Patients with missing or damaged teeth only have a few options for teeth replacement. A popular option is denture implants, and we regularly receive questions and inquiries about this specific product and its cost. Let’s take a closer look at what exactly denture implants are, and what you can expect their cost to be.
What Are Denture Implants
Denture implants have many names. You may have seen them called snap-in dentures, snap-on dentures, implant-supported dentures, anchored dentures, permanent dentures, etc. In short, denture implants are removable, fake teeth that are connected to implant screws in your jawbone. You should note that denture implants are not permanently attached to your mouth
While the implant screws will not need to be replaced, denture implants need to be regularly adjusted. The fake teeth that snap onto the implants will need to be replaced around every 5 years. You will also need to clean the dentures nightly to prevent bacteria growth and unpleasant odors.
Denture Implants Are Not the Same as 4-On-1 Full Arch Dental Implants
At a glance, denture implants look very similar to 4-on-1 full arch implants. They both can restore entire rows of teeth, and they both are anchored into the jawbone by implants. However, 4-on-1 full arch dental implants permanently attach to the abutments on the implant screws and are not removable, while the snap-in denture implants are designed to be removed.
4-on-1 Full Arch implants offer a number of advantages over denture implants. Since 4-on-1 full arch implants are permanent and not removable, you will not have replacement costs like you will with denture implants. Denture implants do not provide the secure fit and bite strength that 4-on-1 full arch implants will. You will have dietary restrictions with snap-in denture implants, which you will not with 4-on-1 full arch implants.
For patients who are eligible, 4-on-1 full arch implants are a superior choice over snap-in denture implants. Here at America’s First Dental Implants, we offer 4-on-1 full arch dental implants at the fixed, all-inclusive price of $14,950 (lowest price guaranteed).
How Much Do Denture Implants Cost
The national average cost for denture implants ranges between $8,000 – $12,000 per arch or row of teeth. In addition to this initial cost, patients will pay for the replacement prosthetic every five years, which will cost between $2,500-5,000/per arch. This cost quickly approaches our pricing for 4-on-1 full arch dental implants, and we typically recommend permanent, 4-on-1 full arch implants to eligible patients.
Oftentimes, it is hard to find the precise total, all-in price of denture implants. Many offices do not advertise the full cost, instead only advertise the cost of the implants with the cheapest materials and without including the cost of the surgery, follow-up appointments, x rays, anesthesia, etc.
Another compounding factor in getting a clear picture of the real cost of denture implants is that offices typically do not discuss teeth replacement costs, which you’ll need every 5 years or so.
To help get a clear idea of what costs you can expect, we have broken down the cost based on the specific kind of procedure you may need.
Lower Denture Implants Cost
Lower denture implants will cost about $8,000 – $12,000 for the entire procedure, including the prosthetic, intravenous sedation or anesthesia, the surgery, including tooth extractions and implant placement, and follow-up appointments. Remember, regardless of your total pricing, you will need to replace your fake teeth every five years, which will cost between $2,500-5,000 each time.
Furthermore, the lower denture implants are more difficult to stabilize because the tongue constantly dislodges the teeth, which then requires more appointments in the office for adjustments.
Upper Denture Implants Cost
As with lower denture implants, upper denture implants will also be a whole row of teeth. This average cost is $8,000 – $12,000 for the entire procedure, and this also does not include scheduled future prosthetic replacement. Upper denture replacements are often harder to place because they get loose as time goes by and they tend to dislodge and fall down.
Full Denture Implants Cost
For both rows of teeth to have denture implants, plan on at least doubling the cost. You can expect to pay a total cost of $16,000 – $24,000 for both rows of teeth to be fitted with denture implants. Keep in mind that your intravenous sedation or anesthesia, surgery for tooth extractions and implant placement, or follow-up appointment costs may be higher because the procedure is far more extensive.
That extra cost is the same for replacement dentures, too. To replace the prosthetics on full dentures, expect to pay $5,000 – $10,000 every five years. For patients who are eligible, we usually recommend 4-on-1 full arch dental implants for a full mouth replacement, since it is significantly less expensive than denture implants in the long run especially if you receive the procedure at our office, which offers permanent 4-on-1 full arch dental implants for the one time price of $14,950.
Denture Stabilization Cost
Your dentures are “stabilized” by being connected to implants placed in your jawbone, which means “denture stabilization” is just another term for denture implants. The cost for denture stabilization falls in line with what we’ve described for lower, upper, and full denture implant costs and will range from $8,000 – $12,000.
Partial Denture Implants Cost
Many patients may only have one or two missing teeth, which means they may not need a denture implant for a whole row of teeth. Partial denture implants are a possible solution, even for one or two missing teeth. You can expect to pay $3,000 – $8,000 for partial dentures, though this price can vary widely depending on the specific materials used.
As with all denture implants, partial denture implants will eventually need to be replaced. While the cost is more modest compared to upper, lower, or full denture implants, you can still expect to pay $ 2,500 – $5,000 every five years.
Removable Denture Implants Cost
Another way to refer to denture implants is the term removable denture implants (since the prosthetic can be removed). Costs for removable denture implants will follow the guidelines we have set for upper, lower, and full denture implants, and range from $8.000 – $12,000 for a single row of teeth and $16,000 – $24,000 for a full mouth of teeth.
The prosthetic replacement cost will also be similar to those listed above. Patients can expect to pay $2,500 – $5,000 for each prosthetic (per row) every five years. If you have prosthetics on your lower and upper jaw, then replacement costs double to $5,000 – $10,000 every five years.
FAQs
How long do denture implants last?
If you follow proper dietary guidelines, maintain proper oral hygiene, and clean your prosthetic daily, your denture implants will last five years. The implant screws, or the part implanted into your jawbone, won’t need to be replaced, but your fake teeth will not be designed to be permanent. Eventually, they will break down and need to be replaced.
You can expect to have regular adjustments to your denture implants aside from when you get a new prosthetic. This is particularly true after a replacement, since your dentist will need to make sure that your replacement teeth are properly fitted, and you have a proper bite.
This is one of the major reasons we typically recommend 4-on-1 full arch dental implants over denture implants. Unlike traditional dentures or implant-supported dentures, 4-on-1 full arch dental implants, as well as your new teeth, are permanent. You will not need to regularly buy new prosthetics, and regular adjustments will not be needed.
How many implants are needed for dentures?
It depends on what kind of denture you get and how many teeth you are replacing. Usually, if you are replacing a whole row of teeth, you will have four implants that create abutments for your removable dentures to connect to. If you receive a full set of denture implants, you will have a total of eight implants: four on the upper denture, and four on the bottom denture.
For partial denture implants, you can expect to have less implants placed. Usually, one or two implants are all that are needed for partial dentures, though this can vary on how many teeth you are replacing, as well as the placement of those teeth. If you are replacing a large number of teeth, your natural teeth are usually pulled so the whole row can be replaced with a prosthetic.
Are denture implants comfortable compared to 4-on-1 Full Arch dental implants?
Denture implants are not comfortable compared to 4-on-1 full arch dental implants. Denture implants are bigger, bulkier, removable, and still move around in your mouth, which causes pain and sore spots. It’s also not as easy to chew with denture implants, and food will get stuck under the denture.
It’s even harder to kiss someone with denture implants because the implants are bulky, unnatural, and could move around during a kiss.
Do denture implants look natural compared to 4-on-1 Full Arch dental implants?
Denture implants look far less natural compared to 4-on-1 full arch dental implants, since they are bulkier and look noticeably fake. Since denture implants are permanently secured, they can still move around, which will adversely affect your speech and natural chewing motions.