Snap-In Dentures
If you’re looking for dental solutions to replace missing or damaged teeth, you have likely already considered dentures. One of the newer dental procedures for dentures is a product called “snap-in” dentures. Our offices get questions about snap-in dentures regularly, so let’s take a closer look at what exactly this dental product is and how it compares to other options.
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What Are Snap-In Dentures?
Snap-in dentures go by several different terms including snap-on dentures, anchor supported-dentures, implant dentures, overdenture, and permanent denture. Regardless of the specific term used by a dental office, the product will be the same.
Snap-in dentures look and feel like traditional dentures, except instead of using adhesives to stay in your mouth, snap-in dentures “snap” into permanent abutments that are placed into your jawbone. Just like regular dentures, the false teeth are designed to be removed every night for cleaning. Eventually, the false teeth will need to be replaced, which is usually every five years. This can happen sooner if the false teeth are damaged, which is common with snap-in dentures.
Snap-in dentures have many of the drawbacks that traditional dentures have. The false teeth are made from acrylic (a type of plastic), which is porous, which makes it easy for bacteria to grow and cause bad odors. The acrylic is also easily damaged, which is why snap-in dentures have dietary restrictions similar to traditional dentures
Comparing Costs
Snap-In Denture Cost
According to research, snap-in dentures cost between $8,000 – $12,000 per row of teeth, and replacement teeth (which is needed every 5 years) costs $2,500-$5,000 per arch (jaw). However, dental offices often advertise prices that are much lower than these national averages. These too-good-to-be-true prices are due on common tactics used to hide the true cost. Some of those tactics include:
- Not including prosthetic (fake teeth) materials in the price
- Not including tooth extraction in the price
- Showing a “cheapest possible” price, and then upselling you on higher-quality materials and implants
- Not including adjustments and follow-up appointments in the upfront price
- Not including IV anesthesia for the surgery
You’ll need to really dig into the fine print of what is and is not covered in the initial fee for snap-in dentures. It’s common to run into all kinds of hidden costs and fees. If you’re considering a dental office that is reluctant to guarantee a flat, upfront price, then we encourage you to consider a different dental office.
Full Arch (4-on-1, All-on-X) Dental Implant Cost
On the flip side, our full arch (i.e., All-on-X, 4-on-1) dental implants has an upfront, all-inclusive cost. This covers:
- All consultation and appointments
- The surgery to place dental implant screws
- Temporary and permanent teeth
- Tooth extraction(s)
- IV anesthesia
- All materials for the titanium implants and zirconia crown
From our experience, full arch dental implants offers patients a better dental solution than snap-in dentures. You can learn more about this on our page snap-in dentures vs. dental implants or contact us (online or call us 1-866-974-1796) for a free, risk-free consult to learn more about the different dental solutions.
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Comparing Snap-on Dentures vs. Implants
While snap-in dentures might seem similar to permanent full mouth dental implants, they are drastically different in longevity, maintenance, functionality, and looks.
Snap-In Dentures Require Replacements and Adjustments, Dental Implants Do Not
As we mentioned earlier, snap-on dentures are not permanent. Furthermore, the false teeth on snap-in dentures will need to be replaced (every 5 years). Even before replacement is needed, you’ll need to see a dentist regularly to adjust the fitting between your prosthetic and abutment to make sure that you have a comfortable fit and bite. Adjustments and replacements of snap-in dentures are not included in the upfront cost and each set of replacement teeth will cost thousands of dollars
Permanent all-on-four dental implants do not need to be replaced or adjustments. As long as you take care of the implants with typical oral hygiene and regular dental cleanings, dental implants will last a lifetime.
Snap-In Dentures Require Intensive, Daily Cleaning, Dental Implants Do Not
Distracting odors are common in snap-in dentures, which is why daily, intensive cleaning is required. Not only will you need to remove your false teeth every night for cleaning, but you’ll also need to make sure to thoroughly clean the permanent abutment that is connected to your jawbone. This piece can be bulky, which can hide scraps of food and easily grow bacteria.
Full mouth (i.e., All-on-X) dental implants don’t require special, intensive daily cleaning. Your row of teeth is permanent and so you won’t be taking it out for nightly cleaning. All you have to do is keep up with basic dental hygiene (like brushing your teeth and using mouthwash) won’t need to worry about bacteria growth or odors.
