What All-on-6 teeth are made of
The implants are almost always titanium. The choice you'll hear about is what goes on top: zirconia or acrylic, often over a titanium bar.
Medically reviewed by Dt. Hüseyin Yavuz Özbek, implant surgeon · Updated October 2026All-on-6 implants are titanium screws. The bridge on top is usually either zirconia, a very hard tooth-coloured ceramic that resists wear and staining, or acrylic teeth on a metal frame, which is lighter, cheaper and easier to repair but wears and stains faster. A milled titanium bar inside the bridge adds strength. Temporary teeth are almost always acrylic.
The implants: titanium
The Oral Health Foundation describes a dental implant as "a small titanium screw that is placed into the jawbone". Titanium is used because bone grows closely around it as it heals. All six implants in an All-on-6 plan are normally the same brand and system.
The brand matters later, not just now. If a screw loosens or a part needs replacing years from now, your dentist needs compatible parts. Ask for the brand, system and size of each implant in writing, often called an implant passport.
The frame: a titanium bar
Many All-on-6 bridges have a milled titanium bar inside, connecting the six implants. It makes the bridge rigid so biting force is shared evenly. In the 2024 review of four versus six implants, CAD/CAM-milled frames were linked with better implant survival in the six-implant group.
The teeth: zirconia or acrylic
| Zirconia | Acrylic on a frame | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A very hard, tooth-coloured ceramic, milled from a block | Acrylic (plastic) teeth and gum, built on a metal frame |
| Looks over time | Resists staining; keeps its colour and shine | Can stain and dull, especially with tea, coffee or smoking |
| Wear | Very wear-resistant | Wears faster; teeth may need replacing after some years |
| Repairs | Harder to adjust or repair; a chip may mean a remake | Easier and cheaper to repair or reline |
| Weight and feel | Heavier, very solid | Lighter, slightly softer bite |
| Often chosen when | You want the longest-lasting look | Budget matters, or easy repairs matter more |
Some clinics offer hybrid options, such as zirconia teeth bonded to a titanium bar. Whatever is offered, ask the clinic to name the material of the final bridge in your written plan.
At Precious Dental the final All-on-6 bridge is normally zirconia teeth on a titanium bar, with MegaGen, Neodent or Straumann implants. The brand used is written in your plan.
Temporary teeth
While the implants heal, you wear a lighter acrylic bridge. It looks like teeth and is fixed in place, but it isn't designed for hard foods. Read more in All-on-6 temporary teeth.
Looking after each material
- Use a soft brush and non-abrasive toothpaste on both zirconia and acrylic.
- Clean underneath the bridge every day. See how to clean All-on-6.
- If you grind your teeth at night, ask about a night guard: grinding is hard on any bridge.
- Report chips, cracks or a bridge that feels loose straight away.
Common questions
Is zirconia better than acrylic for All-on-6?
Neither is best for everyone. Zirconia keeps its look and resists wear; acrylic is lighter, gentler on opposing teeth and easier to repair. Grinding, bite and budget all matter.
Can a zirconia bridge chip or break?
It can, though it is very hard. Chipping, fracture or wear of the prosthesis is listed by the British Society of Periodontology as a sign of complications to report to your dentist.
What implant brands are used?
Many. Ask for the brand and system in writing so a UK dentist can find compatible parts later. At Precious Dental we use MegaGen, Neodent or Straumann implants.
Are the temporary teeth the same as the final teeth?
No. Temporary teeth are a lighter acrylic bridge worn while the implants heal. The final bridge is made from new scans once healing is complete.
Sources
- Oral Health Foundation — Understanding dental implants (titanium screw)
- British Society of Periodontology — Patient FAQs: dental implants (prosthesis wear and repair)
- Sharaf et al. (2024) — Four or six implants in the upper jaw: systematic review (CAD/CAM frameworks). Heliyon
Checked October 2026. Where we give our own view as a clinic, we say so.
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