Your Guide to All-on-X
What to Expect, Step by Step
A complete, plain-English walkthrough of full-arch implant treatment at Rocky Mountain Dental Specialists & Greeley Prosthodontics — from your first consultation to life with your final smile.
Start here
If you're reading this guide, you're probably tired of dealing with painful, loose, or failing teeth — or you've worn a denture that slips, clicks, or just never felt like your own. You're not alone, and you have more options than you may think.
This guide walks you through the All-on-X treatment from start to finish: who it's right for, what actually happens on surgery day, how healing works, and what life looks like once your new smile is complete. Our goal is simple — no surprises, no guessing, and no mystery about what's ahead.
Every patient's case is unique. This guide explains the general path most patients follow; your treatment team will personalize the details for you.
Is All-on-X Right for You?
Understanding who benefits most from this treatment
All-on-X is a full-arch replacement treatment that uses a small number of strategically placed dental implants — typically four to six — to support a complete, fixed set of replacement teeth for an upper or lower arch (or both). "Fixed" means the teeth are anchored to the implants and are not removed for cleaning like a traditional denture.
You may be a good candidate if you…
- Are missing most or all of your teeth in an arch, or have teeth failing due to decay, gum disease, or old dental work
- Wear a removable denture that feels loose, unstable, or affects your confidence eating and speaking
- Have been told you need multiple extractions and want everything replaced at once rather than tooth by tooth
- Want a permanent, non-removable solution rather than something you take in and out
- Are in reasonable medical health for minor outpatient surgery — many conditions can be safely managed with planning
Things we'll evaluate together
Bone quantity and quality, gum health, bite alignment, and your overall medical history all factor into your personal treatment plan. Conditions like uncontrolled diabetes, certain bone or immune disorders, or heavy tobacco use can affect healing and implant success, so we review your health history carefully.
In many cases these factors can be managed or improved before surgery rather than ruling out treatment altogether.
Common Fears and Myths
Let's talk honestly about the things patients worry about most
In our experience, a few concerns come up in almost every consultation: "Will it hurt?", "Will I be asleep?", "Can I afford it?", and "What if something goes wrong?" Every one is completely reasonable, and each deserves an honest, direct answer.
This is, by far, the most common fear — and also the most outdated. Modern All-on-X protocols have changed dramatically over the past several years, especially around pain control.
In our practice we use a long-acting local numbing medication that keeps the surgical area comfortably numb for approximately three days after surgery — right through the period when discomfort would otherwise peak. Because of this, the great majority of our patients tell us they experienced little to no pain at all during their recovery.
"I expected the worst and it never came" is something we hear regularly. The three-day numbing protocol is designed specifically to get you through the hardest part of healing without pain.
This depends on you — and on what's needed to keep you safe and comfortable. Our office offers every level of sedation, so your treatment can be matched to your medical history, anxiety level, and personal preference rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Administered directly by your surgeon, for patients who want to be relaxed and comfortable without a deeper level of sedation.
An added layer of monitoring and comfort throughout your procedure.
Brought in specifically for medically complex patients so you stay safely comfortable and fully monitored.
Whichever level is right for you, the goal is the same: you should feel calm, cared for, and unaware of the surgical portion of your treatment.
It's natural to worry about this, but implant failure is uncommon, and when it does happen, it's rarely a crisis. Dental implants have a well-documented, high long-term success rate, and we take deliberate steps — through 3D imaging, implant positioning, and follow-up visits — to stack the odds in your favor from day one.
If an individual implant doesn't integrate as expected, it's usually identified early at one of your scheduled checkpoints. In most cases it can be removed and replaced, or your plan adjusted, without compromising your final restoration or starting over. You are never left without functioning teeth while this is addressed — we manage it as a bump in the road, not a failure of the whole plan.
Cost is a real and valid concern — All-on-X is a significant investment in your health and quality of life. What many patients and most dental offices don't realize is that portions of All-on-X treatment can often be billed to medical insurance, not just dental insurance, because extractions, bone grafting, and implant placement are medical procedures when billed correctly. This can meaningfully reduce your out-of-pocket cost by 50%, 60%, or even 70%.
- Our team reviews your medical and dental benefits before treatment and identifies what may be billable to each
- We walk you through an itemized estimate so there are no surprise costs
- Financing options are available for any remaining balance
No. You'll leave surgery with a full set of fixed temporary teeth the same day. You never have to go without a smile while you heal.
Your final teeth are custom designed to look natural for your face, gums, and smile line. Most people won't be able to tell — they'll just notice that you smile more.
You'll have direct access to our team throughout healing, and scheduled checkpoints catch small issues early. We don't hand you a phone number and wish you luck — we're with you at every step.
Surgery Day and Your First 8 Weeks
A realistic, week-by-week look at healing
Surgery day
Teeth are removed, implants are placed, and a fixed set of temporary teeth is attached the same day.
