Full mouth dental implants are the modern solution for patients missing all or most of their teeth. Four to six titanium implants per jaw support a complete fixed bridge of teeth that functions like natural teeth, looks natural, and lasts decades. At Elite Oral Surgery in Bonney Lake, the all-inclusive price is $15,000 per arch — including the final zirconia bridge.
"Full mouth dental implants" is the term most patients use when they're researching what to do about losing all their teeth, or facing the loss of their remaining teeth. The procedure goes by several names — full-arch implants, All-on-X, All-on-4, All-on-6, full mouth reconstruction with implants — but the underlying concept is the same: replace all teeth in a jaw with a fixed bridge supported by 4 to 6 titanium implants placed into the jawbone.
Unlike dentures, which are removable and rely on suction or adhesives to stay in place, full mouth implants are fixed in your mouth permanently. You don't take them out at night. You eat with them. You brush them like teeth. They function and feel as close to natural teeth as modern dentistry can produce.
The procedure is typically completed in a single surgery day. You arrive with whatever teeth you have left (or none); the surgeon removes any remaining teeth that need to come out, places the implants, and delivers a same-day printed provisional bridge. You leave the appointment with teeth. The final, permanent zirconia bridge is fabricated and placed 10-12 weeks later, after the implants have integrated with your jawbone.
For most patients with adequate jawbone, the procedure is straightforward and well-tolerated. For patients with severe bone loss — typically after years of denture wear — alternative protocols like zygomatic implants extend the procedure to patients who would historically have been told they "aren't candidates."
Patients with severe bone loss in the upper jaw often think they aren't candidates because they've been told that elsewhere. Many are candidates with zygomatic implant protocols, which anchor implants in the cheekbone instead of the resorbed upper jaw. If you've been turned away as a "non-candidate," a second opinion is often worth getting.
Full mouth implants come in three primary variations, selected based on your jawbone density, bite forces, and clinical situation. The selection happens at consultation, after 3D imaging — not as a price-tier upsell.
The clinical decision between protocols is made at consultation after 3D Cone Beam CT imaging assesses your specific anatomy. The choice is based on what your case actually requires — not on which protocol generates more revenue. At Elite, All-on-4 and All-on-6 are priced identically; selection is purely clinical.
For a deeper comparison of full mouth implant options including chains, multi-provider practices, and the questions to ask any provider, see our Comparing Full Arch Options page.
Full mouth implant treatment spans approximately 12 weeks from surgery to final restoration. Here's the standard workflow with timing notes for what to expect at each visit.
Cone Beam CT imaging assesses your bone, sinus position, and overall anatomy. Medical history review, sedation evaluation, and a written treatment plan with itemized pricing.
Under IV sedation: any remaining teeth are removed, four to six implants per jaw are placed, and same-day printed provisional teeth are delivered. You leave with teeth.
A printed prototype of your final teeth is tried in to verify fit, bite, and aesthetics. Adjustments are made before the final zirconia bridge is fabricated.
Your final zirconia bridge is delivered and secured to the implants. This is the restoration designed to last 20+ years with appropriate maintenance.
A note on "permanent teeth in 24 hours" marketing. Some chain implant centers advertise "permanent teeth in 24 hours" — meaning a zirconia bridge delivered the day after surgery instead of an acrylic provisional. Osseointegration (the implants fusing with bone) takes 4-6 months regardless of which prosthesis is delivered on day one. A zirconia bridge delivered 24 hours after surgery still functions as a transitional restoration during osseointegration. We use accurate timeline language because it matches the biology — and because patients deserve to understand what's actually happening with their implants.
Most full mouth implant practices in the Pacific Northwest charge $25,000 to $50,000 per arch — and many itemize separately for materials, sedation, follow-ups, and the final zirconia bridge. At Elite, the price is one number, and includes everything from the surgical placement to the final restoration.
Bone grafting and zygomatic implants priced separately when clinically required, in writing, before any surgical date is scheduled.
For chain implant center comparisons: ClearChoice's published full-arch range is $14,000-$36,000 per arch with patient-reported pricing typically $20,000-$35,000 with zirconia. Nuvia patient-reported pricing in industry sources runs $25,000-$50,000. Both are corporate-managed multi-provider models. Elite at $15,000 with single-doctor independent ownership is meaningfully below both.
For a thorough comparison framework that applies to any practice you're evaluating, see our Comparing Full Arch Options page with the six-question evaluation framework.
