Implant-Retained Dentures in Wilmslow
A denture that clips onto implants and stays exactly where you put it. No adhesive, no movement, and it still comes out for cleaning.
An implant-retained denture clips securely onto two or more dental implants placed in the jaw, holding it firmly in position while still allowing removal for cleaning. It solves the problem most denture wearers have, which is movement, and costs considerably less than a fixed full arch bridge. At Croft Dental on Manchester Road in Wilmslow, implant-retained dentures start from £5,000 per arch, with implants placed by Dr Nikhil Oberai, who holds an MSc in Implant Dentistry from the University of Manchester and has a 99.5% success rate across hundreds of cases. Treatment takes three to six months and usually requires two to four implants per arch. Consultations are free of charge.
So, what if your denture will not stay put?
Then you already know things nobody explains before you get one.
You know which side of the plate to load first. You know that adhesive works right up until the moment it decides not to. You know the particular way you now laugh in company, and the fact that you have quietly stopped ordering half the things you used to, without ever really making that decision.
And if it is the bottom one, you know it seems to have a mind entirely of its own.
None of that is a failure on your part. A conventional lower denture has almost nothing to hold onto. There is no palate to create suction, the ridge it sits on is narrow, and the tongue works against it all day long. Some people cope with that. A great many do not, and quietly assume they are the problem.
An implant-retained denture fixes it mechanically rather than hopefully.
Two or more implants are placed in the jaw. Attachments on the underside of your denture clip onto them. From that point the denture is held in position by titanium anchored in bone, rather than by suction, gum contact and optimism.
You still take it out to clean it. It simply does not move while it is in.
How an implant-retained denture works
An implant-retained denture, sometimes called an overdenture or a snap-on denture, is a full denture that attaches to dental implants.
Three parts make it work:
- The implants: small titanium posts placed into the jawbone, usually two to four per arch. Once healed, the bone fuses to them and they become firmly anchored.
- The attachments: small connectors sitting on top of the implants. Corresponding fittings in the underside of the denture clip onto them.
- The denture: either your existing denture adapted to fit, or a new one made to suit the attachments. It looks like a normal denture and comes out for cleaning in the normal way.
The denture clicks into place when you put it in and stays there until you deliberately remove it.
Your options for a full arch
If you are missing a full arch of teeth, there are three main routes. They differ considerably in cost, in how they feel and in how much treatment is involved.
A conventional denture
- Rests on the gum, held by suction and sometimes adhesive
- Moves during eating and speaking, particularly in the lower jaw
- Does nothing to prevent jawbone shrinking, so the fit worsens over the years
- No surgery required
- The least expensive option, from £450
An implant-retained denture
- Clips onto two to four implants and does not move while worn
- Still removable for cleaning
- Helps preserve the jawbone at the implant sites
- Requires implant surgery, but fewer implants than a fixed bridge
- Mid range in cost, from £5,000 per arch
A fixed full arch bridge, such as All-on-4
- Permanently secured to four or more implants and never removed by you
- Feels closest to natural teeth, with the best chewing efficiency
- Best preservation of jawbone across the whole arch
- Requires more implants and more surgery
- The most expensive option, from £11,500 per arch
How to think about it
If your main problem is movement and cost is a genuine consideration, an implant-retained denture is usually the sensible answer. It solves the thing that actually bothers you for a fraction of what a fixed bridge costs.
If you want teeth that never come out and behave as closely to natural teeth as possible, a fixed bridge is worth the difference.
Dr Nikhil will talk you through all three honestly, including which he would choose in your position and why.
Am I a suitable candidate?
Implant-retained dentures suit a broad range of patients, and the bar is lower than for fixed full arch treatment because fewer implants are involved in a smaller area.
Usually suitable if you
- Wear a full upper or lower denture that moves
- Are missing all the teeth in one or both jaws
- Have enough bone at the front of the jaw to hold two to four implants, which most patients do
- Are in reasonable general health
- Do not smoke, or are willing to stop while the implants heal
We will need to assess further if you
- Have significant bone loss, since grafting may be required first
- Have uncontrolled diabetes, which affects healing
- Smoke, as this raises the risk of implant failure considerably
- Take bisphosphonates or other medications affecting bone
- Have limited manual dexterity, since the denture needs clipping in and out daily
Implant treatment is contraindicated during pregnancy. We can plan your case and begin once it is appropriate.
