For patients missing most or all of the teeth in one arch, All-on-4 dental implants in Miami have changed what full-mouth restoration can look like. Instead of a removable denture that slips and ages the face, All-on-4 anchors a fixed, natural-looking set of teeth to just four strategically placed implants – often with a provisional restoration delivered the same day. This guide walks through how it works, who qualifies, what the trade-offs are, and what to expect at Sharp Dentistry & Associates in Coconut Grove.
One honest note up front: All-on-4 is a big decision. It is also one of the most life-changing procedures in modern dentistry when it is the right fit. Our job in a consultation is to tell you honestly whether it is right for you – and when something else makes more sense.
What Is All-on-4?
All-on-4 is a full-arch dental implant technique that uses four titanium implants to support a complete fixed bridge of 10 to 14 teeth. Two implants are placed vertically at the front of the jaw, and two are placed at an angle at the back – a design that avoids the sinuses in the upper jaw and the nerve in the lower, and often eliminates the need for bone grafting.
Developed by Portuguese prosthodontist Dr. Paulo Malo in the 1990s, the technique is now one of the most studied and widely used full-arch solutions in modern dentistry. For the right patient, the result is a fixed, non-removable set of teeth that function, feel, and look like natural teeth.
Who Is a Good Candidate for All-on-4?
All-on-4 is designed for patients who have lost – or are about to lose – most or all of the teeth in an upper or lower arch. Typical candidates include:
- Patients wearing a full or partial denture who want a fixed solution
- Patients with multiple failing teeth whose remaining teeth cannot be saved
- Patients with advanced periodontal disease that has compromised most of an arch
- Patients who have been told they do not have enough bone for traditional implants
- Patients who want to replace an entire arch in one coordinated treatment rather than tooth by tooth
Candidacy depends on overall health, the quality and quantity of jaw bone, and the condition of the opposing arch. A thorough evaluation with 3D imaging determines whether All-on-4 is appropriate – or whether a different approach would serve you better.
How the All-on-4 Procedure Works
Step 1: Consultation and 3D Planning
Treatment begins with a comprehensive exam, 3D cone-beam imaging, and digital planning. At Sharp Dentistry, Dr. Bruno Sharp, prosthodontist, plans each case from the final smile backward – designing the ideal result first, then determining exactly where each implant must sit to support it.
Step 2: Extractions and Implant Placement
On surgery day, any remaining non-viable teeth are removed, and the four implants are placed in the planned positions. The procedure is done under local anesthesia, and typically takes two to three hours per arch.
Step 3: Same-Day Temporary Teeth
One of the defining features of All-on-4 is immediate temporization – most patients leave the office the same day with a fixed, functional set of provisional teeth attached to the new implants. You do not go home without teeth.
Step 4: Healing and Osseointegration
Over the next four to six months, the implants fuse with the jaw bone through osseointegration. During this period you eat on the provisional bridge, following the dietary guidance we provide.
Step 5: Final Restoration
Once healing is complete, the provisional bridge is replaced with the final, permanent restoration – crafted in our in-house dental lab to match your facial features, lip support, and smile goals. The ceramist and prosthodontist refine shape, color, and bite in person rather than through an outside lab.
The Benefits of All-on-4
- Fixed, non-removable teeth that feel like your own
- Full function restored – eat, speak, and smile without concern
- Preserves jaw bone by stimulating it the way natural roots do
- Often eliminates the need for bone grafting
- Delivered as a coordinated treatment, not a series of years-long procedures
- Fewer implants than traditional full-arch alternatives, which lowers cost and recovery
- Natural-looking aesthetics designed to match your facial features
All-on-4 vs. Dentures vs. Individual Implants
The three main options for a full arch of missing teeth each have a place:
Traditional Dentures
The least expensive option up front. Removable, often slip, require adhesive, and accelerate bone loss over time because they do not stimulate the jaw. Many denture wearers eventually seek a fixed alternative.
Individual Dental Implants (8 to 10 per arch)
The most comprehensive approach, with an implant for nearly every missing tooth. More expensive, often requires bone grafting, and takes longer. Reserved for cases where the extra implants provide a specific clinical benefit.
All-on-4
A middle path – fixed like individual implants, but with only four implants per arch. Faster, more affordable than full individual implants, and often possible without grafting. For most full-arch patients, this is the sweet spot.
Why All-on-4 at Sharp Dentistry
All-on-4 is a prosthodontic case from start to finish. At Sharp Dentistry, planning and restoration are led by Dr. Bruno Sharp, a prosthodontist with more than 25 years of experience in complex full-arch work, with coordinated periodontal support from Dr. Liliana Aranguren, our periodontist. Everything is supported by our in-house dental lab, where the ceramist works alongside the prosthodontist on both the provisional and the final bridge – so your smile is refined in person at every stage.
That specialist-plus-lab integration is unusual in Miami and is one of the reasons patients travel from across South Florida and Latin America for full-arch restoration here.
Book Your All-on-4 Consultation
All-on-4 is one of the most impactful treatments in modern dentistry – and it starts with an honest consultation. Sharp Dentistry & Associates in Coconut Grove offers full-arch consultations that include 3D imaging, a specialist evaluation, and a clear conversation about whether All-on-4 is the right path for you.
Call Sharp Dentistry at (305) 857-0990 to schedule your All-on-4 consultation.
