The parts of an All-on-6 bridge, in plain English
Treatment plans and quotes for All-on-6 are full of technical words. This glossary explains each part, what it does and why it matters to you.
Medically reviewed by Dt. Hüseyin Yavuz Özbek, implant surgeon · Updated October 2026An All-on-6 bridge is built in layers. Six implants sit in the jawbone. Abutments, often multi-unit abutments, connect them to the bridge and correct their angles. Small prosthetic screws hold the bridge to the abutments. The bridge itself has a framework, often a titanium bar, carrying the teeth, usually zirconia or acrylic, and often a pink section that replaces lost gum. Knowing the names helps you read your plan and ask the right questions.
How the layers fit together
Picture All-on-6 from the bone upwards. Six implants are in the jaw. On each implant sits an abutment. A bridge is laid across all six abutments and held by six small screws. Inside the bridge is a strong framework, and on the outside are the teeth and, often, artificial gum. The table summarises it; the sections below explain each part.
| Layer | Part | Usually made of | Job |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the bone | Implant | Titanium or titanium alloy | Acts as an artificial root |
| Through the gum | Abutment (often multi-unit) | Titanium | Connects implant to bridge; corrects angle and height |
| Holding it on | Prosthetic screw | Titanium alloy | Fixes the bridge to the abutments |
| Inside the bridge | Framework or bar | Titanium, or zirconia | Strength and stiffness |
| What you see | Teeth | Zirconia, or acrylic | Biting, appearance |
| What you see | Pink gum section | Ceramic or acrylic, gum-coloured | Replaces lost gum and bone |
The glossary
Implant
A screw-shaped post placed in the jawbone. The British Society of Periodontology describes implants as usually made of titanium, although they can also be ceramic. The bone heals tightly against its surface, a process called osseointegration. In All-on-6, six implants are spread along the jaw. Brands you may see on a plan include MegaGen, Neodent, Straumann, Nobel Biocare and others.
Osseointegration
The process by which bone bonds to the implant surface. It takes weeks to months; the Oral Health Foundation says healing usually takes around four months. It is why the final bridge is fitted later.
Tilted (angled) implant
An implant placed at an angle, usually at the back of the jaw, to avoid the sinus in the upper jaw or the nerve in the lower jaw and to use the available bone. Common in All-on-4 and sometimes used in All-on-6 plans.
Abutment
The connector between the implant and the teeth. It screws into the implant and passes through the gum. For single crowns, abutments are often custom-shaped. For full-arch bridges, multi-unit abutments are commonly used.
Multi-unit abutment
An abutment designed for bridges on several implants. It raises each implant to a common level just above the gum, and angled versions correct the angle of tilted implants, so that all the screws for the bridge line up and the bridge can be seated in one piece. You may see “MUA” on a plan.
Prosthetic screw
The small screw that holds the bridge onto each abutment. It is tightened to a specific force with a calibrated tool. It can be loosened and replaced, which is what makes the bridge removable by a dentist. See screw-retained bridges explained.
Screw access hole
The channel through the bridge that lets the dentist reach each screw. It is sealed with a removable tooth-coloured filling.
Framework, bar or substructure
The strong skeleton inside the bridge that links all six implants and stops the bridge flexing. Often milled from titanium. Some bridges are made in solid zirconia, where the zirconia itself provides the strength.
Passive fit
A framework that sits on all six abutments at once without being forced or strained. A good passive fit reduces stress on the screws and implants. Accurate recording of implant positions, by scanning, photogrammetry or impressions, helps achieve it.
Photogrammetry
A way of recording the exact positions of implants using a special camera and markers, rather than a traditional impression. It is one method some clinics use to help the final bridge fit precisely.
Zirconia
A very strong, tooth-coloured ceramic used for the teeth of many final bridges. A 2017 review of full-arch zirconia bridges found a very low short-term failure rate, with minor chipping when porcelain is layered on top. Solid (monolithic) zirconia avoids layered porcelain.
Acrylic (PMMA)
A lighter plastic material used for temporary bridges and for some final bridges, often with acrylic teeth set on a metal bar. It is cheaper and easier to repair than zirconia, but wears and stains more. See materials.
