Dental Implant Alternatives

If you want to replace one tooth, several teeth or all of your teeth, dental implants can be a reliable long-term solution to restore your smile. However, dental implant costs are not affordable for everyone, and the surgery and timeline involved can also be challenging for some people. That’s why your dentist will make sure you know about dental implant alternatives.

To know more about your options and help you make an informed decision, read this quick guide to the pros and cons of dental bridges, traditional dentures and implant-supported dentures, what each treatment costs, and how they compare to dental implants.

Get in touch with our team with any questions.

Dental bridge

Cost from: $3,500 to $6,000 (3-unit bridge)

A dental bridge can be an alternative to an implant for replacing one tooth or several missing teeth. Rather than being implanted in the jaw, a bridge relies on the surrounding teeth for support, so the teeth on either side of the gap need to be healthy.

Dental bridge costs are based on the type of bridge and materials chosen and other factors.

Pros with Dental Bridges

• Natural-looking replacement teeth
• Prevents teeth from shifting into the gap
• May be more affordable than a dental implant
• No oral surgery

Cons with Dental Bridges

• A bridge can fail if the supporting teeth experience decay
• Risk of sensitivity or nerve damage after the supporting teeth are prepared for crowns
• Doesn’t support the jaw bone like an implant
• Will likely need to be replaced after 10 to 15 years

Types of bridges

There are several options for a dental bridge:

• Traditional bridge – supported by crowns fitted over the surrounding healthy teeth
• Cantilever bridge – supported by a crown on one side only, often used in the back of the mouth
• Resin-bonded bridge – supported by metal or porcelain wings that attach to the back of the surrounding teeth, often used for front teeth

Your replacement tooth and crowns may be made from tooth-coloured porcelain (ceramic) or custom-milled PMMA (acrylic) for a natural appearance or porcelain fused to metal (PFM) if extra strength is needed. Metal bridges and crowns are a stronger option, but less popular for their artificial appearance.

Bridge treatment process

If you choose a three-unit bridge supported by crowns, the two healthy teeth on either side of the gap will first need to be filed down in preparation. Your dentist will then take an impression of your teeth that’s used to design your bridge and crowns.

You’ll be fitted with a temporary bridge and crowns while your custom restorations are being manufactured. Once these are ready, they will be cemented into place. It takes a few days for crowns to bond fully with the teeth, so care must be taken when eating and brushing around the bridge.

Treatment with bridges are provided by our general dentists at our co-located sister practice, Revive Dental.

Dentures

Cost from: $2,400 to $6,000 (per denture)

Removable dentures are usually the most affordable option for replacing teeth, but they can be less convenient than a fixed bridge and don’t support the jaw bone like an implant, which may lead to bone deterioration and premature ageing in the face.

Denture costs depend on how many teeth are being replaced, the quality of denture materials and the experience of the prosthetist (dental technician) designing your dentures.

Pros with dentures

• Most affordable option for replacing teeth
• Can replace as many teeth as needed
• Natural-looking replacement teeth
• No oral surgery, unless you need complex extractions

Cons with dentures

• Less strong and supportive than a dental implant
• Full dentures rely on suction, so may dislodge
• May cause pain, discomfort or difficulties with eating and speaking
• May need to be replaced or relined every 2 to 5 years

Types of dentures

The type of dentures you choose depends on how many teeth you want to replace:

• Full dentures (or complete dentures) replace a full set of teeth in the upper or lower jaw. They attach to the roof of the mouth or the gum by suction.
• Partial dentures replace one or several teeth. These are attached to surrounding healthy teeth by clasps. Dentures may be made from custom-milled PMMA (acrylic) or metal and are designed by our Prosthetist to look as close to natural teeth as possible.

Dentures treatment process

If you need to have teeth extracted first, your dentist will recommend giving your gums time to heal before your dentures are made, otherwise frequent adjustments may be needed. You can be provided with immediate dentures to wear in the meantime.

Once your gums have healed, your dentist will take impressions of your mouth and design your custom dentures, which will be made by our resident Prosthetist. When your dentures are ready, your dentist will check that they fit correctly and give you advice about wearing and cleaning your dentures.

Treatment with bridges are provided by our general dentists at our co-located sister practice, Revive Dental.

Fixed full mouth dental implants

Cost from: $17,250 per arch*

For clients wanting the closest alternative to natural teeth, fixed full mouth dental implants are still considered the preferred solution for replacing a full arch of missing or failing teeth.

