South Kensington
- 20 Old Brompton Road, London SW7 3DL
- Open seven days a week
- 020 7183 2362
Treatment comparison · Wimpole Street, Marylebone
Full mouth implants or dentures: fixed teeth or a removable set after losing them all
Once a whole jaw of teeth has gone, or is about to, the options come down to teeth anchored on implants or a full denture that rests on the gums. A complete denture has been the standard answer for generations and remains a perfectly reasonable one. Implant-supported teeth are newer, more involved and considerably more expensive, but they behave far more like the teeth you had. This page sets out how the two compare on stability, surgery, bone, maintenance and cost so that you can weigh them with your dentist.
Decision guide
Which is right for you?
Choose Full mouth implants if…
- You have worn dentures and are tired of movement, sore spots or adhesive.
- A scan shows workable bone, or you are willing to have grafting.
- You want to bite into firm foods with confidence.
- You are prepared for a treatment period of three to twelve months.
Choose Complete dentures if…
- You would rather not undergo surgery, or your health makes it inadvisable.
- You need replacement teeth within a few weeks.
- Cost is the deciding factor, at least for now.
- You are open to upgrading to implant support at a later stage.
At a glance
Side by side
| Feature | Full mouth implants | Complete dentures |
|---|---|---|
| How it stays in | Fixed to implants integrated with the jawbone | Rests on the gums; suction, shape and sometimes adhesive hold it |
| Movement | None; the teeth do not shift | Can lift, rock or click, particularly the lower one |
| Chewing | Close to natural teeth | Reduced; tougher foods take practice |
| Materials | Titanium fixtures with acrylic, composite or zirconia teeth | Acrylic, or acrylic teeth on a cobalt-chrome base |
| Timeline | Around 3 to 12 months including healing | Around 2 to 6 weeks from impressions to fitting |
| Bone | Fixtures load the bone and help preserve it | Ridge shrinks gradually, altering the fit and facial profile |
| Fee at Wimpole Street | From £2,950 per implant; full-arch work quoted after assessment | Full acrylic denture from £1,095; cobalt-chrome from £1,395 |
| Lifespan | Fixtures 20 to 25 years or more; teeth on them 10 to 20 years | Around 5 to 10 years before relining or remaking |
| Daily care | Brushing, interdental cleaning and hygienist visits | Remove, brush and soak; leave out overnight |
| Best suited to | Patients with adequate bone and good health who want fixed teeth | Most patients, including those unsuited to surgery |
In the chair
What the treatment involves
Full mouth implants
A 3D scan and a mock-up of the intended teeth come first. Failing teeth are extracted and, if the ridge is thin, grafting may be needed before or during implant placement. Fixtures are placed under local anaesthetic, with sedation available, and a temporary set of teeth is worn while the bone bonds to the titanium over several months. Depending on the design, the final teeth may be individual crowns on many implants or a single bridge on four to six. Once integration is confirmed, the definitive teeth are made, tried in, adjusted and secured.
Complete dentures
The dentist takes impressions of the gums and records how your jaws meet, then a laboratory sets acrylic teeth in wax for a try-in where shade, shape and lip support can be checked in the mirror. Once approved, the denture is processed in acrylic, or on a cast cobalt-chrome base for a slimmer, stronger upper plate. Fitting usually falls two to six weeks after the first visit, followed by one or two short adjustments to relieve pressure points. Learning to eat and speak with a new full denture takes a few weeks for most people.
Fees
Cost and longevity at Wimpole Street
A full acrylic denture at Wimpole Street will start from £1,095 and a cobalt-chrome denture from £1,395. Implants are priced from £2,950 each including the crown; the cost of a fixed full arch depends on how many fixtures are placed and whether grafting is required, so it is quoted after a consultation and scan.
The initial difference is large, but dentures are not a one-off purchase. As the ridge changes shape they need relining and are usually remade every five to ten years, and the cost of adhesives, cleaning tablets and adjustments adds up. Implant fixtures commonly last 20 to 25 years or more, with the teeth on top renewed every 10 to 20 years. Over a long retirement the gap narrows, though implants remain the bigger commitment.
All prices are indicative and are confirmed in a written treatment plan at your consultation. Fees are the same at every Medical & Dental clinic.
Weighing it up
Strengths and trade-offs
Full mouth implants
Strengths
- Teeth stay fixed; no adhesive or removal
- Chewing and speech close to natural
- Helps maintain jawbone and facial support
- Fixtures designed to last decades
- No plate covering the palate, so taste and temperature are unaffected
Trade-offs
- Substantially higher initial cost
- Surgery under local anaesthetic or sedation
- Three to twelve months of treatment
- Bone grafting may be required
- Not suitable for some medical conditions or heavy smokers
Complete dentures
Strengths
- Lower initial outlay
- No surgery or healing period
- Suitable regardless of bone volume
- Ready within two to six weeks
- Easily adjusted, relined or replaced
Trade-offs
- Removed for cleaning and overnight
- Can move, slip or click, especially the lower denture
- Does nothing to slow bone loss
- Often needs adhesive for a secure hold
- Remade every five to ten years as the jaw changes
- Reduced chewing force compared with fixed teeth
FAQ
Common questions
Without tooth roots or implants to load it, the jawbone slowly resorbs and the ridge flattens. A denture made to fit the original shape then rocks and traps food. Relining restores contact for a while, but eventually a new denture is needed.
Anywhere from four to ten or more, depending on the design. A single connected bridge can sit on four to six well-placed fixtures, whereas individual crowns require more. Your bone volume and the type of teeth you prefer decide the number.
Yes. Two to four implants can carry attachments that a denture clips onto, so it stays firmly in place yet still comes out for cleaning. It costs less than a fixed arch and is often a good fit for lower dentures that will not stay put.
No. Either your existing denture is adapted to wear over the healing implants, or a provisional set is made. Some full-arch protocols allow a fixed temporary bridge soon after surgery, something our sister clinics carry out routinely.
Age on its own does not. Suitability rests on general health, bone volume, gum condition and habits such as smoking. Patients in their seventies and eighties have implants placed regularly, provided the assessment supports it.
Yes. Denture consultations and implant scans are available now at South Kensington and St Paul’s, with the same clinicians and identical fees. Anything begun there can continue at Wimpole Street once the Marylebone diary opens.
Marylebone, W1
Wimpole Street opens 1 October 2026
Register your interest and we will contact you when the Marylebone diary opens. If you would rather not wait, the same clinicians can see you at South Kensington or St Paul's now.
Related treatments at Wimpole Street
Opening 1 October 2026
Wimpole Street is not yet seeing patients. Until then, please book or call our South Kensington clinic on 020 7183 2362 or our St Paul's clinic on 020 7183 3709. Questions about the new clinic: wimpolestreet@md.co.uk.
Until we open
Need an appointment before 1 October 2026?
The same clinical team already works from two other Medical & Dental clinics. Book at either one now and, if you prefer, move your ongoing care to Wimpole Street once the doors open.
St Paul's, City of London
- 5 Ave Maria Lane, London EC4M 7AQ
- Open Monday to Friday
- 020 7183 3709
