943 Finchley Rd, London NW11 7PE
All-on-4 or Dentures? An Honest Comparison, With Prices
Written by the Lotus Clinic team. Clinically reviewed and approved by Dr Emanuele Clozza, implant surgeon. Prices checked September 2026.
If you have lost most of your teeth, or you are about to, the choice usually comes down to two options: a denture, or fixed teeth on implants such as All-on-4. We see patients every week who are weighing this up, and the right answer is different for different people. This guide sets out the differences plainly, including the costs, so you can decide what matters most to you.
The quick comparison
| Full denture | Implant-retained (snap-in) denture | All-on-4 fixed teeth | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Does it come out? | Yes, you take it out to clean and at night | Yes, it clips on and off | No, it is fixed in place and only your dentist removes it |
| How it stays in | Suction and fit against the gums, sometimes adhesive | Clips onto two or more implants | Screwed onto four or more implants |
| Covers the roof of your mouth? | Upper dentures usually do | Often less | No |
| Chewing | Soft and easy foods are best, especially with a lower denture | Much more secure than a standard denture | Closest to natural teeth; most patients eat a normal diet |
| Effect on the jawbone | Does not stop the bone shrinking | Implants help preserve bone where they sit | Implants help preserve bone where they sit |
| Treatment time | A few appointments over several weeks | Implant surgery plus healing time | Fixed teeth usually fitted the same day as surgery, final bridge after healing |
| Cost at Lotus Clinic | From £590 | Quoted after assessment | From £9,995 per arch |
Dentures: the good and the not so good
A well made denture is the quickest and least expensive way to replace a full arch of teeth, and it needs no surgery. For some people, particularly those who are not well enough for implant surgery, it is the right choice and we are happy to make one.
The downsides are the ones denture wearers tell us about most often. Lower dentures in particular can move when you eat or talk, because there is less for them to hold on to. Upper dentures cover the palate, which can affect taste and feel bulky. And because a denture sits on the gums rather than in the bone, the jawbone underneath carries on shrinking over the years. That is why dentures usually need relining or replacing as the fit changes, and why long-term denture wearers can develop a sunken look around the mouth.
Snap-in dentures: the middle option
An implant-retained denture uses two or more implants as anchors. The denture clips onto them, so it is far more secure than a standard denture, but you still take it out to clean it. It is a good choice for people who find their lower denture unbearable but do not want, or are not suitable for, a full fixed bridge. The cost depends on how many implants you need, so we quote it after your assessment.
All-on-4: fixed teeth that stay in
With All-on-4, a full arch of teeth is fixed onto four implants (sometimes more) placed in the jaw. The teeth do not come out, you clean them in place like natural teeth, and there is nothing covering the roof of your mouth.
At Lotus Clinic, full arch treatment is carried out by Dr Emanuele Clozza, who has completed more than 800 All-on-4 cases, and Dr Ivana Matkovic, who is also highly experienced in full arch implant treatment. Every case is planned on our own CBCT scanner and placed with a 3D printed surgical guide. In most cases you leave on the day of surgery with fixed teeth, and a final bridge is fitted once everything has healed.
Our fee is from £9,995 per arch, or from £261 a month over five years, subject to status. That includes the implants, the same-day fixed teeth and the final bridge.
Who is All-on-4 not right for?
We would rather tell you this at the start than after you have paid for an assessment elsewhere. All-on-4 may not be suitable, or may need extra steps first, if:
- there is not enough bone to hold the implants, which a CT scan will show;
- you have a medical condition or take medication that affects healing, such as poorly controlled diabetes or some bone medications;
- you smoke heavily, which raises the risk of implants failing;
- you are not able to keep up with cleaning and regular hygiene visits, which fixed teeth need to last.
None of these is automatically a no, but they need discussing openly before you commit.
What about the cost difference?
There is no getting around it: fixed teeth on implants cost many times more than a denture. What patients weigh up is what they get for it: teeth that do not move, a normal diet, no adhesive, and bone that is better preserved. Some patients also compare the cost with repeated denture relines and replacements over the years. Neither choice is wrong. The important thing is that you choose knowing the real differences.
Still not sure?
You can read more on our All-on-4 page and our dentures page, and see our full guide to implant costs. The best next step is an implant assessment, which costs £95 (usually £195). It includes an examination, X-rays and scans and a written plan, and we will talk you through a denture option as well as implants so you can compare them side by side. Book online or call us on 020 8201 8080.
Talk to the team at Lotus Clinic, Golders Green
See our page on All-on-4 teeth in a day at Lotus Clinic for prices and who will treat you, or book a consultation at 943 Finchley Road, London NW11 7PE. Free parking on our driveway.
