Yolanda holding a framed photograph of her smile before treatment
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Dentures in McLean & Alexandria, VA

A denture that stays put.

Traditional dentures, snap-in dentures on implants, or fixed teeth that never come out: the ways to replace a full arch, compared by a prosthodontist, the dental specialist in replacing teeth.

Book an evaluationCompare the options
20%Function · traditional
60%Function · snap-in
98%+Function · fixed arch
Why Dentures Loosen

A denture that fit last year can rub this year.

Without tooth roots to load it, the jawbone under a denture keeps receding, so the fit loosens. A loose denture rubs, needs adhesive, limits what you eat and has to be relined, and over years the bone loss changes the shape of the face.

A stereo microscope over the bench in the practice's in-house laboratory
Bone checked on a 3D scan
A clinician showing a patient a dental model during a consultation
Second opinions free
A tooth model used to explain treatment
Options shown on a model
Dr. Nahlah with a patient at the practice
Planned by a prosthodontist
Your Options

Four ways to deal with dentures.

Gloved hand holding a full set of conventional removable upper and lower dentures01

Traditional dentures

Acrylic teeth on a base that rests on the gums. The lowest cost, but they move, need relines and repairs, must come out to clean, and do nothing to stop bone loss.

Dentures and implants compared
Lab model of an implant-supported denture clipped onto implant posts, mounted on an articulator02

Snap-in dentures

A removable denture that clips onto two or more implants. It stops slipping, puts load back into the bone and still comes out for cleaning: around 60% of natural function at a moderate cost.

Gloved technician handling a finished full-arch dental prosthesis on a firing tray in a dental lab03

Fixed full arch

Teeth that never come out: a zirconia bridge screwed onto four to eight implants, often All-on-4 with provisional teeth the same day. Over 98% of natural function, at the highest cost.

Artificial teeth arrangement of upper completed denture in articulator04

A broken denture

A broken or damaged denture is one of the emergencies the practice makes room for, the same day wherever possible.

Cost

What dentures cost, counted over the years.

Traditional dentures cost the least at the start. Over the years the relines, repairs and replacements add up, and the bone keeps receding because nothing loads it.

Snap-in dentures sit in the middle: the implants stop the movement and put load back into the bone, though the denture may still need the occasional reline.

A fixed full arch costs the most up front and the least to keep: no relining, no adhesive, and it is cared for like natural teeth. The figure for your mouth is set at the consultation, and financing reaches $60,000 over terms of up to 96 months.

Cost and financing in full
Questions

Dentures, answered.

Why do dentures get loose?
Because the jawbone they rest on keeps receding once the teeth are gone, and nothing loads it. A reline refits the denture for a while; anchoring it to implants stops the movement.
What are snap-in dentures?
Implant-supported dentures: a removable denture that clips onto two or more implants, so it stops slipping but still comes out for cleaning.Snap-in dentures in detail →
Can I go from dentures to fixed teeth?
Yes. Bone loss from years of wearing a denture often makes you a candidate for All-on-4 rather than ruling you out, and in most cases you leave the surgery wearing fixed provisional teeth. Some mouths need bone grafting first.Same-day implants →
Who should make my dentures?
A prosthodontist: the dental specialist in replacing teeth, dentures included, with three years of training beyond dental school. Dr. Esam Nahlah is a board-certified prosthodontist and sees patients at both offices.What a prosthodontist does →
What if my denture breaks?
Call the office. A broken or damaged denture is treated as an emergency, and space is made to see you the same day wherever possible.Emergency dentistry →
Does insurance cover dentures?
Most PPO dental plans are accepted, and the practice files the claims for you. What your plan covers is gone through at the consultation, along with the price and the financing.

Where to go next.

Bring the denture you have now.

The fit is checked, the bone is scanned, and every option is laid out with its cost. Second opinions are free.