Implant dentures (snap-on)
A lower denture that floats, rubs or drops when you talk is one of the most common reasons people come to see us. Two to four implants with small snap attachments can hold it firmly, for less than fixed teeth cost.
- Visits
- 5 to 7 visits
- Time to final teeth
- About 3 to 5 months
- Comfort
- Numbing, with sedation available
- Example price
- $8,500 to $16,500 per arch
- 1. Denture with snap housings inside
- 2. Attachment on top of each implant
- 3. Implant in the jawbone
- 4. Gum tissue
Illustration of a snap-on lower denture over two implants, cross-section. Not a patient.
Who it's for
This may be worth asking about if
- Your lower denture moves when you chew or talk
- You use adhesive every day and still worry it will slip
- Sore spots keep coming back
- You've stopped eating foods you love
- You want something firmer, and fixed teeth are not in the budget right now
In plain words
What implant dentures are
We place two to four implants in the jaw. A lower denture is often held well by two. An upper denture usually needs four, which also lets us trim back the part that covers the roof of your mouth.
Small attachments on the implants match snaps set into the denture. You press it into place and it clicks. At night you lift it out, clean it, and clean around the implants.
If your current denture fits well, we can often convert it. If it doesn't, our lab makes a new one, and you'll try it in before it is finished.
How it works
5 to 7 visits, step by step
Typical timing. Bone, healing and grafting can change it, and your plan gives your own dates.
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Phase 1 Day 1
Consult and 3D CT scan
We check the bone, your current denture, and how it fits.
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Phase 2 1 to 2 weeks later
Plan and denture check
We decide together: convert your denture, or start a new one in our lab.
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Phase 3 Surgery day
Implants placed
About 1 to 2 hours. We soften the inside of your denture so you can wear it home.
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Phase 4 3 to 4 months
Healing
The bone bonds to the implants. Your denture is adjusted as the gums settle.
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Phase 5 Final visit
The snaps go in
Attachments are set in the denture and you practice putting it in and out.
Is it right for you?
A CT scan and an exam decide
We can't tell from a website whether this treatment fits you, and nobody should. At your consult a specialist looks at your 3D scan, your gums and your health history, then tells you what is and isn't possible.
The consult is $95, includes the scan, and is credited to treatment if you go ahead. A 20-minute video chat first is free.
What we look at
- Enough bone for two to four implants, measured on your CT scan
- People who have worn dentures for many years may have less bone, which the scan shows
- Being able to clean the denture and implants each day, or having help to
- Smoking and uncontrolled diabetes raise the risk of failure
- A medicine review, especially for bone-density drugs
Example prices
What implant dentures typically cost
Examples in USD, not quotes. Your written price comes after the CT scan and exam.
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2 implants with snaps, using your current denture
Lower arch, when your denture fits well
$6,500 to $9,000 per arch
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2 implants and a new denture
Lower arch, denture made in our lab
$8,500 to $12,000 per arch
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4 implants and a new denture
Upper or lower, a firmer hold
$12,000 to $16,500 per arch
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Insert replacement visit
New nylon snaps when they loosen
$120 to $260 per visit
Included in the example price
- Your consult and 3D CT scan fee, credited to treatment
- Implants and attachments
- Denture conversion or a new lab-made denture with a try-in
- Adjustments for the first 12 months
What can change the price
- Two implants or four
- Converting your denture or making a new one
- Bone grafting, if the scan shows too little bone
- Sedation
Your options
Two implants, four implants, or fixed teeth?
There is no single right answer. This is how they usually compare; your scan may change it.
| Feature | 2-implant snap-onThis page | 4-implant snap-on | Fixed full arch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comes out at home | Yes | Yes | No |
| Hold when chewing | Firm, may rock a little | Very firm | Fixed |
| Best for | Lower dentures | Upper or lower | Upper or lower |
| Example price | $6,500 to $12,000 per arch | $12,000 to $16,500 per arch | $21,000 to $31,000 per arch |
Risks, said plainly
What can go wrong
None of these are common. All of them are possible, and you should hear about them before you decide, not after.
How long it lasts
Implants often last for decades with care. The small nylon inserts wear and are swapped every 6 to 12 months in a quick visit. Dentures need relines and, in time, remaking.
- Infection
- Usually treated with cleaning and antibiotics.
- Implant failure
- Uncommon. A failed implant is removed and replaced after healing; your denture can be worn in the meantime.
- Wear and tear
- Snap inserts loosen and need replacing, and the denture base can crack if dropped. Both are routine fixes.
- Sore spots
- As the gums change, the denture may rub. Adjustments in the first year are included.
- Bone loss around implants
- Daily cleaning around the attachments and regular checkups protect the bone.
Questions people ask
All questions and the glossaryCan you use my current denture?
Often, yes, if it fits well and isn't worn out. We check it at your consult. If it's loose or cracked, a new one usually works better and lasts longer.
Do I still take it out at night?
Yes. You lift it off the snaps to clean it and to clean around the implants. Most people find it quick once they've done it a few times.
Is it the same as All-on-4?
No. All-on-4 teeth are fixed and only come out at the clinic. Snap-on dentures come out at home. They cost less and need fewer implants, and many people are very happy with them.
Often considered alongside
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All-on-4 and full-arch implants
Most teeth failing, or tired of a denture
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Single-tooth implants
One tooth missing or failing
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Bone grafting and sinus lifts
Told there isn't enough bone
Resources
Things you can do next
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Book a CT scan consult
75 to 90 minutes, $95, credited to treatment if you go ahead.
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See costs and financing
Insurance, paying by phase, and a tool to split a total by month.
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Meet the doctors
Who designs your teeth, who places the implants, and who runs the lab.
Not sure you're a candidate? The scan will tell us.
A CT scan consult takes 75 to 90 minutes. You'll see your own scan, hear every option with example prices, and go home with a plan. No pressure to decide that day.