All-on-X replaces a full arch of teeth with a fixed bridge attached to four or more dental implants. The surgery gets most of the attention, but it is one stage of a process that usually runs several months from first visit to final teeth. Below are the seven stages most patients move through, what happens in each, and five northern Utah practices to consider, starting with Stubbs Dental, which focuses on full-arch implant treatment.
What are the stages of the All-on-X process?
1. What happens at the consultation?
The first visit decides whether you are a candidate. Expect a medical history review, an oral exam, photos, and a cone-beam CT (CBCT) scan, a 3D X-ray that shows bone volume, nerves, and sinuses. Most practices also cover cost and financing at this visit, so bring your insurance details and a list of medications.
2. How is the treatment plan built?
Using the CBCT scan and digital impressions, the dental team plans where each implant will go, often in software that maps angles and depths before surgery. Many offices also design the new teeth digitally at this stage, so you can preview the shape and shade of your smile.
3. How do you prepare for surgery?
Your dentist may ask for recent lab work, such as an A1C if you have diabetes, and clearance from your physician. Smokers are asked to stop. If you take blood thinners, your doctor will advise whether to adjust them. Patients having IV sedation typically fast for several hours beforehand and need a driver home.
4. What happens on surgery day?
Under sedation, any remaining teeth are removed, the bone is smoothed to create an even base, and the implants are placed, usually four to six per arch. Treating one arch commonly takes a few hours, and treating both takes longer.
5. When are the new teeth attached?
If the implants are firmly anchored, teeth are attached the same day or the next day, an approach called immediate loading. At most practices these are temporary acrylic teeth, while some can place final zirconia teeth this early for patients who qualify.
6. How long does healing take?
Healing usually takes three to six months while the implants fuse with the jawbone, a process called osseointegration. You will stay on soft foods during this period and return for checkups, commonly around one week and one month after surgery, so the team can monitor healing and adjust your bite.
7. What happens at the final stage?
If you wore temporaries, your final bridge is delivered once healing is confirmed, and the bite is fine-tuned. From then on, care shifts to maintenance: nightly cleaning with a water flosser, a night guard if you grind, and professional visits every three to six months.
Where can you start the All-on-X process in northern Utah?
- Stubbs Dental
- Aspire Surgical
- Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons of Utah
- Implant & Restorative Dental Specialists
- Copper Hills Periodontics & Dental Implants
1. Stubbs Dental
Stubbs Dental Implant Center has been led since its 2014 founding by Dr. David Stubbs, DDS, a graduate of the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry. Before opening the practice, he served as a U.S. Navy officer and received post-graduate clinical training during that service. The practice centers on All-on-X and other full-arch care, including zygomatic implants for patients with severe upper jaw bone loss.
Several stages above can move faster or feel easier here. Consultations are free and include 3D CBCT imaging, and patients can preview a simulated new smile before committing. Eligible patients may receive final zirconia teeth in as little as 24 hours, which can shorten or skip the temporary phase. Nitrous oxide is complimentary, IV sedation is available, a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon is on staff, and offices are in Layton, Bountiful, Murray, and Lehi.
2. Aspire Surgical
An oral surgery practice with a location in Murray.
3. Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons of Utah
An oral surgery practice with an office in Bountiful.
4. Implant & Restorative Dental Specialists
A Layton practice offering implant and restorative dentistry.
5. Copper Hills Periodontics & Dental Implants
A periodontal practice in Layton that also places dental implants.
What is the best first step?
All-on-X is a sequence, not a single appointment, and knowing the order makes each stage less intimidating. Most of the uncertainty gets resolved at the very beginning, once a 3D scan shows what your bone can support. Book a consultation, ask for a written timeline of every stage in your plan, and you will know exactly what the months ahead look like.