Unlike removable dentures or implant-retained dentures, fixed teeth are permanently secured to dental implants and are not designed to be removed daily. This provides greater comfort, stability and long-term function.

At Perth Dental Implant Centre, our dentists can attach four carefully placed dental implants onto a fixed full arch dental implant bridge within 24 hours.

Fixed full mouth dental implants including All-on-4®, may be suitable for clients who:

• Are frustrated with loose or uncomfortable dentures
• Want a natural-feeling solution
• Wish to improve chewing ability and speech
• Want teeth that stay fixed in place
• Are looking for a long-term solution

Benefits of fixed full mouth dental implants

• Teeth are fixed in place and do not need to be removed overnight
• Improved comfort and confidence compared to removable dentures
• Increased chewing efficiency (90% compared with dentures at 10-30%)
• No need for denture adhesives
• No separate cleaning routine (as with dentures)
• Supports jawbone health and facial structure
• Fixed implant bridges are durable, stain resistant and long-lasting
• Designed to look and feel more like natural teeth
• Generally require fewer replacements over a lifetime

Considerations with fixed teeth

• Higher upfront cost than bridges and dentures
• Higher maintenance costs (teeth repairs/ replacements)
• Involves surgery and surgical risks
• Requires healing time while implants integrate with the jawbone
• Regular check-ups and professional cleans are still required

Your dentist will assess your suitability for dental implants based on factors including jawbone volume, oral health, smile goals and budget.

For patients with significant jawbone loss, advanced full arch implant techniques may still make fixed teeth possible. This can include the use of longer pterygoid or zygomatic implants, which are designed to support full mouth dental implants in areas with reduced bone volume.

Fixed full mouth dental implant treatment process

Dental implants are surgically placed into the jawbone to support a fixed full arch bridge.

Once your implants are placed, a custom-milled PMMA (acrylic) bridge designed at our in-house laboratory is typically fitted within 24 hours.

Over the following three to four months, dental implants integrate with the jawbone before a long-term zirconia bridge may be fitted.

Compared to removable dentures or implant-retained dentures, fixed teeth provide a stable, natural-feeling and low-maintenance solution for many clients.

Find out more about teeth replacement in Perth

If you want to replace missing teeth and learn more about your options, book a consultation with the team at Perth Dental Implant Centre. We can provide detailed information about dental implants, fixed full mouth dental implants and alternative treatment options to help you make an informed decision about your oral health.

Dr David Norcross and Dr David O’Dowling have both dedicated much of their careers to advanced dental implant treatment, with a particular focus on full arch rehabilitation and fixed teeth solutions.

Dr David Norcross has completed extensive international implant surgery training and has spent time learning from experienced implant clinicians across Australia, the UK and the US. He is a key opinion leader for Nobel Biocare, the originators of the All-on-4® treatment concept, and regularly delivers dental implant training courses and live surgery demonstrations for emerging dentists.

Dr David O'Dowling graduated from University College Cork, Ireland in 2006, receiving awards in both oral surgery and restorative dentistry. Since 2020, his clinical practice has focused exclusively on dental implants. He completed a Master of Science in Oral Implantology through Goethe Dental School in Frankfurt, with research focused on the accuracy of 3D-printed surgical guides for dental implants.

Dr O’Dowling holds Diplomate status with both the International Congress of Oral Implantologists and the American Board of Oral Implantology/Implant Dentistry, and is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. His clinical interests include advanced full arch dental implants, bone grafting, sinus augmentation and the use of digital workflows and 3D printing to improve the predictability of implant treatment.

As one of only a limited number of All-on-4® Centres of Excellence in Australia, Perth Dental Implant Centre has extensive experience in full arch implant treatment. While our team has advanced training in All-on-4® concepts using genuine Nobel Biocare implants, our approach is not limited to a single implant system or treatment protocol.

Instead, we adapt our experience across a range of implant systems, digital technologies and surgical techniques to tailor treatment to each client's anatomy, goals and long-term needs.

To book a consultation at our Applecross clinic, call 1300 108 133 or book online.

• Healthdirect. Dental bridge procedure [Online] 2019 [Accessed September 2020] Available from: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/dental-bridge-procedure
• Healthdirect. Dental implant procedure [Online] 2019 [Accessed September 2020] Available from: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/dental-implant
• Healthdirect. Dentures [Online] 2019 [Accessed September 2020] Available from: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/dentures