DATA-BACKED GUIDE · UPDATED JULY 2026
Full set of dental implants cost in the UK: all-on-4 explained
Replacing a whole arch of teeth with implants is one of the biggest dental decisions you can make, both clinically and financially. Techniques like all-on-4 and all-on-6 fix a full set of teeth onto a small number of implants, which is why they are popular with people who want to move on from loose dentures. This guide breaks down what drives the cost and where you can trim it, with the real prices below drawn from actual patients rather than clinic price lists.
The quick version
- A full arch is not just lots of single implants added up. All-on-4 uses four posts to carry a fixed bridge, so it is a different, more designed piece of work than single-tooth implants.
- Prices are usually quoted per arch, so a full mouth (top and bottom) means roughly double the cost of a single arch.
- The material of the final teeth, acrylic versus zirconia, makes a big difference to both the price and how long the teeth last.
- A full arch of implants is almost always private treatment, as the NHS does not fund it for cosmetic or comfort reasons.
- The number of implants placed, four, six or more, is a clinical judgement that different dentists can reach differently, and it changes the final bill.
- Bone grafting, if your jaw needs it, is often a separate line on the quote and can add a meaningful amount before implant surgery even starts.
What people actually paid
Where these 10 prices come from — 6 named sources
- thelondondentalcentre.co.uk
- dentistryforyou.co.uk
- gransnet.com
- manchesterdental.co.uk
- pennypotdental.co.uk
- whitesdental.co.uk
Each is a published price list, an official survey, or a receipt/quote a reader shared. The full per-price list with year and area is on the implant page.
The gap: advertised vs actually paid (medians)
People reported paying 56% more than the advertised NHS or list price for implant.
NHS / list prices are advertised prices; paid figures are what people reported, often for different cases. Treat the gap as a signal, not a quote.
Real prices, in people's own words
- £2,000“Then came the speel for an implant, £2000 each, need 2”
- £3,000“the last costing £3,000 but that included an extraction”
- £4,000“My dentist quoted me £4,000 for an implant but that includes needing to have several bone grafts”
- £6,000“I was quoted it would be around £4000 but then additions were put on and I was quoted £6000”
Genuine amounts posted publicly. We publish the price and the quote, never the person.
Why the price varies so much
Full arch implant costs vary because you are buying a whole system rather than one tooth. The number of implants used, four, six or more, changes the fee, and so does the material of the fixed teeth on top. A temporary set is fitted first, then a stronger permanent bridge later, and premium zirconia costs far more than acrylic. Your jawbone matters too, since thin or soft bone may need grafting before anything can be placed, and that is often quoted separately from the implant fee itself. Who actually owns the practice plays a part as well. A single-site independent dentist prices differently to a large corporate chain, and neither is automatically cheaper, it depends on overheads, the surgeon's experience with full arch cases, and how much lab work is done in-house versus sent out. Region matters too: clinics in London and the South East generally sit above prices in the North and in Scotland and Wales, reflecting local rents and wages rather than the quality of the implants themselves. Because the NHS does not cover this treatment, there is no capped charge like the NHS Band 3 fee of £332.10 that applies to NHS dentures or bridges, and private full arch fees sit far above that band.
How to pay less
- Compare all-on-4 against a well-made set of implant-retained dentures, which use fewer implants and often cost less while still clipping firmly in place.
- Ask exactly what the quote includes, such as the temporary teeth, the final teeth, follow-up visits and any grafting, so you can compare like for like across clinics.
- Get more than one opinion, because a private dentist may recommend six implants where another is confident four will do the job.
- Ask about staged payment or 0% finance so the cost is spread rather than paid up front in one go.
- Ask whether acrylic teeth now with an upgrade to zirconia later is an option, rather than committing to the most expensive material from day one.
- Check what happens if an implant fails. Some clinics build follow-up care and replacement into the price, others charge again, and that difference matters over a ten-year view.
Common questions
What is the difference between all-on-4 and dentures?
All-on-4 fixes a full set of teeth permanently onto four implants, so nothing comes out at night and there is no plate across the roof of your mouth. Traditional dentures rest on the gum and are taken out to clean. There is also a middle option, implant-retained dentures, which clip onto a couple of implants and can be removed. Each suits a different budget and lifestyle, and it is worth asking a dentist to price all three rather than just the one they lead with.
Is a full set of implants ever available on the NHS?
Realistically no, not for comfort or appearance. The NHS may fund implants only where there is a serious medical reason, and that is assessed case by case. Most people needing a full arch will be looking at private treatment, so it is worth budgeting on that basis from the start rather than hoping for an NHS route.
How long do full arch implants take to complete?
Often several months from start to finish. Many clinics fit a temporary set of teeth on the same day the implants go in, then let everything heal before the permanent bridge is made and fitted. The exact timeline depends on how well your bone heals and whether any grafting was needed, so ask for a realistic range rather than a single number.
Does the price include maintenance and repairs afterwards?
Not always, so ask directly. Some clinics include a set number of follow-up checks and adjustments in the original fee, while others charge separately for each visit once the bridge is fitted. Zirconia teeth chip less often than acrylic but cost more to replace if they do, so factor ongoing costs into the comparison, not just the day-one price.
Why do two clinics quote such different prices for the same treatment?
Because full arch work is not standardised the way a single filling is. One clinic might plan four implants, another six, and the materials and lab work behind the final teeth can differ sharply. Ownership and location also feed into the fee, so a lower quote is not automatically a worse one and a higher quote is not automatically better, you need to see what is actually included before comparing numbers.
Is it worth paying more for a more experienced implant dentist?
For a treatment this involved, experience with full arch cases specifically is worth asking about directly, since it is a different skill from placing a single implant. A dentist who has done many of these will usually be more precise about how many implants you genuinely need and less likely to run into complications that add cost later. It is a reasonable question to ask outright at a consultation, and a confident, specific answer is a good sign.