"Full mouth dental implants" is the broad consumer term for replacing all teeth in a jaw with implants. "All-on-X" is a generic clinical term covering the family of protocols (All-on-4, All-on-5, All-on-6, etc.). "All-on-4" is the most-common specific protocol — four implants per jaw supporting a complete bridge. They all describe the same general concept; the differences are in implant count and clinical indication.
For patients researching options, the terminology can be confusing. The key distinction: "all-on-X" terms refer to specific protocols; "full mouth implants" is the broader category. We use the term that matches what each patient is researching.
Surgery day takes approximately 4-6 hours total at our office, including IV sedation setup, surgical procedure, and same-day provisional placement. The actual surgical procedure is typically 3-5 hours depending on whether teeth need to be extracted, whether one or both jaws are being treated, and the specific protocol selected.
You arrive in the morning under IV sedation, sleep through the procedure, and are typically discharged by mid-afternoon. You'll need a driver to take you home — IV sedation requires a sober adult driver regardless of distance.
Same-day provisional teeth are placed at the surgical visit — you leave with teeth, not without them. The final, permanent zirconia bridge is fabricated and placed 10-12 weeks after surgery, after the implants have integrated with bone (osseointegration).
The provisional teeth are functional and aesthetic — most patients are surprised at how natural they look. The transition from provisional to final happens at week 10-12 after a try-in at week 8 to verify fit and bite.
Some chain implant centers market "permanent teeth in 24 hours" — this is technically misleading because osseointegration takes months regardless of which prosthesis is delivered on day one. The biology doesn't change based on what marketing language is used. Honest workflows describe same-day provisional teeth at surgery and final restoration at week 10-12.
The procedure itself is performed under IV sedation — you'll be asleep and won't remember it. Local anesthesia is administered after sedation begins, so the surgical site is fully numbed before any work starts.
Post-operative discomfort is real but manageable. Most patients describe the recovery as "easier than I expected." Mild to moderate swelling and tenderness for 3-7 days, manageable with prescribed pain medications and over-the-counter options. Most patients return to normal activities within 5-7 days. Soft food diet for the first week.
The implants themselves typically last 20-30+ years with appropriate maintenance — published clinical data shows 94.8% implant survival at 10 years and 93.0% at 10-18 years for All-on-4 cases. The zirconia bridge on top of the implants typically lasts 20+ years before any maintenance is needed.
Maintenance involves regular dental hygiene, professional cleanings every 6 months, and avoiding behaviors that compromise implants (heavy smoking, untreated grinding habits). Most patients with full mouth implants describe them as "the best decision I ever made for my health" because they restore the ability to eat normally without the limitations dentures impose.
For most patients, yes — meaningfully better. Dentures are removable, rely on suction or adhesives, often slip during eating or speaking, and don't preserve jawbone (which continues to resorb under dentures over time). Full mouth implants are fixed in place, function like natural teeth, allow you to eat any food, and stimulate jawbone preservation.
Dentures remain a legitimate option for patients who can't afford implants, can't undergo surgery, or specifically prefer the simplicity of removable prosthetics. For most patients facing full-mouth tooth loss, full mouth implants are the better functional and clinical choice.
For a thorough comparison of options including conventional dentures and implant-retained dentures, see our Comparing Full Arch Options page.
Many patients with severe bone loss in the upper jaw are still candidates for full mouth implants — even if other practices have told them otherwise. The zygomatic protocol anchors implants in the cheekbone (zygoma) rather than the resorbed jaw, allowing full mouth implant treatment without months of bone grafting.
If you've been told you're "not a candidate" because of bone loss, a second opinion at a practice that offers zygomatic protocols is often worthwhile. The clinical answer may be different than what you've heard.
Elite is in-network with most major dental insurance carriers. We verify your specific coverage before treatment and provide a written estimate of patient responsibility. For full mouth cases, dental insurance typically provides limited coverage, but medical insurance may cover meaningful portions when the case qualifies as medically necessary — see our insurance page for verification options.
Financing is available through several partners (Cherry, Proceed, Sunbit, LendingClub, CareCredit) — see our financing page for partner options, terms, and the payment calculator. HSA and FSA funds are eligible for all our procedures.
For Tacoma-area patients researching full mouth implants, here's a guide written specifically for the Tacoma market — including drive logistics, pricing comparisons to Tacoma multi-provider practices, and what makes Elite a meaningful alternative for Tacoma patients.
Full mouth implant consultations are complimentary at Elite — including 3D imaging and a written treatment plan with itemized pricing. You'll meet with Dr. Volland personally, review your imaging together, and find out what your specific case requires. No pressure to schedule surgery; the consultation tells you whether full mouth implants are right for your situation.
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