All-on-4 vs DenturesWhich Is Better for You?
- All-on-4 dental implants and conventional dentures both replace missing teeth - but they are fundamentally different in performance, comfort, longevity, and impact on oral health.
All-on-4 is a fixed, durable, long-term solution that preserves jawbone.
How Do All-on-4 and Dentures Compare Head-to-Head?
All-on-4 is fixed, stimulates the jawbone, and restores 85 to 95% of natural chewing efficiency, while conventional dentures are removable, accelerate bone loss, and restore only 10 to 20%, needing replacement every 5 to 10 years.
| Feature | All-on-4 Implants | Conventional Dentures |
|---|---|---|
| Attachment | Fixed (screwed to implants) | Removable (sits on gums) |
| Chewing efficiency | 85-95% of natural teeth | 10-20% of natural teeth |
| Jawbone preservation | ✅ Yes (stimulates bone) | ❌ No (accelerates bone loss) |
| Adjacent tooth damage | None | N/A (no remaining teeth) |
| Stability | Excellent (cannot move) | Poor (slips, rocks, lifts) |
| Adhesive needed | No | Often yes |
| Speech impact | None | Lisp, whistling, slurring |
| Taste impact | None | Palate coverage reduces taste |
| Lifespan | 20+ years (implant); 15-25 years (prosthesis) | 5-10 years |
| Maintenance | Annual check-up + daily brushing | Daily removal, soaking, relines every 2 years |
| Confidence | High | Low (fear of slipping) |
| Cost (AU) | $25,000-$35,000 per arch | $2,500-$4,000 per arch |
| Cost (Stunning Dentistry) | $3,050 per arch | Not offered (implants preferred) |
Questions about this procedure?
Are Dentures Actually Cheaper Over Time?
Dentures look cheaper upfront, but repeated relines and replacements mean they can cost more than All-on-4 at Stunning Dentistry over a 20-year span, while delivering far weaker function throughout. Dentures appear cheaper upfront - but the long-term cost tells a different story:
Over 20 years, dentures can cost more than All-on-4 implants at Stunning Dentistry - while delivering dramatically inferior function.
| Year 1 | Year 5 | Year 10 | Year 20 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dentures | $4,000 | $6,000 (relines) | $12,000 (replacement + relines) | $24,000+ (multiple replacements) |
| All-on-4 (at SD) | $6,100 (both arches) | $6,100 (no additional cost) | $6,100 (no additional cost) | $12,000-$16,000 (possible prosthesis refresh) |
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Why Do Dentures Cause Long-Term Bone Loss?
Dentures accelerate jawbone resorption because, unlike implants, they do not transmit chewing forces into the bone the way natural tooth roots do. Without that stimulation, the jaw shrinks progressively over years of wear. After 10 to 20 years of denture wear:
- The lower jaw can lose a substantial share of its height, among the most well-documented risks of long-term denture wear
- Dentures become increasingly ill-fitting
- Facial appearance changes dramatically ("sunken face")
- Eventually, there may not be enough bone to support any prosthesis
Dental implants prevent this. They stimulate the bone just like natural tooth roots, maintaining jaw volume and facial structure.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which restores chewing function better, All-on-4 or dentures?
All-on-4 restores 85 to 95% of natural chewing efficiency because it is fixed and screwed to implants, while conventional dentures restore only 10 to 20% and can slip or rock.
Do dentures really cost less in the long run?
Not usually. Repeated relines and replacements every 5 to 10 years mean dentures can cost more than All-on-4 at Stunning Dentistry over a 20-year period, while performing worse throughout.
Why do dentures cause jawbone loss and implants don't?
Dentures sit on the gums without stimulating the bone underneath, so the jaw resorbs progressively over years of wear. Implants transmit chewing forces into the bone like natural tooth roots, which helps preserve jaw volume.
How long do All-on-4 implants last compared to dentures?
All-on-4 implants are documented to last 20+ years with a 15 to 25 year prosthesis lifespan, versus 5 to 10 years for a full set of conventional dentures. --- All-on-4 Dental Implants → | Cost Comparison →
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This tool will help you understand potential structural and aesthetic changes before finalizing treatment decisions.
