Permanent Dentures: What They Are, What They Cost in NJ, and Who They Are Not For

Permanent dentures are a full arch of replacement teeth fixed to dental implants, which only a dentist can remove. You do not take them out at night, there is no adhesive, and the teeth are held by four to six implants in the jaw rather than resting on the gums. The term is not a clinical one, though, and some offices also use it for snap-in overdentures that you remove daily. Knowing which one you are being quoted is the first step in comparing prices.

This guide covers what permanent dentures actually are, what they cost in New Jersey using our published pricing, how long they last, the real downsides, who they are not right for, and what Medicare and insurance do and do not cover. It reflects how Dr. Israeli plans full-arch cases at our office on Route 138 in Wall Township.

What are permanent dentures?

Permanent dentures are a fixed, implant-supported full-arch prosthesis: a complete set of upper or lower teeth screwed onto dental implants that have fused with the jawbone. Dentists call them a fixed complete denture, an implant-supported fixed prosthesis, or All-on-4 and All-on-X teeth, depending on how many implants are used. Patients call them permanent dentures because, unlike a regular denture, they stay in.

Because "permanent dentures" covers more than one design, the most useful question to ask any office is simply: will I be able to take these out myself? If the answer is yes, it is an overdenture.

Fixed vs. snap-in vs. conventional dentures

Fixed permanent dentures give the most natural chewing and do not cover the palate; snap-in overdentures cost less and still transform stability; conventional dentures avoid surgery entirely. The table compares them on the points patients ask about most.

Implant numbers vary with bone volume and bite; the plan is set only after a CBCT scan. For a deeper comparison, see our page on fixed vs. removable implant teeth.

How much do permanent dentures cost in New Jersey?

At our Wall Township office, fixed full-arch treatment starts at $11,990 per arch, and upper and lower together start at $19,990. Extractions and bone grafting are included in full-arch pricing rather than billed as extras, and the consultation, including the CBCT scan and X-rays, is complimentary. Many offices quote a per-arch figure that excludes extractions, grafting, sedation or the final teeth, so compare what is included, not just the headline number.

What moves a permanent denture quote up or down:

1. One arch or both. A full-mouth case is priced as a package rather than two separate arches.
2. Material of the final teeth. Zirconia costs more to make than an acrylic hybrid; our guide to zirconia vs. acrylic All-on-4 teeth compares durability and cost.
3. Bone volume. Significant bone loss may call for advanced implants such as zygomatic implants rather than a denture; see dental implants with bone loss.
4. Sedation. IV sedation for full-arch surgery is administered by a board-certified MD anesthesiologist; see IV sedation dentistry.

Financing is available through several third-party lenders, including 0% promotional plans and options for limited credit, and the Better Than A Denture™ program lists payments from $239 per month, subject to credit approval. Details are on our financing options page, and our cost of dental implants in New Jersey guide covers single implants as well.

Prices are current as of the date above, are subject to change, and are confirmed in a written treatment plan at your consultation.

How long do permanent dentures last?

The implants under permanent dentures are intended to last for decades with good care, while the teeth attached to them typically need repairs and are eventually remade. That distinction is the honest answer to "are permanent dentures really permanent?" The foundation is meant to stay; the prosthesis is a component that wears.

• The teeth. In a long-term comparison of fixed full-arch prostheses, 93.7% of zirconia and 83.0% of metal-acrylic prostheses were still in service at five years. Acrylic teeth tend to wear and chip sooner; zirconia tends to need fewer repairs.
• Snap-in overdentures. Cleveland Clinic advises that an overdenture needs replacing every 15 to 20 years for best results, with attachment inserts replaced more often.
• The implants. Implant longevity depends heavily on home care, regular professional maintenance, smoking status and control of conditions such as diabetes. Implants can fail, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration notes that complications can occur soon after placement or much later.

What extends the life of a fixed arch is unglamorous: a night guard if you grind, a water flosser under the bridge every day, and professional maintenance visits where the teeth are unscrewed and cleaned. Our article on dental implants for seniors in New Jersey covers maintenance planning for older patients.

