If you are replacing a full arch of teeth, the decision usually comes down to a traditional removable denture or a denture supported by implants. They cost different amounts, they feel completely different, and they have different consequences for your jawbone. Here is the comparison in full.
Understanding both options
Traditional dentures
Removable prosthetics that replace missing teeth and the surrounding tissue. They rest directly on the gums, held by suction and sometimes adhesive, and are not fixed in the mouth.
In their favor: lower initial cost, no surgery, faster to deliver.
Against: less stable when eating and speaking, and the bone underneath continues to resorb.
Implant-supported dentures
Overdentures supported and stabilized by implants placed in the jawbone. Substantially more stable than a conventional denture.
In their favor: far better retention, the implants keep loading and preserving the jawbone, and biting force is considerably improved.
Against: higher upfront investment, and it requires surgery.
Side by side
| Traditional dentures | Implant-supported dentures | |
|---|---|---|
| Stability | May slip or move when speaking and eating | Anchored to implants; minimal movement |
| Jawbone | Bone loss continues progressively | Implants load and help preserve bone |
| Chewing | Noticeably limited compared with natural teeth | Substantially closer to natural function |
| Comfort | Can irritate the gums; sore spots are common | Load carried by implants rather than gum tissue |
| Longevity | Generally replaced or relined every few years | A long-term restoration with proper maintenance |
| Initial cost | Lower | Higher |
| Ongoing cost | Adhesives, relines, adjustments, replacement | Maintenance visits; fewer replacements |
Three types of implant-supported denture
Removable snap-on dentures. Secured to a small number of implants with attachments. You take them out to clean them, but they snap firmly into place when worn. Typically the most accessible implant denture option.
Bar-retained dentures. A thin metal bar follows the curve of the jaw and attaches to several implants; the denture clips onto the bar. Excellent stability while remaining removable.
Fixed hybrid dentures (All-on-X). Attached to a customized number of implants and removable only by your dentist. This is the option that feels closest to having your own teeth. See full-arch implants.
All three are discussed on the implant-supported dentures page.
Who each option suits
A traditional denture may be the better answer if you
- have significant financial constraints right now
- cannot undergo a surgical procedure
- need a replacement solution immediately
- have severe bone loss and do not want grafting
- want something interim while you decide
An implant-supported denture may be the better answer if you
- want maximum stability and function
- are concerned about ongoing bone loss and facial change
- have an active lifestyle
- want a long-term rather than short-term solution
- have found conventional dentures unsatisfactory
How to actually decide
This decision is personal and it is clinical, in that order. The clinical inputs are your bone volume, gum health, bite and general health. The personal inputs are what you can invest, whether surgery is acceptable to you, and how much the daily experience of a removable denture bothers you.
We will evaluate the first set honestly and then talk through the second without pushing. Conventional dentures are the right answer for some patients and we will say so.