If you have been told you have too little bone
This is worth hearing properly.
An implant-retained denture needs fewer implants, in a smaller area, at the front of the jaw where bone tends to survive best. Patients ruled out for a fixed bridge are frequently still perfectly suitable for this.
If somebody told you implants were off the table, they may well have been assessing you for fixed treatment. A 3D scan will tell you where you actually stand.
- Real Patient Results
Thousands of Smiles Transformed
Explore real patient results demonstrating the life-changing impact of expert implant dentistry at Croft Dental. From single tooth restorations to comprehensive full-mouth rehabilitations, our tailored treatment plans restore both function and natural aesthetics.
Be our Next Success Story!
All photographs show patients treated at Croft Dental and are published with their consent. Results shown are individual results.
Your treatment journey
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1Step one: consultation and 3D scanDr Nikhil examines your mouth, assesses your existing denture and takes a CBCT 3D scan to check bone volume and plan the implant positions. You receive a written treatment plan with full costs afterwards.
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2Step two: implant placementTwo to four implants are placed under local anaesthetic. The procedure is shorter and less involved than fixed full arch surgery, typically taking around an hour. You go home the same day.
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3Step three: healingThe implants need three to six months to fuse with the bone. You continue wearing your existing denture throughout, adjusted so it does not press on the healing sites.
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4Step four: fitting the attachmentsOnce integration is confirmed, the attachments are fitted onto the implants and the corresponding fittings placed into your denture. Where a new denture is being made, impressions are taken at this stage.
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5Step five: fitting and adjustmentYour denture is fitted onto the attachments and adjusted so it clips securely and sits comfortably. We will show you how to put it in and take it out, and you will practise before leaving.
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6Step six: aftercare and living with itWe review the fit afterwards and continue to monitor the implants at regular appointments.
Eating: most patients report a substantial improvement straight away. Apples, crusty bread and steak generally become manageable again. Chewing efficiency is considerably better than a conventional denture, though slightly less than a fixed bridge.
Putting it in and taking it out: the denture clicks firmly into place and needs a deliberate action to remove. It takes most people a few days to get the knack.
Cleaning: the denture is removed and cleaned as normal. You also clean around the implant attachments in your mouth with a soft brush. Both are straightforward and we will show you exactly what to do.
Adhesive: not needed. That is rather the point.
Maintenance: the nylon or rubber inserts in the attachments wear with use and need replacing periodically, typically every one to two years. It is a short, inexpensive appointment, but it is an ongoing commitment worth knowing about before you start rather than discovering afterwards.
Regular appointments: implants need monitoring in the same way natural teeth do. Regular hygiene visits keep the implant sites healthy and catch any issue early.
Pricing and fees
Treatment | From |
Implant consultation | Free |
Implant-retained denture, per arch | £5,000 |
New acrylic denture, full arch | £450 |
New cobalt chrome denture, per arch | £800 |
Bone augmentation, if required | £450 |
CBCT 3D scan, single arch | £80 |
CBCT 3D scan, dual arch | £170 |
Sedation | £350 |
Replacement attachment inserts | £[X] per visit |
Implant-retained dentures sit between a conventional denture and a fixed full arch bridge in cost. A fixed full arch package starts from £11,500 by comparison.
Everything is quoted in writing before treatment begins, including whether your existing denture can be adapted or a new one is needed.
Where to find us
Croft Dental sits at 64 Manchester Road, on the Handforth side of Wilmslow town centre. Coming up from The Carrs, we are north east along Manchester Road. If you reach Handforth Dean, you have gone too far.
We are around ten minutes on foot from Wilmslow station, five minutes from Handforth, and roughly ten minutes from Alderley Edge up the A34.