The downsides of permanent dentures

The main downsides of permanent dentures are the cost, the surgery, the daily cleaning work under the bridge, and the fact that the teeth will need maintenance and eventual replacement. None of these are reasons to avoid them, but they should be weighed honestly before committing.

• Surgery and healing. Implant placement is a surgical procedure. Expect pressure and soreness during recovery and a soft diet while the implants integrate.
• Cost. A fixed arch costs considerably more than an overdenture or a conventional denture, and is rarely covered by insurance.
• Cleaning takes effort. Food collects under a fixed bridge. A water flosser and special brushes are part of daily life, and missed cleaning raises the risk of peri-implantitis, an infection around implants.
• Repairs happen. Acrylic teeth wear and can chip; zirconia can occasionally fracture. Screws can loosen.
• An adjustment period. Speech and chewing usually adapt within weeks, but the first days with new teeth feel unfamiliar.
• Not reversible. Remaining teeth are typically removed, and implants change the jaw permanently.

Who permanent dentures are not right for

Permanent dentures are not the right choice for someone who cannot or will not keep up the daily cleaning and maintenance visits, or whose health makes implant surgery risky right now. Several other situations call for a different plan, or at least a slower one. Whether a specific person is a candidate is decided only after an exam and CBCT scan.

• Uncontrolled diabetes or a recent major medical event. These affect healing, and treatment is often deferred until they are managed.
• Heavy smoking. Smoking is associated with higher implant failure and peri-implantitis risk.
• Certain bone medications or head and neck radiation. Some osteoporosis drugs and radiation history change surgical planning and require coordination with your physician.
• Limited dexterity with no help at home. If cleaning under a fixed bridge is not realistic, a removable overdenture may serve better.
• A budget that fits an overdenture but not a fixed arch. This is a legitimate reason to choose the overdenture.

On that last point: the snap-in overdenture is not a consolation prize. The McGill consensus statement, issued after a 2002 symposium of implant and prosthodontic researchers at McGill University in Montreal, concluded that a lower overdenture on two implants should be the first-choice standard of care for patients without lower teeth, because of how much it improves function over a conventional denture. For many people it is the right answer. Our page on full and partial dentures covers conventional options too.

Does insurance or Medicare cover permanent dentures?

Original Medicare does not cover permanent dentures. Medicare states that in most cases it does not cover dental services or items like dentures and implants, with narrow exceptions tied to certain covered medical treatments. Some Medicare Advantage plans include a dental benefit, but these usually carry annual maximums far below the cost of a full arch.

Private dental insurance follows a similar pattern: implants are often excluded or capped, and annual maximums are typically a fraction of full-arch cost. Our office is out-of-network with all dental and medical insurance plans. We provide the procedure codes and a treatment breakdown so you can submit for any reimbursement your plan allows, and we accept HSA and FSA funds.

For a fuller look at coverage for older patients, see dental implants for seniors in New Jersey.

What the process looks like

Getting permanent dentures at our office starts with a complimentary consultation of two hours or more, including a CBCT 3D scan, and ends with final teeth made in our own lab. The steps below are the typical sequence; your written plan sets the exact timeline.

1. Consultation and 3D planning. Exam, CBCT scan and X-rays at no charge, then written options to take home. No referral is needed, and second opinions are welcome.
2. Surgery day. Any remaining teeth are removed, implants are placed, and bone grafting is done where needed, under local anesthesia or IV sedation given by a board-certified MD anesthesiologist.
3. Provisional teeth. A temporary fixed arch is attached within a day or two of surgery so you do not go without teeth.
4. Final teeth. With Better Than A Denture™, screw-retained hybrid teeth on a titanium bar are delivered in about 14 days. With Zirconia ImmediaTEETH® All on X, final zirconia teeth are usually delivered about five to six months after the start, once healing has settled.

Both protocols use teeth designed and finished in our in-house dental lab, which allows adjustments without sending work to an outside lab. You can see completed cases in our smile gallery and read more about full mouth dental implants.

Frequently asked questions