Advanced Treatment

For patients facing complete tooth loss or severe structural compromise, All-on-X implant therapy offers the most transformative outcome available in modern dentistry. Four to six strategically placed implants support a full fixed arch of teeth — eliminating dentures permanently.

Who This Is For

Advanced treatment candidates typically include patients who:

• Wear complete upper or lower dentures and want a permanent fixed alternative
• Have failing dentition that cannot be predictably restored
• Are facing extensive extractions and want to replace all remaining teeth with implants
• Have tried other implant solutions that failed due to bone loss
• Have severe bone deficiency that rules out conventional implant placement

All-on-X: The Full-Arch Approach

All-on-4 and All-on-X protocols involve placing four to six implants in strategic positions in the jaw to support a full arch of prosthetic teeth. The angled implant positions allow use of the bone that is typically present even in patients with significant bone loss — often eliminating the need for major bone grafting.

Immediate Loading

In many All-on-X cases, a provisional fixed arch can be attached to the implants on the same day as surgery. You leave our office with teeth — not empty spaces or a denture. The final restoration is placed after integration (typically 4–6 months).

Surgical Planning

We use fully guided surgical protocols for All-on-X cases: 3D virtual planning software maps out every implant position, and a custom surgical guide ensures those positions are replicated precisely in the operating room. This reduces surgical time, improves accuracy, and allows more predictable prosthetic outcomes.

Zygomatic Implants

For patients with extreme upper jaw bone loss — often due to long-term denture wear, failed conventional implants, or disease — conventional implant placement is not possible. Zygomatic implants bypass the maxillary bone entirely, anchoring into the cheekbone (zygoma) to provide a stable foundation for a full-arch upper prosthesis.

This is a highly specialized procedure that requires extensive surgical training. Dr. John Lofthus has the dual periodontic/surgical training and experience needed to plan and execute zygomatic cases safely.

Interdisciplinary Coordination

Full-arch cases involve close coordination between our surgical team and your prosthodontist. We begin with a joint planning session that aligns the surgical plan with the final restorative outcome — ensuring implant positions support both function and appearance. You get a seamlessly coordinated result, not two specialists working independently.

What to Expect

Most All-on-X cases are staged over 5–8 months from first consultation to final restoration. The surgical day itself typically takes 4–6 hours under local anesthesia with IV sedation. We provide detailed pre- and post-operative preparation guidelines and are available by phone throughout your recovery. Our goal is that you feel supported at every step — even the difficult ones.

Explore full-arch options →