Medically Reviewed by Jay Laudenbach, DMD on August 4, 2026
During a full arch dental implant consultation, you can expect a thorough evaluation of your jawbone, gum tissue, and overall oral health, along with X-rays, a review of your candidacy for procedures such as All-on-X, and a clear discussion of your treatment timeline and cost. If you have been living with tooth loss, loose dentures, or significant dental damage, you already know how much it affects everyday life, from eating comfortably to smiling freely. Knowing what to expect before you ever sit down in the chair can make the entire process feel far more approachable.
At Laudenbach Periodontics & Dental Implants, our team has been caring for patients across Pennsylvania for over 45 years. Led by Dr. Jay Laudenbach, a graduate of the prestigious University of Pennsylvania Periodontal Prosthesis program, and Dr. Ishita Bhavsar, who holds a master’s degree in the field of periodontics, our team brings a high level of training and attentiveness to every consultation. If you are considering full arch dental implants, here is exactly what your first visit will look like.
What Happens at a Full Arch Dental Implant Consultation?
Your consultation at Laudenbach Periodontics & Dental Implants is a comprehensive, one-hour appointment designed to provide you with a complete picture of your oral health and options. Our $219 consultation includes all necessary X-rays, full periodontal charting, and a full series of photos at no additional charge. This approach ensures we are evaluating every aspect of your mouth, not just the areas where teeth are missing.
What Does the Exam Include?
During your visit, we take a thorough look at your jawbone health, gum tissue, and overall oral condition. For patients exploring dental implants, we typically capture a full-mouth series of 18 X-rays and, when needed, a CT scan, which is a three-dimensional image required for precise implant placement. These images help us determine whether bone grafting or other preparatory care may be necessary before moving forward. Every finding is reviewed with you in plain language, so you understand what it means for your treatment options before you leave the office.
How We Evaluate Your Candidacy for Full Arch Dental Implants
Once imaging and charting are complete, Dr. Laudenbach will meet with you to review your results and discuss your treatment options. Candidacy for full arch tooth replacement depends on several interconnected factors, including the volume and density of your remaining jawbone, the health of your gum tissue, and your overall medical history. According to Cleveland Clinic, patients considering implant-supported dentures generally need adequate bone volume to support the implants, and a bone graft can often add the volume and density needed in areas where bone has been lost. This is why we spend time reviewing your bone density and overall implant planning factors before recommending a path forward.
For patients who are candidates for full-arch tooth replacement, we will walk through procedures such as All-on-X (also referred to as All-on-Four), which replaces an entire arch of teeth using as few as four implant posts. Our practice exclusively places Straumann implants, a leading dental implant manufacturer, and pairs those components with advanced surgical training so your care is built on a foundation of quality from the very first step.
What to Bring to Your Full Arch Implant Consultation
A little preparation goes a long way toward making your consultation efficient and productive. We recommend bringing a current list of your medications, since certain prescriptions and health conditions can influence healing and treatment planning. If you have had recent dental X-rays or imaging taken elsewhere, bringing copies (or having them sent ahead of your visit) can help us avoid unnecessary repeat imaging. It is also worth bringing your insurance card, even if you are unsure whether your plan applies to implant treatment, since our team can help you understand what coverage may look like. Most importantly, bring your questions. Your consultation is a genuine conversation, and our team is here to listen as much as to inform.
From Consultation to Treatment: What Happens Next
Once your consultation is complete, Dr. Laudenbach and our team put together a personalized treatment plan based on your imaging, candidacy, and goals. For some patients, that plan can move forward soon after the initial visit. For others, especially those who need bone grafting or gum tissue treatment first, additional preparatory steps may be recommended before implant placement can begin. Your treatment plan will outline each stage in order, along with an estimated timeline, so you know what to expect at every point along the way.
Throughout this process, our goal is to keep communication clear and collaborative. You are welcome to ask about sedation and comfort options, what a typical appointment involves, and how your specific candidacy factors may affect your timeline. No two treatment plans look exactly alike, which is part of why the consultation is such an important first step.
Understanding the Cost and Financing of Full Arch Dental Implants
Cost is one of the most common concerns patients bring to a full arch dental implant consultation, and it is a topic we address directly. Your $219 consultation fee covers your full diagnostic workup, which gives us the information needed to provide you with an accurate, personalized estimate rather than a generic quote. Because full arch treatment can vary based on the number of implants, the need for bone grafting, and the type of restoration selected, costs differ from patient to patient.
