Full Arch
Dental Implants Belfast

Full arch dental implant treatment at Finaghy Dental in Belfast typically costs approximately £16,000 per arch, including a definitive zirconia bridge supported by a titanium bar. However, the final cost may be higher or lower depending on the complexity of your individual treatment.

Full arch dental implants provide a fixed solution for patients who have lost most or all of their teeth, or whose remaining teeth have a poor long-term prognosis.

The overall cost depends on several factors, including:

• The number and positioning of dental implants required.
• The condition of your existing teeth, gums and jawbone.
• Whether additional procedures, such as bone grafting or soft tissue grafting, are necessary.
• The complexity of surgery and restorative treatment.
• Your individual aesthetic and functional requirements.

At Finaghy Dental, our full arch restorations can incorporate a custom-made zirconia bridge supported by a precision-engineered titanium bar. This combines the aesthetic properties and wear resistance of zirconia with the structural support of titanium.

Following a comprehensive consultation and appropriate digital imaging, we provide a personalised treatment plan outlining the proposed procedures, expected treatment stages and a clear breakdown of the anticipated costs.

The £16,000 figure is an approximate average per arch rather than a fixed package price. Your final quotation will confirm which stages and procedures are included.

Fees are subject to periodic review.

All-on-4 and All-on-6 are full arch implant treatment approaches that typically use four or six dental implants to support a complete set of fixed replacement teeth.

All-on-4 generally uses four strategically positioned implants, sometimes with the posterior implants angled to maximise available bone and support the restoration.

All-on-6 uses six implants, potentially providing additional support and distributing biting forces across a greater number of implants.

However, more implants do not automatically mean a better result. The most appropriate number depends on your bone quality, jaw anatomy, bite forces and the proposed bridge design.

At Finaghy Dental in Belfast, we carefully assess each case using clinical examination and appropriate digital imaging, including CBCT scanning where indicated.

Our aim is to select an implant configuration that provides appropriate support, function and long-term maintainability rather than following a single approach for every patient.

Teeth in a Day is a treatment approach where dental implants are placed and a temporary fixed bridge is attached on the same day or shortly afterwards.

This is also known as immediate loading and can allow suitable patients to leave with a fixed set of temporary teeth rather than wearing a removable denture during the initial healing period.

However, not every patient is suitable for immediate loading.

The decision depends on factors including bone quality, implant stability, the number and position of implants and the forces expected on the temporary restoration.

Even when temporary fixed teeth are provided immediately, the implants still require time to integrate with the surrounding jawbone.

At Finaghy Dental, we assess whether Teeth in a Day is appropriate and explain the benefits, limitations and risks before treatment.

A definitive bridge is generally provided after successful healing and integration.

Patients with advanced periodontal disease, failing teeth or significant bone loss may still be candidates for full arch dental implant treatment, but careful assessment and planning are essential.

Active gum disease and other oral infections must be appropriately treated and stabilised before implant placement.

Patients with a history of periodontitis have an increased risk of developing peri-implantitis, which can cause inflammation and progressive bone loss around dental implants.

Where natural teeth have a poor or hopeless prognosis, extraction and full arch implant rehabilitation may be considered. However, retaining healthy or maintainable natural teeth should also be carefully evaluated.

Some patients with reduced jawbone volume may be suitable for techniques such as All-on-4 or All-on-6, while others may require bone grafting, sinus augmentation or alternative implant approaches.

At Finaghy Dental in Belfast, we assess your oral health, jawbone, medical history and long-term maintenance requirements before recommending treatment.

Full arch dental implant surgery is generally performed under local anaesthetic to minimise pain during the procedure.

Although you may experience pressure or vibration during treatment, local anaesthetic is used to keep the surgical areas numb.

Following surgery, swelling, bruising and discomfort are common, particularly when multiple extractions, implant placement or additional grafting procedures are carried out.

These symptoms usually improve over the following days, although recovery varies between patients.

For nervous or anxious patients, Finaghy Dental also offers intravenous (IV) conscious sedation with midazolam, subject to a medical and sedation suitability assessment.

IV sedation can help reduce anxiety and make longer procedures more comfortable while allowing you to remain conscious and responsive.

