All-on-4 vs Dentures, Which Is Better for NZ Patients?
- Dentures appear less expensive at year one.
The picture changes over time.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | All-on-4 Implants | Conventional Full Dentures |
|---|---|---|
| Attachment mechanism | Fixed, screwed to implant abutments | Removable, rests on gum tissue |
| Chewing efficiency | 85–95% of natural dentition | 10–20% of natural dentition |
| Jawbone preservation | Yes, implants stimulate bone via osseointegration | No, bone resorbs without root stimulation |
| Stability | Cannot move; no adhesive required | Slips, rocks, and lifts under chewing load |
| Speech impact | None | Lisp, whistling, and slurring common |
| Taste | Full | Upper denture covers palate, reduces taste perception |
| Confidence eating | Unrestricted (after healing) | Restricted, hard, sticky, fibrous foods avoided |
| Maintenance | Daily brushing + annual professional check | Daily removal and soaking; relines every 2–3 years |
| Lifespan (prosthesis) | 15–25 years (monolithic zirconia) | 5–10 years before replacement |
| Facial structure | Preserved, bone volume maintained | Progressive "sunken face" as bone resorbs |
| NZ cost (both arches) | NZD 68,000–96,000 (NZ specialist) | NZD 3,500–6,500 (per arch initially) |
| Stunning Dentistry cost | NZD 27,500–37,000 (both arches) | Not offered, implants preferred clinically |
Questions about this procedure?
The 20-Year Cost Comparison
Dentures appear less expensive at year one. The picture changes over time.
Over 20 years, the total cost of repeated denture replacements, relines, and maintenance approaches, and often exceeds, the total cost of All-on-4 at Stunning Dentistry. With substantially inferior function throughout.
| Year | Dentures (both arches) | All-on-4 at Stunning Dentistry |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | NZD 6,500–13,000 (initial dentures + fitting) | NZD 31,000–42,000 (treatment + travel, both visits) |
| Year 3 | + NZD 1,500–3,000 (relines, adjustments) | No additional cost |
| Year 5 | + NZD 2,500–4,000 (relines) | No additional cost |
| Year 7–10 | + NZD 7,000–13,000 (replacement dentures) | No additional cost |
| Year 15 | + NZD 7,000–13,000 (second replacement) | Possible prosthetic refresh NZD 8,000–15,000 |
| **Year 20 total** | **NZD 25,000–48,000+** | **NZD 31,000–57,000 (no change if no refresh needed)** |
Ready to discuss your options?
The Bone Loss Problem
This is the clinically decisive difference.
Conventional dentures sit on gum tissue. Without tooth roots (or implant fixtures) transmitting biting force into the jawbone, the bone has no mechanical stimulus and undergoes progressive resorption. This is not a gradual or cosmetic problem, it is structural:
- The lower jaw can lose 40–60% of its vertical height over 10–20 years of denture wear
- As bone volume decreases, dentures become increasingly ill-fitting
- Facial appearance changes, the "sunken" appearance is bone loss, not just ageing
- At advanced stages, there may be insufficient bone for conventional implants, making zygomatic implants the only remaining surgical option
Dental implants prevent this entirely. The titanium fixture transmits occlusal forces into the bone, maintaining bone volume and facial structure long-term. This is the biological reason implants are the standard of care for full-arch tooth replacement, not merely a cosmetic preference.
Curious about costs and timelines?
Who Is a Candidate for All-on-4?
All-on-4 is appropriate for:
- Patients missing all teeth (edentulous) in one or both arches
- Patients with failing teeth requiring full-arch extraction
- Patients currently wearing full dentures who want a fixed solution
- Patients with sufficient jawbone for at least 4 conventional implants per arch
All-on-4 may not be appropriate (or may require modification to All-on-6, zygomatic, or FMR):
- Severe maxillary atrophy (may indicate zygomatic implants instead)
- Uncontrolled systemic disease (diabetes HbA1c >8%, active bisphosphonate use, immunosuppression)
- Heavy smokers, relative contraindication; cessation recommended before surgery
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Specialist-only treatment planning
- Remote file review before travel
- Evidence-led treatment checkpoints
No waiting list for eligible cases
- Remote file review before travel
- Evidence-led treatment checkpoints
Trip coordinated with care timeline
- Remote file review before travel
- Evidence-led treatment checkpoints
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This tool will help you understand potential structural and aesthetic changes before finalizing treatment decisions.
