Full Arch vs Dentures
If you've lost most or all of your teeth in one jaw, or soon will, there are three broad ways to replace them. This guide compares them honestly, including who each one suits and who it doesn't.
Full-Arch Implants vs Dentures: Which Is Better in Edinburgh?
Full-arch implants give you fixed teeth that don't move, chew far more efficiently and help preserve jawbone, while dentures are removable, quicker and much less expensive. Implant-retained dentures sit in between: a removable denture that clips onto two to four implants. At Comely Bank Dental in Edinburgh, full-arch implants are from £12,500 per arch, a full acrylic denture is from £920 and a chrome partial denture from £1,200.
How Do Full-Arch Implants and Dentures Differ?
The key difference is how the teeth are held in place.
- Conventional dentures rest on your gums. Upper dentures stay in by suction against the palate; lower dentures rely on the shape of the ridge and the muscles of your tongue and cheeks. You take them out to clean and to sleep.
- Implant-retained dentures (sometimes called overdentures) are removable dentures that clip onto two to four implants. They're far more secure than a conventional denture, but you still take them out every day.
- Full-arch implants are a fixed bridge of teeth screwed onto four implants, or as many as six on our Premium zirconia package. Only the dental team can remove it.
There's no option that is right for everyone. Fixed implants give the most natural result, dentures are the simplest and most affordable, and the middle option offers much of the stability at a lower cost than a fixed bridge. The best choice depends on your health, bone, budget and what you want from your teeth.
How Do Comfort and Confidence Compare?
Dentures. A well-made denture can be comfortable, especially on the upper jaw, where suction is usually good. Lower dentures are harder: the ridge is narrower and the tongue moves constantly, so many people find a full lower denture loose. Sore spots, adhesive and worry about the denture moving while speaking or laughing are common complaints.
Implant-retained dentures. Clipping onto implants transforms the security of a lower denture in particular. Most people feel much more confident eating and talking, though there's still a little movement and the denture comes out at night.
Full-arch implants. Nothing moves and nothing comes out. For many people the biggest change is psychological: they stop thinking about their teeth. The trade-off is a surgical procedure and a healing period to get there.
Compare Your Options in Person
Book a free implant consultation. We'll examine your mouth, explain which options are realistic for you, including dentures, and give you the fees in writing.
How Well Can You Chew with Each Option?
Chewing ability is where the options differ most.
- Conventional dentures give you a fraction of the biting force of natural teeth. Many denture wearers avoid tough meat, raw vegetables, nuts and crusty bread, and some find their diet slowly narrows.
- Implant-retained dentures improve this substantially, especially in the lower jaw, because the denture no longer lifts or slides when you bite.
- Full-arch implants come closest to natural teeth. Once healed, most people can eat a normal, varied diet.
Taste can change too. An upper denture covers the palate, which affects how food feels and how hot drinks register. A fixed bridge and many implant-retained upper dentures leave the palate open.
What Happens to Your Jawbone?
When teeth are lost, the bone that held them is no longer stimulated and gradually shrinks. This happens fastest in the first year after extractions and continues more slowly for life.
A conventional denture doesn't stop this, and the pressure of a denture on the gums can add to it. Over the years the denture becomes loose and needs relining or replacing, and the lower face can start to look shorter, with the lips falling inwards.
Implants pass biting forces into the bone and help preserve it in the areas around them. That's one reason a fixed or implant-retained option tends to stay stable over time, while a conventional denture usually needs more adjustment as the years go by. Implants don't make bone grow back, and how much bone you already have is one of the main things that decides which option is possible.
We assess this with a 3D CT scan taken on site at our practice in Edinburgh. The scan shows the height, width and density of the bone, which decides how many implants could be placed and where.
How Do the Costs Compare?
The fees differ considerably, and it's worth looking at the likely costs over time as well as the starting price.
| Feature | Starting fee | Likely later costs |
|---|---|---|
| Full acrylic denture | from £920 | Relines and replacement as the bone changes |
| Chrome partial denture (where some teeth remain) | from £1,200 | Adjustments, additions if more teeth are lost |
| Implant-retained denture | depends on implant number; see our implant-retained dentures page | Replacement clips, occasional relines |
| Full-arch implants | from £12,500 per arch | Hygiene visits every three months, eventual repairs |
A full-arch bridge is the largest outlay, but it usually avoids the cycle of relines and replacement dentures. A denture is the most affordable, but expect it to need replacing every several years. Implant-retained dentures sit in the middle.
All fees are guide prices. Yours is confirmed in a written treatment plan before treatment starts, and members of our dental plan save 10% on most private treatment.
What Upkeep Does Each Option Need?
Conventional dentures. Take them out after meals to rinse, clean them daily with a denture brush, and leave them out overnight in water. Have your mouth checked regularly, because the fit changes as the bone shrinks. Relines are common.
Implant-retained dentures. The denture is cleaned like any other, and you also clean the implant attachments in your mouth twice a day. The nylon clip inserts wear and are replaced periodically, usually a quick visit.
Full-arch implants. Twice-daily cleaning under the bridge with a water flosser and interdental brushes, and a hygiene visit every three months, four in a year, when the bridge is cleaned around and underneath without being taken off. Those visits are a condition of the implant guarantee. Our full-arch implants page explains the treatment in more detail.
For both implant options, the main long-term risk is inflammation around the implants from plaque. Good cleaning and not smoking matter whichever you choose.
Who Suits Each Option?
Full-arch implants may suit you if: - You want teeth that are fixed and feel as close to natural as possible - You have enough bone, or can have treatment to make implants possible - Your general health allows minor oral surgery - You can commit to careful daily cleaning and regular reviews
Implant-retained dentures may suit you if: - A loose lower denture is your main problem - You'd like more stability without the fee of a fixed bridge - You have less bone, or find cleaning under a fixed bridge difficult - You'd like to keep the option of taking your teeth out
A conventional denture may suit you if: - You'd prefer to avoid surgery, or it isn't advisable for health reasons - You need a quick or interim solution, such as an immediate denture after extractions - Cost is the deciding factor - You're already comfortable with a well-fitting denture
Implants are less predictable if you smoke heavily, have diabetes that isn't well controlled, have had radiotherapy to the jaws, or take certain bone medications. These don't always rule implants out, but they increase the risks and need careful discussion.
How Do You Decide?
Start with a free implant consultation. We'll talk through what bothers you most about your teeth now, examine your mouth, and explain which options are realistic. If implants look possible, a CT scan shows what your bone allows.
We'll give you a fair view of all three options, including dentures, and you're welcome to take time to think it over. Many people find it helps to bring someone with them.
Many of our patients come from across north Edinburgh, from Stockbridge and the New Town to Blackhall and Ravelston. Wherever you're coming from, the aim is the same: an honest recommendation and a clear written plan before anything is decided.
Questions
This guide is general information, not a diagnosis. A dentist needs to examine you to say what is right for your teeth.