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Which Type of Denture Is Right For You?

Conventional full dentures restore an arch from $1,200 while implant-supported overdentures range to $15,000, and choosing the right tier matters more than choosing the cheapest. Answer five questions about your remaining teeth, stability needs, budget, timeline, and prior denture experience to match to the option that fits your situation best.

Last updated: May 2026

A denture type match recommends the right removable or implant-supported prosthesis for your situation, based on how many natural teeth remain, how stable the denture needs to feel during chewing and speaking, your budget, your timeline, and whether you are wearing a denture today. Conventional denture lifespan typically target 5-8 years.

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What is Denture Type Match?

A denture type match recommends the right removable or implant-supported prosthesis for your situation, based on how many natural teeth remain, how stable the denture needs to feel during chewing and speaking, your budget, your timeline, and whether you are wearing a denture today. It does not decide whether dentures are needed at all; that decision sits with the dentist.

The Formula

Best Match = (Remaining Teeth) + (Stability Need) + (Budget) + (Timeline) + (Prior Denture Experience)

Stability need is the deciding signal for patients who have worn a conventional lower denture and struggled with chewing or adhesives; that experience usually moves the recommendation toward implant-supported overdentures.

Worked Example

A 68-year-old with no teeth in the lower arch, currently wearing a loose conventional lower denture, finds it hard to eat, has $8,000 to invest, no rush on timeline.

Remaining teeth: none in the affected arch
Stability need: critical, eating is difficult
Budget: $8,000 supports implant-supported overdenture territory
Timeline: patient, willing to wait for the right result
Prior denture: yes, unhappy with current fit

📌 Strongest match is an implant-supported overdenture on 2 to 4 implants. A fixed full-arch bridge is a runner-up but exceeds the stated budget; a refit of the existing conventional denture would not address the stability complaint.

Why This Matters

Stability changes daily life

A loose denture limits what a patient can eat and how they speak. The step from conventional to implant-supported is large in lived experience, not just in cost.

Bone preservation matters long-term

Conventional dentures sit on the gums and accelerate bone loss in the jaw over time. Implant-supported options preserve the underlying bone by transmitting chewing forces through the implants.

Common Mistakes

❌ Choosing the cheapest option without considering stability

A patient who needs reliable chewing and speech often ends up replacing a budget conventional denture within 1 to 2 years. The total cost of the cheaper path is sometimes higher than starting with an implant-supported option.

❌ Skipping the transition from immediate to definitive denture

Immediate dentures are designed to be relined or replaced after healing. Patients who wear an immediate denture for years end up with a poor fit because the ridge has remodeled.

Industry Benchmarks

Category	Good	Average	Poor
Conventional denture lifespan	5-8 years	3-6 years	Under 3 years with rapid bone loss
Implant overdenture cost (US, per arch)	$5,000-8,000	$8,000-12,000	$12,000+
Chewing force vs natural teeth	Implant overdenture ~75%	Conventional ~20-25%	Loose conventional 5-10%

Source: American College of Prosthodontists Patient Education Data and ADA Health Policy Institute Edentulism Trends

Benchmark data sourced from American College of Prosthodontists Patient Education Data and ADA Health Policy Institute Edentulism Trends.

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One of the most common mistakes we see when working with clients: choosing the cheapest option without considering stability. A patient who needs reliable chewing and speech often ends up replacing a budget conventional denture within 1 to 2 years. The total cost of the cheaper path is sometimes higher than starting with an implant-supported option.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a full and partial denture?

A full denture replaces every tooth in an arch and rests on the gums (and palate, in the upper arch). A partial denture replaces some missing teeth in an arch and clips onto remaining natural teeth via metal clasps or precision attachments. The choice is dictated by how many natural teeth remain and whether they are healthy enough to anchor a partial.

Are implant-supported dentures worth the extra cost?

For full-arch wearers who struggle with stability, chewing power, or lower-denture suction, implant-supported overdentures are often considered worth the investment: chewing force can multiply 4 to 5 times versus a conventional lower denture, adhesive becomes unnecessary, and bone loss in the jaw is slowed. The cost step from conventional to implant-supported is meaningful but the daily-life difference is large.

How long do dentures usually last?

Conventional dentures last 5 to 8 years on average before the fit changes due to bone resorption in the underlying ridge. Relines (refitting the inside surface) extend the working life by 1 to 2 years at a time. Implant-supported overdentures last 10 to 15 years with periodic component changes (snap caps, locator attachments). The implants themselves typically outlast the denture above them.

Can I get teeth the same day I have my extractions done?

Yes, with an immediate denture. It is fabricated before the extraction and delivered the same day, so you are never without teeth. Immediate dentures are functional but considered transitional: bone and gum tissue remodel for 3 to 6 months after extractions, after which a permanent denture is made or the immediate is relined to fit the settled tissue.

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