Patients travel to us from Alderley Edge, Handforth, Styal, Prestbury, Mottram St Andrew, Knutsford, Macclesfield, Poynton, Bramhall, Cheadle and Hale, as well as from South Manchester along the A538 from the airport.
Treatment involves several appointments across three to six months. If you are travelling a distance, say so when you book and we will group appointments where we sensibly can.
Not sure where to start? Give us a ring.
- DENTIST
Meet your implant dentist
Dr Nikhil Oberai
BDS · MSc Implant Dentistry, University of Manchester · ADI Member · GDC 150126
Dr Nikhil places the implants for implant-retained denture cases at Croft Dental, with a 99.5% success rate across hundreds of implant cases. His Master’s degree from the University of Manchester involved several years of postgraduate study devoted entirely to implantology.
He works alongside Dr Natasja Kashyap, whose Master’s degree in Fixed and Removable Prosthodontics covers denture design and fit. That matters more here than on most implant treatments, because an implant-retained denture only works if both halves are right. The implants have to be well placed and the denture has to be well made.
He is a member of the Association of Dental Implantology, a Key Opinion Leader for Osstem, and an Honorary Clinical Teaching Fellow at the University of Manchester.
- Finance
Spread the cost of implant-retained dentures with finance
We offer finance on implant treatment through Tabeo so the cost can be spread across monthly payments. Interest-free options are available with no arrangement fees or hidden charges.
Applications take a few minutes and you will know the outcome quickly. We will show you exactly what your treatment would cost per month at your consultation.
- REGISTRATION
We're Welcoming New Patients
We warmly welcome new patients to our practice. If it’s been a while since your last visit, if dental visits make you feel anxious, if you’ve recently moved to Wilmslow, or if you’re simply seeking a team that truly listens to your concerns, you’ll find a supportive and gentle environment here with us.
During your first appointment, we take the time to conduct a complete evaluation of your teeth, gums, and overall oral health. We will listen carefully to your goals, answer any questions, and collaboratively create a treatment plan tailored specifically to you.
"Nick was superb. I had my new teeth made on the day and went home with a full top set. It felt brilliant."
- FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Implant-retained dentures at Croft Dental start from £5,000 per arch. The cost depends on the number of implants placed, usually two to four per arch, and whether a new denture is required or an existing one can be adapted. This sits between a conventional denture, from £450, and a fixed full arch package, from £11,500. Consultations are free of charge.
Most implant-retained dentures use two to four implants per arch. Two implants are commonly sufficient for a lower denture, where movement is usually the greatest problem. Upper dentures typically require four implants because the bone is less dense and the arch is larger. The number is determined from a CBCT 3D scan.
In many cases an existing denture can be adapted to take the attachments, provided it fits reasonably well and is in good condition. Where it is worn, ill fitting or the wrong shape for the implant positions, a new denture is made instead. This is assessed at the consultation.
Yes, they are designed to be removed for cleaning, which is one of the main differences from a fixed full arch bridge. The denture clips firmly onto the implants and does not move while worn, but it is taken out deliberately by the patient for daily cleaning.
An implant-retained denture clips onto two to four implants and is removed by the patient for cleaning. All-on-4 is a fixed bridge permanently secured to four implants and is never removed by the patient. All-on-4 feels closer to natural teeth and offers better chewing efficiency, while implant-retained dentures require fewer implants and cost considerably less.
Most patients report a substantial improvement immediately after treatment. Foods that had become difficult with a conventional denture, including apples, crusty bread and steak, generally become manageable again. Chewing efficiency is considerably better than a conventional denture, though slightly less than a fixed full arch bridge.
The nylon or rubber inserts inside the attachments wear with use and are replaced periodically, typically every one to two years. This is a short and inexpensive appointment. Regular hygiene appointments are also needed to keep the implant sites healthy, as with any implant treatment.
Yes, and long term denture wearers are among the most common patients for this treatment. Wearing a denture for many years usually means some jawbone has been lost, since a denture rests on the gum without stimulating the bone beneath. Because implant-retained dentures require fewer implants placed at the front of the jaw, where bone tends to be better preserved, many long term denture wearers remain suitable.