Snap-In Dentures Have Dietary Restrictions, Dental Implants Do Not
Because snap-in dentures are made of weak acrylic (plastic), it comes with a host of dietary restrictions. The wearer will need to:
Avoid chewy and crunchy foods like:
- Pizza
- Steak
- Sandwiches
- Gum
- Ice cubes
- Nuts
- Chips
- Crackers
Avoid food that can easily get trapped in hard to clean areas, like:
- Cheese
- Pasta
- Muffins
Permanent full mouth dental implants have no dietary restrictions. Whether you have single-tooth implants are full-arch replacements, like with all-on-four implants, you won’t need to avoid any foods you enjoy eating. This is one of many reasons that we recommend dental implants over snap-in dentures to our patients.
Snap-In Dentures Look Bulky and Unnatural, Dental Implants Look Natural
Snap-in dentures are made from acrylic, which gives them an unnatural, bulky appearance. Dental implants are made from Zirconia, a durable porcelain that looks and feels like your natural teeth.
What They’re Saying
I went in to [America’s First] due to bad work from another dentist… the previous work needed to be fixed ASAP. Dr. walked me through how he would fix my implants and made me feel much more at ease. It was easy to work with his office to schedule the procedure. I am so happy I found him and his work is great! Definitely smiling big now =)
– Katelyn R.
Patient from Miami, FL
After several months of going to many dental offices for consults, I finally found America’s First Dental Implant Centers, and thank GOD I did… I drove all the way from Naples to Miami for my treatment and it was definitely worth it. I recommend America’s First to anyone that needs dental implants. Thank you to the Doctor and team at America’s First!
– Kenneth O.
Patient from Naples, FL
Big thank you to the Oral Surgeon doctor and staff at America’s First Dental Implant Center in Miami. I had a tooth that broke and needed to be replaced with a dental implant… The surgery was painless and I was asleep the entire time and now I have a brand new tooth. It was really a stress free experience and at a much lower price than other offices. I highly recommend America’s First to anyone that needs dental implants.
– David C.
Miami, FL
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Snap-In Denture FAQs
Traditional dentures and snap-in dentures are very similar. The false teeth on both are made of the same material (acrylic), which need to be removed daily, and come with severe diet restrictions.
The only difference is how they connect to your mouth. Traditional dentures use adhesives to stick to your gums, while snap-in dentures will connect to fixtures placed into your jawbone.
Snap-in dentures usually use materials like acrylic (plastic) or resin. These materials are soft and prone to damage, which is why snap-in dentures have so many dietary restrictions attached to them. Acrylic is also a porous material, which means it’s easy for bacteria to grow and cause foul odors.
In comparison, all-on-X permanent implants are made of zirconia, which is strong, non-porous, and unlikely to break or chip.
As we mentioned, snap-in dentures typically use acrylic for the false teeth, which is bulky and dull and struggles to look like genuine teeth. In comparison, all-on-X dental implants made of zirconia look bright and natural. Crowns that use zirconia look like real teeth, which is another reason it is our preferred material for dental implants.
Snap-in dentures don’t have the same level of bite strength or comfort that dental implants do. The materials used in snap-in dentures are softer and more prone to damage, and the grip and comfort in snap-in dentures pale in comparison to dental implants.
Dental implants function like real teeth. They are comfortable and require no dietary restrictions.
Snap-in dentures use bulky, acrylic teeth, which will impact your ability to speak clearly. Dental implants use zirconia teeth, which will not interfere with your ability to speak at all.
No. These are interchangeable terms used to describe the same non-permanent dental solution. All of these use acrylic teeth that need to be removed and cleaned each night.
Snap-in dentures will cost $8,000 – $12,000 on average, with an extra $1,500 to $2,500 to replace teeth every five years. All-on-X dental implants usually cost $25,000 – $40,000 an arch nationally; at America’s First, we are able to offer the procedure at a much lower cost due to low overhead and working only with the most experienced oral surgeons.
Based on our experience, all-on-X procedures are a better investment than snap-in dentures. Learn more about the benefits and costs of all-on-X procedures here.
The removable prosthetic, or your false teeth, will need to be replaced every 5 years. This time can be shortened if you don’t follow the dietary guidelines associated with snap-in dentures, since the false teeth can easily be damaged.
The time may also be shortened if you don’t see a dentist once a year to get your prosthetic refitted to the permanent abutment. The connection between the prosthetic and abutment will get looser over time, and if they aren’t regularly adjusted, it can result in an uneven bite that can cause extra wear on the false teeth.
Yes, we offer snap-in dentures. They can be a good choice for some patients; however, from the thousands of patients we’ve treated, we’ve found that all-on-X permanent dental implants are often the better and cheaper treatment.