Specialist dentist, oral surgeon and implantologist Dr Yogesh Wadher, has restored hundreds, if not thousands, of missing teeth with various types of false teeth options for deaces.
The good news is, regardless of how you lost your teeth or their current state, modern dentistry has several false teeth solutions designed to suit your speech, function, lifestyle and budget.
As every patient’s situation and missing teeth case is unique, our specialists have put together an unbiased guide to help you explore the main available options to you (whether traditional or modern) in the UK, so you can find the solution that’s right for you moving forward. Explore all of your options below…
Quick overview of your options
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Dental implants - the stable, long-term option
- How it works: A titanium post is inserted into the jawbone, serving as an artificial tooth root that supports a crown, bridge, or denture.
Best for:
- Adults of all ages with a good standard of oral health
- Patients wanting a fixed, low-maintenance option
- Patients who have one or more missing teeth (full mouth also suitable)
Things to consider:
- Requires a healthy amount of bone and gums (prior grafting can be arranged)
- Only available privately in the UK (NHS only covers rare exceptions)
- Reported success rate of 95% after 10 years
- Costs from £2,800 per implant, including abutment and crown
Diving into the details:
Dental implants will produce the most-natural-looking result and will be, by far, the longest-lasting and most stable replacement option.
With dental implants, even when used for full-mouth rehabilitation, whether with implant dentures or All-on-4, you can offer the most modern and advanced solution that provides the least degree of movement (plus some options are palateless as well).
As it’s a more advanced solution, the process takes longer (up to 3 months), as we have to wait for the implants to integrate with your jawbone. This is the only option that involves surgery (although minor and completed chairside). Explore in more detail.
Implant bridges
- How it works: Two or more dental implants are placed into the jawbone to support a fixed bridge that can replace multiple missing teeth in a row.
Best for:
- Patients who are missing more than one tooth in one area
- Patients who have healthy bone and want a fixed, non-removable solution
- Patients seeking alternatives to traditional dentures and bridges
Things to consider:
- Does not require support from adjacent teeth like traditional bridges
- More cost-effective than placing single implants per tooth
- Will still require a good amount of bone in the area where the implants will be placed
- Fully private treatment that costs from £3,650
Diving into the details:
Implant bridges combine the practicality of traditional bridges with the permanence of dental implant technology. They help patients with multiple missing teeth in a row save money, as two implants can be used to support up to three or four teeth. They’re longer-lasting and healthier for your smile than traditional alternatives. Explore in detail.
Implant dentures
- How it works: Around 2-4 implants are used per jaw to secure a removable denture (also referred to as Snap-on or Clip-on Dentures, which click into implants for extra security.
Best for:
- Patients near-on or full tooth loss
- Patients who hate traditional dentures
- Patients wanting a more confident and stable bite and function
Things to consider:
- Implant dentures are removable for cleaning
- They’re more secure than regular dentures
- More affordable than a full mouth of individual implants
- Cheapest full arch replacement system
- Available only privately
- Costs from £7,100
Diving into the details:
Implant-retained dentures can significantly improve your quality of life, bite, function, speech, eating and comfort. They’re a great middle-ground option for patients who want improved function without breaking the bank. You’ll have no problems like dentures slipping out of place or worrying about adhesive. They are removable so that slight movement can be expected, but not to the same extent as regular dentures. Explore in denture implants in more detail.
All-on-4
- How it works: Four dental implants are placed strategically in the jaw to support a full arch of fixed replacement teeth. The implants are placed at a special angle to maximise existing bone, avoiding the need for additional bone grafting.
Best for:
- Patients with near-complete tooth loss (full mouth cases)
- Patients who want a fixed full arch solution
- Patients with moderate bone loss who want to avoid complex surgery
Things to consider:
- Completed in one day (immediately loaded Teeth in a Day)
- Fully private procedure not available through the NHS
- Costs from £23,000
Diving into the details:
All-on-4 is the revolutionary, graftless way to restore a full smile using fewer implants in less time. The best full-mouth fixed denture solution, All-on-4, is a non-removable prosthetic that offers real-looking and feeling teeth, providing the least degree of movement. Explore in detail.
Dentures (including two types)
Chrome dentures
- How it works: Cobalt chrome dentures use a metal framework that supports false teeth using clasps on natural teeth for support.
Best for:
- Patients with sporadic missing teeth across the mouth
- Patients seeking a lightweight and durable solution to regular dentures
- Patients who wear dentures daily and want better comfort
Things to consider:
- Metal clasps are sometimes visible depending on placement
- Not easy to repair or adjust
- Not always suitable for patients with few or no remaining teeth
- Not available on the NHS, costs from £1,500
Acrylic Dentures
- How it works: Custom-moulded acrylic plates that sit on top of gums, suitable for partial or complete mouth replacement. Partial dentures rely on clasps, while full mouth dentures rely on suction and adhesives for stability.
Best for:
- Patients who want a fast, low-cost solution
- Patients seeking NHS treatment
- Patients seeking better custom acrylic dentures (private)
Things to consider:
- Often the bulkiest of all denture types
- Requires frequent adjustments as gums change shape and bone deteriorates
- Can cause facial sagging and discomfort
- Relies on suction or adhesives in full mouth cases
- Costs from £650