Our team can walk you through a detailed cost breakdown of dental implant treatment and discuss flexible financing and insurance options that may help make treatment more manageable. We believe every patient deserves a clear understanding of their investment before committing to a treatment plan, and our consultation is designed to give you exactly that.
Full Arch Dental Implants Compared to Traditional Dentures
Many patients arrive at their consultation trying to decide between full arch dental implants and traditional removable dentures. Traditional dentures rest on the gums and typically require adhesives to stay in place, while full arch implants anchor directly to the jawbone using implant posts, providing a fixed, more stable foundation for chewing and speaking. During your consultation, we will discuss how full arch dental implants compare with removable dentures for your specific situation, including differences in stability, maintenance, and long-term bone health.
This comparison is not one-size-fits-all. Your jawbone health, budget, and personal preferences all factor into which option may be the better fit, and part of our job during your consultation is helping you weigh those factors honestly.
What Should You Ask During Your Full Arch Implant Consultation?
Coming prepared with questions is one of the best things you can do for yourself. Your consultation is a genuine conversation, and our team is here to listen as much as to inform. Some areas worth discussing include:
- Candidacy: your candidacy for full arch dental implants or All-on-X based on bone density and gum health
- Timing: whether immediate tooth replacement is an option for your specific situation
- Timeline: what the schedule looks like from your first consultation through your final restoration
- Cost: information about the cost of dental implants and what financial options are available to you
Every question you bring is a valuable one, and no concern is too small to raise during your appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Full Arch Dental Implant Consultations
How long does a full arch dental implant consultation take?
A full arch dental implant consultation is generally a one hour appointment. During that time, your care team captures X-rays and photos, completes a full periodontal charting, and discusses your goals and concerns. The visit is designed to give both you and your care team a complete picture of your oral health before any treatment recommendations are made.
What if I do not have enough jawbone for full arch implants?
Bone loss after tooth loss is common, and it does not automatically rule out full arch treatment. Depending on your imaging results, your care team may recommend bone grafting or other preparatory procedures to build up volume and density before implants are placed. Your consultation is where these factors are identified and discussed, so you understand your options and timeline.
How is All-on-X different from traditional dentures?
Traditional dentures rest on the gums and typically require adhesive to stay in place, while All-on-X anchors an entire arch of replacement teeth to a small number of implant posts placed in the jawbone. This generally provides a more fixed, stable foundation for chewing and speaking compared to removable dentures, though candidacy for either option depends on your individual oral health.
Does dental insurance cover full arch dental implants?
Coverage varies widely from plan to plan, and some portions of treatment, such as extractions or bone grafting, may be covered differently than the implants themselves. Bringing your insurance information to your consultation allows our team to help you understand what your specific plan may cover and to discuss additional financing options that can help make treatment more accessible.
How soon after my consultation can treatment begin?
Timing depends on your individual candidacy. Some patients are able to move toward treatment relatively soon after their consultation, while others may need preparatory steps such as bone grafting or gum tissue treatment first. Your care team will lay out an estimated timeline during your consultation once your imaging and health history have been reviewed.
Schedule Your Full Arch Dental Implant Consultation at Laudenbach Periodontics & Dental Implants
A full arch dental implant consultation is about more than evaluating your teeth. It is a chance to meet your care team, understand your options, ask any questions you have, and leave feeling confident about the path ahead. At Laudenbach Periodontics & Dental Implants, our board-certified specialists and advanced diagnostic tools provide every patient with the thorough, thoughtful evaluation they deserve.
When you are ready to take the next step toward a complete, permanent smile, we are here to walk through it with you. We serve patients across multiple locations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, including Haverford, Villanova, Chestnut Hill, Cherry Hill, and more. To book your consultation and get started, please fill out our contact form, and a member of our team will be in touch.
About the Author
Periodontist, Laudenbach Periodontics & Dental Implants
Dr. Jay Laudenbach, DMD, is a periodontist at Laudenbach Periodontics & Dental Implants in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Periodontal Prosthesis program. He works alongside the practice’s surgical team on full arch and implant based tooth replacement for patients throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
