All-on-6 vs Dentures: Which Is Right for UK Adults?

What Dentures Are and How They Work

Full dentures — sometimes called complete dentures — are removable prostheses that replace all the teeth on the upper arch, lower arch, or both. They sit on top of the gum and are held in place by a combination of factors: suction (particularly effective for upper dentures where the palate creates a seal), the muscular control developed by experienced denture wearers, and optionally denture adhesive.

Dentures are made from acrylic resin, sometimes with a metal framework for partial dentures where some natural teeth remain. They are relatively straightforward to produce, do not require surgery, and are available on the NHS at Band 3 pricing (currently £306.80 for a full course of NHS treatment). For many decades, full dentures were the only realistic option for people who had lost all their teeth.

What All-on-6 Is

All-on-6 is a fixed implant solution where six titanium implants are surgically placed into the jawbone and a permanent prosthesis is bolted onto them. Once fitted, the prosthesis does not come out — it is cleaned in place, like natural teeth, using specialised brushes and water flossers.

The biological process that makes All-on-6 stable is osseointegration: over 3-6 months following surgery, bone cells grow around the implant surface and lock it firmly in place. The result is a prosthesis that has a rigid anchor in the jaw, not one that floats on the gum surface.

For a full explanation of how All-on-6 works clinically, see our guide on what All-on-6 actually is.

Function: Eating and Speaking

This is where the difference between dentures and All-on-6 is most felt in daily life. Conventional full dentures — particularly lower dentures — move during eating. The lower denture has no palate to create suction, and the ridge of bone it sits on changes shape over time, making the fit progressively worse. Many denture wearers restrict their diet significantly, avoiding hard, crunchy, or chewy foods because of the discomfort and embarrassment of movement.

All-on-6 does not move. Biting force is transmitted directly into the implants and through them into the bone, in the same way natural teeth work. Patients with well-integrated All-on-6 prostheses can typically eat most foods they could eat with natural teeth — including apples, bread crusts, steak, and raw vegetables. The prosthesis does not shift during speaking, which eliminates the speech difficulties that many denture wearers experience.

Aesthetics

Modern dentures, made well, look acceptable in most situations. But dentures have a practical limitation: they need a flange (the pink acrylic base) that extends under the lips and cheeks to provide both structure and support. This bulk can feel unnatural and can give the mouth a slightly fuller, over-filled appearance.

All-on-6 prostheses, fixed to implants, do not require this flange to the same extent. They can be designed to follow the natural contour of the gum ridge, and the teeth themselves can be positioned very precisely. Zirconia prostheses in particular have a natural translucency that closely resembles real tooth enamel. Most patients find the aesthetic result of a well-made All-on-6 prosthesis significantly superior to even a high-quality denture.

There is also a longer-term aesthetic consideration. Because dentures do not stimulate the jawbone, the face gradually becomes sunken over years as bone is lost — a characteristic look that is associated with long-term denture use. Implants slow this process, helping to preserve facial structure over time.

Bone Preservation

When a tooth is lost, the bone that held it in place no longer receives the mechanical stimulus it needs to maintain density. The body responds by resorbing that bone — breaking it down and redirecting the mineral content elsewhere. This happens with all missing teeth, regardless of whether a denture is worn.

Dentures do not prevent this. In fact, the pressure a denture exerts on the gum ridge during chewing can accelerate bone loss in some cases. Over 10-20 years, significant bone loss can change the shape of the face, and the denture that fitted well when first made becomes progressively looser.

Implants interrupt this process. The mechanical force transmitted through the implant into the bone mimics the stimulus that a natural tooth root provides, slowing resorption significantly. This is one of the strongest long-term arguments for implants over dentures for patients who are suitable candidates.

Cost Comparison

Dentures are dramatically cheaper upfront. NHS full dentures cost £306.80 for a complete course of treatment. Private full dentures from a good lab typically cost £1,000 to £3,500 for a complete set, depending on the materials and the dental practice.

All-on-6 in the UK costs £12,000 to £22,000 per arch. In Turkey, costs range from £3,000 to £6,500 per arch for the treatment itself, with travel on top. The upfront cost difference is substantial and cannot be minimised.

The long-term picture is more nuanced. A denture needs relining every 1-2 years and replacement every 5-10 years. Over 20 years, the cumulative cost of denture maintenance and replacement can be significant. Implants, if they integrate successfully and are maintained, can last 20 years or more. The prosthesis on top needs replacement eventually (roughly 10-15 years for acrylic, longer for zirconia), but the implants themselves typically do not. Whether this long-term arithmetic makes implants the better financial investment depends heavily on the individual patient's situation and priorities.

For a full breakdown of All-on-6 costs, see our UK cost guide and our detailed cost breakdown article.

Who Dentures Are Better For

Dentures remain the right choice for a significant number of patients. They are appropriate for patients who are not medically suitable for surgery (significant cardiovascular conditions, uncontrolled systemic illness, certain medications), patients with very limited bone who are not candidates for grafting, older patients for whom the surgical risk-benefit calculation does not favour implants, and those for whom the upfront cost of implants is not achievable even with overseas options.

For these patients, a high-quality set of dentures, made well and maintained properly, provides adequate function for daily life — even if the experience is meaningfully different from what implants offer.

Who All-on-6 Is Better For

All-on-6 is the better choice for patients who have adequate bone volume (or are willing to undergo grafting to achieve it), are in sufficiently good general health to tolerate surgery, are committed to the maintenance routine required to protect the long-term investment, and value fixed, stable function significantly above the upfront cost saving of dentures.

Patients who are motivated — who genuinely want to eat normally, speak without worry, and not think about their teeth — tend to be the ones most satisfied with All-on-6. The treatment requires an investment of both money and time, and the patients who do best are those who go in with realistic expectations and a clear understanding of the process. Our guide on All-on-6 candidacy helps determine whether the clinical picture fits.