Yolanda holding a framed photograph of her smile before treatment
HomeImplantsFixed vs. Removable

Implant-Supported Dentures in McLean & Alexandria, VA

Dentures are not your only option.

Three answers, not one, and they differ by a factor of five in what they give back.

Book an evaluationCompare all three
20%Function · dentures
60%Function · implant-supported
98%+Function · fixed full arch
The Choice

Fixed, or removable. Everything else follows.

One question decides it: does the replacement come out, or does it stay in? Removable covers traditional and implant-supported dentures. Fixed means a bridge of teeth permanently carried on four to eight implants.

Gloved hand holding a full set of conventional removable upper and lower dentures
20%Traditional dentures
Lab model of an implant-supported denture clipped onto implant posts, mounted on an articulator
60%Implant-supported
Illustration of implant-supported bridges lowered onto implant posts in a lower jaw model
98%+Fixed full arch
Comparison

Three tiers, listed honestly.

Every line is from the practice’s own comparison, including the unflattering ones.

01

Traditional dentures

Around 20% of natural function. Artificial teeth on an acrylic base that sits over the gums. The bottom tier of tooth replacement, and the cheapest.

  • Made from acrylic
  • Offers minimal support
  • Will need relines and repairs
  • Often loosens or falls out
  • Does not halt jawbone loss
  • Must be removed to clean
  • May be bulky or ill-fitting
  • Low-cost, and qualifies for financing
02

Implant-supported dentures

Around 60% of natural function. A removable acrylic denture, but stabilized by two or more implants so it stops moving.

  • Acrylic or porcelain
  • Support from two or more implants
  • May still need relines or repairs
  • Will not slip, loosen or fall out
  • Greater stability for eating
  • Removable for easy cleaning
  • Improves jawbone health
  • May not look or feel fully natural
  • Moderate cost
03

Full-arch fixed teeth

Over 98% of natural function. A zirconia bridge fixed permanently to four to eight implants. It does not come out, and it is cared for like teeth.

  • Zirconia porcelain
  • Fixed to four to eight implants
  • Comparable to natural teeth
  • Promotes a healthy jawbone
  • Resistant to bacteria and decay
  • Fracture- and chip-resistant
  • Improves oral and overall health
  • No additional maintenance
  • Highest cost
All-on-4 in full
Dr. Nahlah with Yolanda, a full-arch patient of the practice
Dental implants completely changed my life.

Stephen · full-mouth implant patient

Six patients have filmed their stories here. Three of them, Stephen included, are the only ones whose words are published anywhere.

All six patient stories

Real Cases

Two full-arch cases from this practice.

Before: failing and missing teethAfter: a fixed full arch on implantsBeforeAfter
Full arch on implants · case three
Case 5, All-on-4 dental implants: smile before treatment by prosthodontist Dr. Esam Nahlah, Northern VirginiaCase 5, All-on-4 dental implants: smile after treatment by prosthodontist Dr. Esam Nahlah, Northern VirginiaBeforeAfter
Full arch on implants · case four

All twenty-eight cases

The Process

Four stages, and you are not toothless for any of them.

A clinician showing a patient a dental model during a consultation01

Consultation

A plan that fits your smile goals, your oral health and your budget rather than the practice’s preference.

A clinician showing a patient their X-ray beside an implant model02

Preparation, if needed

Extractions, bone grafting or gum therapy first, to build a sound foundation. Skipping this is what makes implants fail later.

Oral surgery
A patient resting with her eyes closed in the chair under sedation03

Surgery

In this office under sedation, guided by the scan, generally finished in a few hours. Most patients leave with temporary teeth, so you are functional while you heal.

A restored full arch04

Final teeth

Once healing is complete the final set is crafted to your specifications and attached. That is the version you keep.

Notebook, pen and calculator on a wooden desk, for working out the cost of dental treatment
Affording It

A lifelong investment, paid for monthly.

The cheapest option on this page is also the one that does nothing for the jawbone underneath, and that is the trade worth thinking about before the price is.

No dental insurance does not put fixed teeth out of reach. A financial coordinator helps you apply and set up a payment plan. Many patients are approved instantly, sometimes without a credit check. Second opinions are free.

Cost and financing in full

Questions

What patients ask about snap-in dentures.

What are snap-in dentures?
Snap-in dentures, also called snap-on or implant-retained dentures, are implant-supported dentures: a removable denture that clips onto two or more implants instead of resting on the gums. It will not slip, loosen or fall out, and it still comes out for cleaning.Snap-on dentures, step by step →
Snap-in dentures or All-on-4: which should I choose?
It comes down to whether you want teeth that come out. Implant-supported dentures are removable, give back around 60% of natural function and cost a moderate amount. A fixed full arch such as All-on-4 stays in, is fixed to four to eight implants, gives back over 98% and costs the most. Your consultation and 3D scan show which your bone and budget allow.All-on-4 in full →
How many implants hold an implant-supported denture?
Two or more. A fixed full arch takes four to eight.
Do implant-supported dentures stop bone loss?
They help. The implants load the jawbone, which keeps it healthier; a traditional denture rests on the gums and does nothing to halt jawbone loss.
Will I be without teeth during treatment?
No. Treatment runs in four stages (consultation, any preparation such as extractions or bone grafting, surgery, then the final teeth), and most patients leave surgery with temporary teeth, so you can function while you heal.
How much do implant-supported dentures cost?
Their cost sits between traditional dentures and a fixed full arch. Your figure is set at the consultation, once the number of implants and any preparation are known. Financing is available: a financial coordinator helps you apply, and many patients are approved instantly.Cost and financing →
Do implant-supported dentures need maintenance?
Some. They may still need relines or repairs over the years, and you take them out to clean them. A fixed full arch needs no additional maintenance beyond the care you give natural teeth.
What about traditional dentures?
They cost the least at the start, but they rest on the gums, move, and do nothing to stop bone loss. The dentures page sets every option side by side.Dentures compared →

Where to go next.

Choose a better quality of life.

A second opinion on a plan you already have costs nothing.