How Much Do Implant Retained Dentures Cost?
Unlike traditional removable dentures, implant-retained dentures are designed to stay in place and support comfortable, confident smiles, speech, and eating. Relying on carefully placed dental implants for stability, implant-retained dentures confer multiple benefits over removable dentures. While implant-retained dentures may cost more than removable ones, many people find that the comfort, convenience, and stability that accompany this additional cost are worth it.
What Benefits Do Implant Retained Dentures Have?
Implant-retained dentures excel in:
- Stability
- Fit
- Appearance
- Supporting healthy bones
Because conventional dentures are designed to slide into and out of the mouth, relying primarily on the natural curvature of the oral cavity for support, they commonly slip out of place and interfere with chewing, smiling, swallowing, and speaking. Implant-retained dentures snap into place, attached to fixtures on dental implant posts, which means they won’t slip or loosen while performing normal activities. This allows people to chew and enjoy a wider variety of nutritious foods than they would with traditional dentures. Implant-retained dentures generally fit better than conventional dentures, which helps reduce friction and painful hot spots. Their stability and fit also provide implant-retained dentures with a more lifelike appearance than removable dentures. Finally, because the dental implants stimulate and exercise healthy bone, implant-retained dentures and other implant restorations confer the added benefit of preventing the progressive bone loss that happens when the natural teeth are lost. When implants, or tooth roots, aren’t present, the bone is reabsorbed and the face slowly changes shape, appearing sunken and resulting in consistently ill-fitting dentures that require frequent adjustment or replacement. Implants are not only beneficial for oral health, but they also mean there’s less maintenance needed to ensure a comfortable fit.
How Much Do Implant Retained Dentures Cost?
Implant-retained dentures tend to cost more than conventional dentures, and they may or may not be covered by private dental insurance and are usually not covered by Medicare. While each implant retained denture is different, they usually range from around $5,000 to as much as $10,000. This price varies primarily based on the number of dental implants needed to adequately support the denture, the materials used for the denture itself, and whether any auxiliary procedures, like bone grafts, are needed. While implant-retained dentures may cost more than conventional dentures, they also offer considerably more benefits, and many people believe they’re worth some added cost. Implant-retained dentures also require surgery and sufficient healing times throughout the procedure, which increases the amount of time required for treatment. Again, in light of the painful drawbacks of removable dentures and the comfort and stability offered by implant-retained dentures, this added treatment time is worth it for most wearers. If you’re considering implant-retained dentures and cost is an issue for you, talk to your dentist about third-party financing options or payment plans they may offer. If time is an issue, talk to your dentist about the many benefits implant-retained dentures can bring, especially compared with conventional dentures. You, too, may find that a lifetime of denture security is worth the investment.