At the Smile Clinic in Midvale, Utah, a map on the wall displays hundreds of stickers marking the locations of patients who have traveled for a unique full-mouth dental implant procedure. Known as “3 on 6,” this method was developed over a decade ago by Dr. Randy Roberts and his team.
Dr. Roberts, who grew up in Orem, explained the motivation behind creating the 3 on 6 procedure. “After placing hundreds of implants, I noticed many patients sought full-mouth implants using All-on-4 treatment plans. These patients had unhealthy teeth but healthy bone beneath. The All-on-4 approach required removing healthy bone to accommodate a large prosthetic. I thought, why not preserve their bone and gums while simply replacing the teeth?”
Dr. Roberts performed the first 3-on-6 procedure on his cousin. He emphasized, “I don’t want to call him a guinea pig, as we are using bridges on implants, a method that has been proven effective. The challenge lies in restoring an entire mouth of teeth with implants and bridges while ensuring they look and feel natural and are durable.
Thanks to advancements in materials, 3D printing, and our treatment protocols, we can create thin, strong, beautiful teeth and place them on the same day as the implants.”
Dr. Roberts expressed his satisfaction with offering this additional option to patients. He noted that while some patients might still require All-on-4 or All-on-X treatments due to insufficient bone, the 3-on-6 procedure allows for full-mouth restoration without removing any bone and preserves the natural gum line. “Upon close inspection, it can be hard to tell that these aren’t real teeth,” he added.
The popularity of the 3-on-6 procedure has led Dr. Roberts and Dr. Logan Locke to establish a training institute at their Midvale location.
Dentists from across the country come to learn how to perform the 3-on-6 procedure. Currently, more than 25 providers from Alaska to Florida are offering this treatment.
Dr. Locke highlighted the technological advancements that make the 3-on-6 procedure possible. “It’s very technology-based and precise. The 3-on-6 method wouldn’t have been feasible 15 years ago due to the need for precise implant placement.
Now, we utilize three different types of scans of the bone and tissue, which leads to predictable and aesthetically pleasing results for our patients. We believe we have mastered this over many years and thousands of smiles.”