If you have lost most or all of your teeth in one jaw, or you are living with a denture that moves when you eat, you have probably been told about implants. You may also have heard that they are expensive, involve surgery and are not for everyone. All of that can be true. This guide compares the options fairly, so you can go into a consultation knowing what to ask.
The NHS describes implants as “a fixed alternative to removable dentures”, and notes that dentures are removable and made from impressions of your gums (NHS). In practice there is a middle option as well, and for many people it is the right one.
The three options
- Conventional complete denture. A plate of artificial teeth that rests on the gums, held by suction and the fit against your gums, sometimes with denture adhesive. No surgery is involved.
- Implant-retained overdenture. A removable denture that clips onto implants in the jaw, often two in the lower jaw. You still take it out to clean it, but it is held firmly while you eat and speak.
- Fixed full arch (All-on-4 / All-on-6). A full bridge of teeth screwed onto four or six implants. It is not removed at home; you clean it in place, and only your dentist removes it for maintenance.
Side by side
| Conventional denture | Implant overdenture | Fixed full arch (All-on-4 / All-on-6) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comfort | Can rub and move, especially in the lower jaw; the upper denture covers the roof of the mouth | Much steadier: it clicks onto the implants | Closest to natural teeth; nothing to take out |
| Chewing | Weakest; many people avoid hard or sticky foods | Clearly better than a conventional denture | Closest to natural teeth |
| Jawbone | Does not stop the bone shrinking where teeth were lost | The implants help preserve bone around them | The implants help preserve bone around them |
| Cleaning | Taken out and cleaned daily | Taken out and cleaned daily, plus cleaning around the implant attachments | Cleaned in place, including underneath the bridge, with professional cleaning at check-ups |
| Lifespan | Often relined or replaced every 5–10 years as the gums and bone change | The implants are long-lasting; the denture and its clips wear and are replaced over time | The implants are long-lasting; the bridge may need repairs over the years |
| Surgery | None | Minor: usually two implants in the lower jaw; more in the upper jaw | Four or six implants, sometimes with teeth removed on the same day |
| Number of visits | Several short appointments over a few weeks | Implants placed, then the denture connected after healing | Two visits at Sterling: about 7–14 days, then about two weeks, 3–6 months later |
| Cost at Sterling | Quoted after examination | Quoted after a CBCT scan | ₹3,50,000–6,00,000 per arch |
On longevity, the evidence for the implants themselves is strong: a 2019 systematic review estimated that about 96% of implants survive 10 years (Howe et al., 2019). What wears out first is usually what sits on top: the denture, its clips, or the teeth of a bridge.
| Treatment at Sterling | Indicative price (INR) |
|---|---|
| Full-arch implants (All-on-4 / All-on-6) | ₹3,50,000–6,00,000 |
| Bone graft (when needed) | ₹10,000–20,000 |
| CBCT 3D scan (full) | ₹10,000 |
Why dentures loosen over time
When a tooth is lost, the bone that held it starts to shrink. Most of the change happens in the first few months, but a systematic review notes that resorption carries on more slowly for life (Cureus, 2025). A denture sits on that ridge of bone and gum, so as the ridge shrinks the denture fits less well. Relining refits it to the new shape; eventually a new denture is needed.
Implants sit inside the bone and pass chewing forces into it, which helps preserve the bone around them. That is one reason implant-supported teeth tend to stay stable over the years in a way a denture cannot.
Implant overdenture or fixed full arch?
Both use implants, and both are a big step up from a loose denture. The difference is whether the teeth come out.
Implant-retained overdenture
- Fewer implants. In the lower jaw, two implants are often enough. A 2011 review of the McGill consensus statement describes the two-implant overdenture as the first choice of treatment for a lower jaw with no teeth, with clear improvements in chewing, speech and denture stability compared with a conventional denture (Melescanu Imre et al., 2011).
- The upper jaw usually needs more implants, because the bone there is softer.
- Removable, which some people prefer for cleaning, especially if dexterity is limited.
- The clips wear and need replacing from time to time, and the denture itself is renewed over the years.
Fixed full arch (All-on-4 / All-on-6)
- Fixed in place. It does not come out at home, and nothing covers the roof of the mouth.
- More implants and more surgery, usually four or six per arch.
- Needs enough bone, although All-on-4 often angles the back implants into existing bone to avoid grafting (All-on-4 vs All-on-6). When the upper jaw has very little bone, zygomatic implants anchored in the cheekbone are another option.
- Cleaning takes care: interdental brushes or a water flosser under the bridge, and regular professional cleaning.
A 2026 review of 55 studies reported about 98% implant survival for All-on-4 at five years or more, with mechanical problems such as a loose screw or a chipped tooth in about 6% of cases (2026 review).
