your gums.
Cost: $1,500-3,000 per arch initially, plus ongoing adjustments and replacements
Six to eight implants placed throughout the jaw supporting a fixed bridge.
Cost: $30,000-50,000+ per arch
Four strategically angled implants supporting a full arch of fixed teeth.
Cost: $20,000-30,000 per arch
Two to four implants with a denture that snaps onto them but can still be removed.
Cost: $15,000-25,000 per arch
For most patients seeking permanent, natural-feeling teeth, All-on-4 provides the optimal balance of function, aesthetics, durability, and value.
Questions? We're here to help.
The All-on-4 process typically spans 4-6 months from consultation to final teeth, though you'll have functional temporary teeth from day one:
We conduct a comprehensive oral examination, take detailed 3D cone beam CT scans to map your jaw anatomy, bone density, and available bone volume. We discuss your aesthetic goals, show you smile design options, review your medical history, and explain sedation choices. Using advanced computer software, we create a virtual surgical plan showing exactly where each implant will be placed for optimal stability and aesthetics. You'll see digital previews of what your new smile will look like. We provide detailed cost breakdowns and discuss financing options.
We fabricate your temporary bridge to have ready for surgery day. If you're being sedated (as most patients are), we provide pre-operative instructions regarding eating, drinking, and medications. We may prescribe antibiotics to begin before surgery.
On surgery day, you'll arrive having followed your pre-sedation instructions. Our anesthesia team administers your chosen sedation (usually IV sedation or general anesthesia) until you're completely comfortable and relaxed. Once you're properly sedated with continuous monitoring in place, we begin the procedure. If you have any remaining teeth in the arch, we extract them. We then place the four implants in their precisely planned positions—two vertically in front, two angled in back. Typically takes 2-3 hours under sedation.
Once all four implants are stable, we attach your pre-fabricated temporary bridge. You wake up from sedation with a complete arch of functional teeth. These temporary teeth look natural and allow you to eat soft foods while your implants integrate with your bone.
Your bone naturally fuses with the titanium implants through osseointegration. During this time, you follow a soft-food diet initially, gradually progressing to more normal foods as healing progresses. We monitor your progress at regular checkups.
Once your implants are fully integrated, we remove the temporary bridge and attach your permanent, custom-made prosthesis. These final teeth are crafted from high-quality materials for optimal strength, aesthetics, and longevity. Your smile transformation is complete.
Ready to learn more? Schedule a consultation to discuss your options.
Includes implants, temporary & final teeth
Complete upper and lower restoration
IV sedation or general anesthesia
Most dental insurance doesn't cover implants, but some plans provide partial coverage. We provide direct billing to major insurers and work with you to maximize any available benefits. The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) may provide coverage for eligible patients.
Traditional Dentures: $1,500-3,000 per arch initially, plus relines ($300-600) every 2-3 years, plus replacement dentures ($1,500-3,000) every 5-7 years = $8,000-15,000+ per arch over 20 years, with ongoing discomfort, limitations, and accelerating bone loss
All-on-4 Implants: $20,000-30,000 per arch initially, plus one prosthesis replacement ($5,000-8,000) around year 10-15 = $25,000-38,000 per arch over 20 years, but with superior daily comfort, function, confidence, and bone preservation
While All-on-4 requires significant upfront investment, it provides dramatically better quality of life and often proves more economical over time when you factor in the costs of multiple denture replacements and ongoing adjustments.
Financing Options: We offer flexible payment plans specifically designed to make All-on-4 treatment accessible. Ask about our financing options during your consultation.
Our patients consistently rate us 5 stars for gentle, anxiety-free care. Read verified patient experiences on Google.
View All Reviews on GoogleDentist Referrals Welcome: We collaborate with referring dentists throughout Ottawa and Eastern Ontario for All-on-4 and complex implant cases.
Learn About Our Referral ProgramAll-on-4 can give you a complete, beautiful, permanent smile—often the same day as surgery. With our sedation options, you can sleep through the entire procedure and wake up with new teeth. Schedule your consultation today.
