All-on-4
A trademarked implant-prosthetic protocol in which a full-arch fixed prosthesis is supported by four implants, the two distal implants placed at an angulation of up to 45 degrees.
Full Definition
All-on-4 is a fixed full-arch rehabilitation concept developed by Paulo Malo and commercially associated with Nobel Biocare. The protocol uses four implants per arch — two axial anterior implants and two posteriorly tilted implants — to maximise bone engagement and avoid the need for bone grafting in many cases. The definitive or provisional prosthesis is often loaded on the same day as implant placement. As a registered trademark, 'All-on-4' should always appear with an initial capital A, hyphenated, with the numeral 4 (not the word 'four'). Editors must flag lower-case or non-hyphenated variants and distinguish the branded term from generic descriptions such as 'full-arch implant-supported prosthesis.'
Usage
Usage note: Always capitalise 'All,' hyphenate before '4,' and use the numeral. The term is a registered trademark and generic substitution may be required in some publication contexts.
In Context
- "The patient was rehabilitated using the All-on-4 protocol, with immediate loading of a provisional prosthesis." — Implant surgery report
- "The editor ensured the trademark 'All-on-4' was capitalised and hyphenated consistently throughout the white paper." — Commercial editorial review