First 24–72 hours
Long-acting numbing keeps you comfortable through the peak healing window.
Weeks 1–3
Swelling subsides, diet expands to soft foods, and we check your healing progress.
Weeks 3–8
The quiet integration phase where implants fuse to bone beneath your temporary teeth.
By around week 8, most patients are healed and ready to move toward the final restoration phase covered in the next chapter.
From Prototype to Final Zirconia Restoration
Designing the smile you'll wear for years to come
Your temporary teeth get you through healing, but they aren't the end of the road — they're a starting point. Once your implants have fully integrated, we move into the design phase for your permanent restoration.
The prototype
Wear a trial version of your new teeth so we can refine shape, bite, and smile before anything is finalized.
Building the final restoration
Your approved prototype becomes the blueprint for a durable, natural-looking zirconia restoration.
Final delivery
Your temporary teeth are replaced with the final zirconia restoration, checked for fit and appearance.
Life After Your Final Restoration
Protecting your investment for the long term
All-on-X restorations are built to last for many years, but like any dental work — or any natural teeth — they depend on regular maintenance. The routine is simple, and keeping to it is the single best thing you can do to protect your new smile.
Your maintenance routine
- Professional cleanings every 3 months — we clean areas you can't fully reach and check gums, implants, and restoration fit
- Wear your nightguard every night — it protects zirconia teeth from nighttime grinding and clenching, the leading cause of wear or chipping
- A comprehensive exam once a year — we check the implants, bite, and restoration as a whole to catch anything early
Everyday care
- Brush and clean around your restoration daily as instructed by our team
- Use a water flosser and super floss to keep the tissue under your All-on-X healthy
- Chew any foods you would normally chew with natural teeth
With consistent home care and these regular visits, most patients enjoy their All-on-X smile for many years without major issues. We're always just a phone call away if anything ever feels off between visits.
About Our Practice
The team behind your new smile
All-on-X treatment works best when it isn't handled by one provider alone. That's why care at our practice is built around a multispecialty team — prosthodontics and periodontics working side by side, from your very first consultation through your final restoration and every maintenance visit after. One team, one shared treatment plan, and one goal: the highest level of care possible for every patient who walks through our doors.
Ryan Lewis, DMD, MSD
Dr. Ryan Lewis is a board-trained prosthodontist specializing in full-arch implant reconstruction, including All-on-X treatment. For the past 10 years he has served as a Key Opinion Leader for the world's largest dental implant company, and for that same decade has worked alongside their research team as a consultant, helping design and refine several of the implant and prosthetic products used in All-on-X procedures around the world today. That means the techniques and components used in your treatment reflect not just industry best practice, but direct, hands-on involvement in how that best practice was developed.
Eric Feichtinger, DDS, MSD
Dr. Eric Feichtinger is a Colorado native and board-certified periodontist specializing in dental implants, advanced surgical care, and All-on-X full-arch treatment. He earned his dental degree from the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine, where he was inducted into the Omicron Kappa Upsilon Honorary Dental Society, and completed his residency in Periodontics and Implantology along with a Master of Science in Dentistry. As part of the All-on-X team, he focuses on precise implant placement and advanced surgical techniques, and is committed to personalized, high-quality care throughout each patient's treatment journey.
A true multispecialty approach
Full-arch treatment touches nearly every part of dentistry: extractions, bone and tissue management, implant placement, and the design and fabrication of your new smile. Rather than referring you between disconnected offices, our periodontal and prosthodontic teams plan and treat together under one roof, reviewing your case jointly at each major milestone. The result is a smoother experience for you — fewer handoffs, faster communication, and a plan that's been vetted from every specialty's perspective before we ever begin.
Before & After
A few of the smiles we've had the privilege of restoring
What our patients say
"I was very impressed with Rocky Mountain. They return phone calls. After my dental surgery, which went extremely well, they answered all my questions and got back to me quickly. They called the next day to make sure I was doing well. I did not experience much pain even though I had a tissue graft — only took one pain pill the next day. Love the team and staff and would recommend them."
— Angie Z.
"We had an excellent experience at Rocky Mountain Dental Specialists. I appreciated their willingness to take the time to explain the procedure with patience and in-depth knowledge. Everyone treated us with respect, and the front desk staff were delightful and very easy to work with. I would definitely recommend this practice to anyone."
— Kimberly T.
"Dr. Lewis is great at assessing and explaining the information and how any issues can impact things. He doesn't rush you to unnecessary treatment but takes care to recommend only treatments that will truly help. He is extremely knowledgeable and trustworthy."
— Delores J.
We look forward to being part of your journey to a healthier, more confident smile.
The next step is a consultation with a 3D scan so we can review your bone, your options, and your itemized estimate — with no surprises.
Rocky Mountain Dental Specialists • Greeley Prosthodontics