What it does well
All-On-X replaces a full arch with a fixed restoration rather than a removable one, addressing multiple failing or missing teeth as a single coordinated plan instead of one-off repairs.
Restorative Dentistry
When it's the whole arch, not just one tooth.
All-On-X replaces a full upper or lower arch of teeth with a fixed, implant-supported restoration anchored on a small number of strategically placed implants. It's a different question than replacing a single tooth, and it starts with a different kind of exam — for San Ramon patients whose teeth, as a group, are no longer a good long-term bet.
What it is
One arch, rebuilt as a coordinated whole.
A single dental implant replaces one missing tooth. All-On-X takes a different approach for a full arch: rather than placing an implant under every missing tooth, a small number are planned around the available bone, bite, and final restoration to support an entire fixed bridge of replacement teeth across the whole arch.
The result is a non-removable, full-arch restoration rather than a denture that comes out at night — but getting there depends on a case being planned for the arch as a whole, not tooth by tooth.
Full-arch planning starts with a three-dimensional view of the bone across the entire arch.
When it may be appropriate
Most or all of an arch, not a tooth here and there.
All-On-X tends to come up when most or all of the teeth in an upper or lower arch are missing, failing together, or compromised by advanced decay or gum disease to the point that saving them individually no longer makes sense. It can also be considered when an existing denture or bridge has become unstable and a fixed alternative is worth discussing.
It is not automatically the right plan. If only a few teeth are affected, individual dental implants may preserve more of what's still healthy. If bone volume, health history, or personal preference point elsewhere, a well-fitted denture or a broader full-mouth reconstruction plan mixing several techniques may serve you better. We'll walk through which category your situation actually falls into.
Why planning matters
Bone, bite, and the finished teeth are one plan.
A full-arch case asks more of the planning stage than a single implant does. We evaluate how much bone is available and where, how the upper and lower arches meet when you bite, and what the final teeth need to look and feel like — before any implant position is decided.
Because the same team that plans the case also places the implants and designs the restoration on top, the bite you're planned for is the bite you end up with. If the evaluation points toward a different approach, we'll say so before treatment begins, not after.
Benefits and trade-offs
A fixed full arch, with real requirements behind it.
What to weigh
It involves surgery and a healing period. Bone volume and quality, along with overall health, are evaluated as part of determining whether it's a reasonable option, and it's a significant commitment compared with restoring teeth individually. It isn't automatically the better option just because it's fixed.
What patients can expect
A staged plan, not a single appointment.
01
Evaluation and planning
A 3D scan of the bone and a digital impression let us map implant positions against the bite and the shape of the final teeth before anything is placed.
02
Placement
The implants are placed according to the plan. Depending on the case, a temporary or provisional restoration may be used while healing takes place.
03
Final restoration
Once healing is complete, the final restoration is fitted and adjusted to your bite by the same clinicians who planned the case from the start.
Long-term considerations
A fixed arch still needs regular care.
A full-arch restoration functions like a fixed set of teeth, which means cleaning underneath and around it, and keeping up with regular exams, matters just as much as it does with natural teeth. Gum and bone health around the implants is what determines how the restoration holds up over time, which is part of why we look closely at gum health during the initial evaluation.
Not sure whether it's a whole-arch problem? Let's find out.
A consultation is a conversation, not a commitment. We'll compare All-On-X against the alternatives honestly.