During your consultation, we discuss the procedure, anaesthetic and sedation options, postoperative expectations and potential complications.

Full arch dental implant treatment commonly takes several months from initial planning to fitting the definitive bridge, although the exact timeline varies.

The process begins with a detailed assessment of your existing teeth, gums, jawbone and bite, followed by digital planning of the proposed implants and restorations.

Where required, failing teeth may be extracted before or during implant surgery.

In suitable cases, a temporary fixed bridge can be fitted immediately after implant placement through a Teeth in a Day approach.

A healing period is then required to allow the implants to integrate with the surrounding bone. This commonly takes approximately 3–6 months, although individual healing times vary.

Once integration and soft tissue healing have been assessed, the definitive zirconia bridge supported by a titanium bar can be manufactured and fitted.

At Finaghy Dental, we provide a personalised treatment timeline and explain whether additional procedures or healing stages are likely to be necessary.

Full arch dental implants are designed to provide a long-term replacement for missing teeth and can function successfully for many years, potentially decades, with appropriate care.

However, the dental implants and the bridge they support are separate components with different maintenance requirements.

The implants may remain stable for many years, while the zirconia bridge, screws or other restorative components may require periodic maintenance, repair or replacement.

Longevity depends on factors including oral hygiene, gum health, smoking, medical conditions, bite forces and attendance at regular maintenance appointments.

Complications such as peri-implantitis, mechanical wear, screw loosening or fractures can affect long-term outcomes.

At Finaghy Dental in Belfast, we emphasise ongoing professional maintenance and annual implant reviews to help identify potential problems early.

Although implant treatment has high reported survival rates, no full arch restoration can be guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Full arch dental implants and removable dentures are both established options for replacing an entire set of missing teeth, but they offer different advantages.

Fixed full arch dental implants provide replacement teeth secured to dental implants, meaning the patient does not routinely remove the bridge at home.

This can improve stability when eating and speaking and may provide greater confidence compared with conventional removable dentures.

Removable dentures are generally less expensive and do not require implant surgery, although some patients experience movement, reduced chewing efficiency or difficulty adapting to them.

Implant-retained removable dentures are another option, offering improved retention while remaining removable for cleaning.

Fixed full arch implants involve a greater financial investment, surgery and ongoing professional maintenance. They are not necessarily the most appropriate solution for every patient.

At Finaghy Dental, we explain the benefits, limitations and long-term responsibilities associated with each treatment option.

Full arch dental implants require careful daily cleaning and regular professional maintenance to protect the surrounding gum and bone.

Although the replacement teeth cannot develop decay, plaque and bacteria can accumulate around the implants and beneath the bridge.

If not adequately controlled, this can contribute to peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis, potentially resulting in progressive bone loss and implant failure.

We recommend brushing twice daily and using suitable cleaning aids, which may include specialist interdental brushes, floss designed for implant bridges or other devices recommended by your clinician.

At Finaghy Dental, we generally recommend professional periodontal maintenance four times per year for full arch implant patients, with the frequency adjusted according to individual risk and clinical findings.

We also recommend an annual implant review to assess the implants, surrounding tissues, bite and prosthetic components.

In some cases, the bridge may need to be professionally removed for inspection, cleaning or maintenance.

Long-term success requires a shared commitment between the dental team and the patient.

Following full arch dental implant surgery, a modified soft diet is essential during the initial healing period, particularly where a temporary fixed bridge has been fitted immediately.

Although the temporary teeth may feel secure, the implants are still undergoing osseointegration and can be vulnerable to excessive biting forces.

At Finaghy Dental, we generally recommend a soft diet for approximately 12–16 weeks following surgery, subject to your individual treatment plan and healing progress.

Hard, crunchy or chewy foods should be avoided during this period, as excessive pressure may contribute to implant movement, failure of integration or damage to the temporary restoration.

Once healing has progressed and the implants have been assessed, your dentist will advise when you can gradually return to a more varied diet.

Following successful integration and fitting of the definitive zirconia bridge, many patients experience substantially improved chewing stability compared with conventional removable dentures.

However, very hard foods and excessive biting forces can still damage implant-supported restorations, so sensible long-term precautions remain important.