Who suits which
| If this sounds like you | Often the better fit |
|---|---|
| You are not ready for, or medically not suited to, surgery | A well-made conventional denture |
| Your lower denture moves when you eat, and you would like it held firmly without major surgery | A lower overdenture on two implants |
| You want teeth that never come out, and your bone and health allow implants | A fixed full arch |
| You find it hard to clean around fixed teeth, for example because of arthritis | An overdenture you can take out to clean |
| You have very little bone in the upper jaw | Grafting, zygomatic implants or an overdenture, depending on your scan |
| You smoke heavily or have poorly controlled diabetes | Discuss honestly first: both raise the risk of implant failure (who should plan more carefully) |
The deciding factors are your bone, your health, how you feel about taking teeth out, and your budget. A CBCT scan shows how much bone there is and where.
The honest part: the temporary stage
Many full-arch patients leave the first visit with a fixed temporary bridge, made in Sterling's in-house lab and fitted within days of surgery. That depends on the implants being held firmly enough in the bone on the day. When the bone does not allow a fixed bridge straight away, you wear a removable denture while the implants heal instead. We would rather tell you that now than have it come as a surprise.
| Visit 1 (about 7–14 days) | Visit 2 (about two weeks, 3–6 months later) | |
|---|---|---|
| Good bone | Implants and a fixed temporary bridge | The final fixed bridge |
| Less bone on the day | Implants, and a removable denture while they heal | The final fixed bridge |
Either way, the final result is the same fixed bridge. Bone grafts can be done at the same time as the implants, or the implants placed at a later stage once a graft has healed (bone grafts and sinus lifts). The timings are explained in one trip or two.
Already wearing dentures?
Many people come to implants after years of dentures. The longer teeth have been missing, the more the bone may have shrunk, which is why a CBCT scan comes first. It shows whether implants can go in as they are, whether a graft is needed, or whether a different approach suits you better. You keep wearing your current denture until treatment starts.
Finding a dentures specialist
The dental specialty for replacing teeth, with dentures, crowns, bridges or teeth on implants, is prosthodontics. At Sterling, prosthodontist Dr. Maithilie Aggarwal works on crowns, bridges and dentures and full-mouth rehabilitation, and implant surgery is led by Dr. Tarun Kumar Giroti, who has placed 12,000+ implants as lead surgeon, in more than 31 years of practice. Your consultation in Vasant Vihar, New Delhi, covers which option suits you, including whether an overdenture or a fixed arch is the better fit.
Comparing costs? See the cost guide and full-mouth implants.
Frequently asked questions
Are dental implants better than dentures?+
For chewing, comfort and keeping the jawbone, implant-supported teeth usually do better than a conventional denture. But they need surgery, enough bone and a higher budget, and a well-made denture is still a good option for some people.
Can dental implants hold my dentures in place?+
Yes. An implant-retained overdenture clips onto implants, often two in the lower jaw. Sometimes an existing denture can be adapted; often a new one is made. Your dentist checks first.
How many implants do I need for a denture?+
For a lower overdenture, often two. The upper jaw usually needs more. A fixed full arch uses four (All-on-4) or six (All-on-6).
Will I have to wear a denture while my implants heal?+
Not always. Many full-arch patients get a fixed temporary bridge within days. If the bone does not allow a fixed bridge on the day, you wear a removable denture while the implants heal, then have the final fixed bridge on the second visit.
How long do dentures last compared with implants?+
Dentures are often relined or replaced every 5–10 years as the gums and bone change. Implants themselves are long-lasting: about 96% survive 10 years in a 2019 review. The teeth or denture on top may need repair or replacement over time.
What is a dentures specialist called?+
A prosthodontist: a dentist with specialist training in replacing missing teeth with dentures, crowns, bridges and teeth on implants.
How much do implant dentures cost at Sterling?+
A fixed full arch (All-on-4 / All-on-6) is ₹3,50,000–6,00,000 per arch. An implant overdenture and a conventional denture are quoted after an examination and, for implants, a CBCT scan.
Sources
- NHS: Dental treatments (implants) (accessed 28 September 2026)
- Melescanu Imre et al. (2011), Two-implant overdenture: the first alternative treatment for patients with complete edentulous mandible, Journal of Medicine and Life (on the 2002 McGill Consensus) (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Alveolar ridge preservation: systematic review (accessed 28 September 2026)
- Howe, Keys & Richards (2019), long-term (10-year) dental implant survival: systematic review and meta-analysis, J Dent 84:9–21 (accessed 28 September 2026)
- All-on-4 vs All-on-6: systematic review and meta-analysis of 55 studies (2026) (accessed 28 September 2026)
This guide is general information, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. Whether implants suit you, and what they will cost, depends on a clinical examination and 3D scan. Prices are indicative and are confirmed in writing before any treatment.