When a tooth is lost, the question we hear most is "implant or denture?" Both replace missing teeth. They differ in how they feel in use, how long they take, what they cost, and what you have to do to keep them going. This article sets the two side by side so you can see the picture before you come in and talk to us.
What an implant is, and what a denture is
A dental implant is a titanium post placed in the jawbone to take the place of the tooth's root. Once the bone has bonded to the post, we fit a crown on top that matches the shape and color of your other teeth.
A denture replaces missing teeth without placing anything in the bone. It can be removable, replacing a few teeth or a whole arch, or fixed, like a bridge that rests on the neighboring teeth.
Pros and limitations of implants
An implant is the closest thing to a natural tooth, because it is held directly by the jawbone.
Pros
- Chews and feels much like your own tooth, and does not move in use
- Does not lean on or require trimming of the neighboring teeth
- Helps keep the bone where the tooth was, because the bone still receives biting force
- Long-lasting with good care
Limitations
- A higher cost per tooth than a denture
- Takes a few months, because the bone has to bond to the post before the crown goes on
- Needs a minor surgical procedure and enough bone to hold the post
Pros and limitations of dentures
Dentures have been used for a long time and come in removable and fixed forms.
Pros
- A much lower starting cost than implants
- Finished sooner, with no wait for bone healing
- Possible even when little jawbone is left, or when surgery is not an option
Limitations
- A removable denture can shift or loosen while speaking or eating, especially after years of wear
- Does not preserve the bone under it, so the ridge slowly shrinks over time
- Needs relining, rebasing or remaking from time to time as the gums and bone change shape
Cost: the short view and the long view
On day one, a denture is clearly the cheaper option. But its cost does not stop there. As the gum ridge changes shape, the denture loosens and needs adjusting or replacing, and over the years those visits add up.
An implant costs more up front. With good care and regular check-ups it generally lasts a long time without being remade, so over the long run it can be the better value for many people.
Prices at Tooth Boutique
- Dental implant: 45,000 to 89,000 baht per tooth
- Removable partial denture: from 4,500 baht (acrylic base) or from 10,000 baht (metal base)
- Full denture, one arch: 20,000 to 22,000 baht
These are starting prices. We confirm the exact fee after examining your teeth. The full list is on the price list.
Which should you choose?
It comes down to three things: the condition of your mouth, your budget, and what matters to you day to day.
If you want the replacement that works most like a natural tooth, have enough bone, and are ready to invest once for the long term, an implant is a good choice.
If money is tight, you would rather avoid surgery, or the jawbone has shrunk too far to hold an implant easily, a denture remains a sound option, especially for older patients who need several teeth replaced at once.
Many cases can also take a middle path, such as a few implants used to hold a full denture firmly in place. We lay out the options after looking in your mouth and at your X-ray or dental CT scan.
Book a consultation
Not sure which suits your case? Come in and let us take a look first. We check the bone, the gums and the neighboring teeth, then explain the options and the cost clearly before you decide.
- LINE
- Phone: 098 831 0246
- Open daily 10:00–20:00 (closed Tuesdays)
- Tooth Boutique Dental Clinic, Venice Di Iris, Vacharapol Road, Bang Khen, Bangkok. Parking available.