Pink gum section
Gum-coloured material on the bridge that replaces gum and bone lost after teeth were removed, so the teeth can be a natural length. See how All-on-6 changes your face.
Temporary bridge (provisional)
The first bridge, usually acrylic, fitted soon after surgery and worn while the implants heal. See temporary teeth.
Immediate loading
Attaching teeth to implants on the day of surgery or within a day or two. See same-day teeth.
CBCT scan
A 3D X-ray scan of the jaws used to plan implant positions. It shows bone height and width, and where the nerve and sinuses lie.
Surgical guide
A template made from the 3D plan that guides where the implants are drilled. See guided surgery for All-on-6.
Peri-implantitis
Inflammation that damages the bone around an implant. See peri-implantitis explained.
Implant passport
A record of the implants and parts used. Keep it safe and show it to any dentist who treats you.
Reading your treatment plan
With these terms, a plan line such as “6 × implants with multi-unit abutments, screw-retained zirconia bridge on titanium bar, immediate provisional” becomes clear: six implants, multi-unit connectors, a final bridge of zirconia teeth on a titanium framework held by screws, and a temporary bridge fitted soon after surgery. If anything on your plan is not explained, ask; it is your mouth.
- Which implant brand and system will be used?
- Are multi-unit abutments included, and are any angled?
- What is the final bridge made of, teeth and framework?
- Is a temporary bridge included, and when is it fitted?
- Will I receive an implant passport?
Costs for each part are covered on our sister guide allon6cost.co.uk.
Words you may hear about the process
Impression
A mould of the mouth, traditionally taken with a soft material in a tray, used to record the shape of the gums and the positions of implants. Many clinics now use digital scans instead or as well.
Intra-oral scan
A digital 3D image of the mouth taken with a small camera wand. It replaces or supplements impressions and can be sent directly to a laboratory.
Bite registration
A record of how the upper and lower jaws relate when you bite, used so the bridge meets the opposite teeth correctly.
Try-in
A trial version of the final teeth, often in wax or plastic, used to check shape, colour, bite and speech before the final bridge is made. See how All-on-6 changes your face.
Occlusion
The dental word for your bite: how the teeth meet when you close and move your jaw. See bite adjustment.
Torque
The tightening force applied to a screw or measured when an implant is placed. High insertion torque is one sign that an implant is firm enough for same-day teeth.
Night guard (occlusal splint)
A hard plastic cover worn at night over the teeth to protect them from grinding. See teeth grinding.
Mucositis
Inflammation of the gum around an implant without bone loss; the early, reversible stage of peri-implant disease.
Keeping your parts list
Ask for your implant passport to list the implant brand and system, each implant's size, the abutments and the bridge material. Keep a copy at home and a photo on your phone.
At Precious Dental our All-on-6 uses MegaGen, Neodent or Straumann implants with zirconia teeth on a titanium bar, and the brand used is written in your plan and implant passport. Why Precious Dental.
Common questions
What is the difference between an implant and an abutment?
The implant is the screw-shaped root placed in the bone. The abutment is a connector attached to the top of the implant, which the bridge is fixed to.
What is a multi-unit abutment?
An abutment designed for bridges supported by several implants. It brings each implant to a common level and can correct the angle of tilted implants, so the bridge can be screwed on in one piece.
Is the titanium bar visible?
No. The bar is inside the bridge, covered by the teeth and gum-coloured material. It strengthens the bridge and spreads the load.
What is an implant passport?
A record of the implants and parts used: brand, type, size and sometimes batch numbers. Any dentist can use it to identify and maintain your implants.
Why does the brand of implant matter?
Parts are often specific to a system. Knowing the brand makes it easier for another dentist to source compatible screws and abutments for repairs.
Sources
- British Society of Periodontology — Patient FAQs: dental implants (implants, abutments, crowns and bridges)
- Oral Health Foundation — Dental implants
- Bidra et al. (2017), Eur J Oral Implantol — Clinical outcomes of full-arch fixed implant-supported zirconia prostheses
- Wittneben et al. (2014), Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants — Screw- versus cement-retained implant reconstructions
Checked October 2026. Where we give our own view as a clinic, we say so.
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