Dental advice
Dental implants or dentures: how they compare
Both replace missing teeth, and both work well for many people. This guide sets out the differences in comfort, eating, looks, upkeep and cost, so you can weigh them up.
By the Allen House Dental team in Crewe
If you wear a denture now, or you have been told some teeth need to come out, you may be wondering whether implants would suit you better. There is no single right answer. It depends on your mouth, your health, what matters most to you and your budget.
A denture is a set of false teeth on a removable base that rests on your gums. A dental implant is a small post placed in the jawbone, which holds a fixed crown, a bridge or a denture on top.
Comfort
A well-fitting denture can be very comfortable, and many people wear one for years without trouble. Over time your gums change shape, so a denture can start to rub or feel loose. A reline or a new denture often puts that right.
Teeth fixed to implants do not move, so there is nothing to slip or rub. Getting there involves minor surgery and a healing period first.
Eating
Most people eat well with dentures once they are used to them, though hard or sticky food can be more difficult. A full lower denture tends to move more than an upper one. Teeth held by implants stay put when you bite and chew, which is the main reason people choose them.
Appearance
Both are made to suit your face, with the shade and shape of the teeth chosen with you. A good denture can look very natural. Implant teeth are fixed, so nothing shifts when you talk or laugh.
Your jawbone
After a tooth is lost, the bone that held it slowly shrinks. This is one reason a denture that fitted well can become loose over the years. A denture rests on the gum, so it does not slow this down. An implant sits in the bone and passes biting pressure into it, which can help the bone around it keep its shape.
Cleaning and upkeep
A denture comes out to be cleaned every day, and it will need relining or replacing at some point as your mouth changes. Implants are cleaned in the mouth like natural teeth, including around and between them. They need regular check-ups and hygiene visits, because healthy gums are what keep an implant healthy.
A middle option: dentures held by implants
If your denture moves but you would rather not have fixed teeth, two or more implants can clip a denture firmly in place. It still comes out for cleaning, but it stays put when you eat and talk. It costs less than a full arch of fixed implant teeth. See our dentures page and our page on full mouth dental implants.
What it costs
Dentures and implants: prices
These are the starting prices we publish. The full private fee list has the rest. Your own figure depends on how many teeth are involved and what your dentist finds.
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Partial denture
Replaces one or more missing teeth.
from £750
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Full denture
Replaces all the teeth in your upper or lower jaw.
from £890
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Single implant with crown
One fixed replacement tooth.
from £2,500
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Full arch of implant teeth
A fixed set of teeth for a whole jaw.
from £15,995 per arch
The first step for implants is a consultation, currently £50 (usually £150). If you decide to explore treatment, the CBCT 3D scan of your jaw is £150 (usually £200). Your dentist will check it suits you at the assessment. Results vary from person to person. Implant treatment involves surgery and carries some risk, which your dentist will go through with you. Read more about dental implants.
Talk it through with us
Many people are happy with their dentures, and staying with what works for you is a sound choice. If yours is giving you trouble, come and talk it through. Your dentist will explain the options that suit your mouth and what each would cost. You get that in writing before anything starts, and there is no obligation.
