When it comes to dentures, there are basically three different categories, each with a variety of variants, which are differentiated according to the way they are anchored in the mouth: fixed dentures, removable dentures, as well as combined dentures (a combination of fixed and removable elements).

What is the right choice for a person depends on the gap between the teeth, the condition of the teeth, cosmetic requirements, as well as the cost of the treatment.

Below we provide a brief overview of the different methods of tooth replacement – in-depth articles on each method are linked here.

Types of dentures at a glance

1. fixed dentures	Crowns, bridges, dental implants
2. removable denture	Clasp denture, model cast denture, telescopic denture, Total or complete denture
3. combined dentures (hybrid dentures)	Telescopic prosthesis, conical crowns, attachment prosthesis, bar prosthesis, push-button anchor

1. fixed dentures:

A. Dental crowns

What are dental crowns?

A dental crown refers to a crowning of the natural tooth crown. The natural tooth crown is the upper, visible part of the tooth. The aim of an artificial dental crown is to preserve the natural tooth. Crowns are used when the root of a tooth is still intact.

When is a dental crown necessary?

Artificial dental crowns are often used to replace an injured or missing tooth, this may be necessary in a variety of situations:

• In case of caries or accident
• For discolored or loose teeth
• As an attachment for an implant
• As anchorage of (dental) prostheses

What are the types of dental crowns?

Basically, dental crowns can be differentiated according to several factors, here we will briefly discuss the material used, which is typically the biggest factor in the aesthetics and cost of the crowns. 

• Veneered crown: A veneered crown is made of metal, but the visible part is partially or completely covered with a tooth-colored material, e.g. ceramic or plastic. Veneered crowns are often used in the visible area of the dentition (e.g. on the incisor)
• Metal and full-cast crown: Metal or full-cast crowns are made of metal or a gold alloy and are particularly durable and fracture-resistant. They are mostly used in the non-visible area of the dentition (e.g. for a molar tooth)
• Shell and all-ceramic crowns: A shell crown or all-ceramic crown encloses the tooth in the shape of a shell, is made exclusively of ceramic and can hardly be distinguished from the natural tooth
• All-resin crowns: These serve more as a longer-term interim solution than as a permanent tooth replacement

What are advantages and disadvantages of dental crowns?

Saving teeth: crowns can preserve even severely damaged teeth.

Protection of teeth: In addition, crowns can protect teeth from renewed caries formation.

Durability depends on material and care: The durability of dental crowns is highly dependent on the material used and individual dental care:

• Ceramic crowns can last 10 to 15 years,
• Dental crowns made of full metal even up to 25 years
• Crowns made of metal veneered with plastic may no longer look beautiful after only 5-7 years

Grinding down part of the natural tooth substance: Grinding down the natural tooth substance can rarely lead to damage to the tooth nerve.

Risks associated with poor accuracy of fit: If the accuracy of fit is poor, caries may form again or the gums or tooth nerve may become inflamed.

What costs should I expect for dental crowns?

The cost of a crown is highly dependent on the material. In Switzerland, the following costs can be expected:

• Veneer crown: Approx. CHF 300 plus the current gold price (for veneer crowns made of gold)
• Shell and full ceramic crown: approx. CHF 1,200 to CHF 2,500 per tooth depending on the situation of the tooth
• Full acrylic crown: CHF 40 to CHF 90 (temporary)

B. Dental bridges

What are dental bridges?

With a dental bridge, gaps between teeth are “bridged” by a replacement. In this case, the teeth bordering the gap are used as abutment teeth to which the dentist attaches the ends of the bridge. The pontics of the bridge replace the patient’s missing teeth.

When are dental bridges necessary?

Bridges are used when a patient has small to medium-sized gaps between teeth. A bridge improves aesthetics and speech and chewing function in missing teeth.

The most common reasons for tooth loss are caries, periodontal disease and accidents.

The basic prerequisite for the use of a dental bridge is sufficient stability of the adjacent abutment teeth, as well as good oral hygiene.

What are the variants?

The main distinction of dental bridges is the way the bridge is fixed:

• End abutment bridge: This is the most common type of bridge, here the bridge is attached to two existing teeth to the right and left of the gap
• Free-end bridge: When a bridge is located at the end of a row of teeth, a bridge can also be fixed on one side only. Here we speak of a “free-end bridge”.
• Adhesive bridge: This is a temporary solution that is only bonded. A metal framework is attached to the back of the adjacent teeth with thin adhesive plates

What are the advantages and disadvantages of dental bridges?

Less effort than implants: Since the teeth that delimit the gap are used as abutment teeth, no implants are required.

Long durability: A dental bridge usually lasts 10 to 20 years.

Grinding of healthy teeth: Healthy teeth that serve as abutment teeth must be ground for the attachment of the bridges, with the risk of the abutment teeth dying.

Caries risk: Caries often develops at the edge of the bridge.

Bone resorption: Bone resorption may occur in the area of the replaced teeth due to the changed load during chewing.

What costs should I expect for dental bridges?

For a three-unit bridge, costs of approximately CHF 2,200 to CHF 3,000 must be expected in Switzerland.

C: Dental implants

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are artificial tooth roots where metal pins are fixed in the jaw. Strictly speaking, implants are not tooth replacements, but the basis for attaching a denture. The final prosthesis in the form of a crown, bridge, or fixed/removable prosthesis must still be attached to implants.

For whom are dental implants suitable?

Implants can replace all types of tooth loss – i.e. single missing teeth, multiple missing teeth, or even the entire set of teeth.

A prerequisite for implants is that the patient has stable bone in the affected jaw that can support the implants. If a patient does not have enough jawbone, it is possible to build up the jawbone.

What are the variants?

There is an unmanageable variety of implant types on the market, which can be differentiated according to various aspects. Most implants are implanted in the jawbone (endosteal implants). Here we would like to present the further distinction based on the shape of the implant:

• Screw implants: Threaded screw implants are the most commonly used type of dental implant. Conventional screw implants are screwed into a standardized hole that is previously milled into the jawbone. More modern screw implants can sometimes be screwed into the jaw without predrilling
• Hollow cylinder implants: These implants do not have a thread but are “tapped” into the jawbone, for this purpose a hole must also first be milled into the jawbone.
• Mini implants: These have a smaller diameter (2.3 mm) than standard implants (3 mm) and are made of a harder material than standard implants. Due to their size, they require less bone density than standard implants, but are less flexible in their use

What are the advantages and disadvantages of dental implants?

Esthetics and function: No other method replaces the tooth as naturally as a tooth replacement based on dental implants. Dental prosthesis based on dental implants is almost indistinguishable from other teeth in terms of appearance and bite feeling.

High durability: Today, an implant can last a lifetime. However, the ceramic crowns or another attachment on the implant may need to be replaced over time – ceramic crowns have a shelf life of 10-15 years depending on care.

No sacrifice of healthy tooth substance: Unlike crowns and bridges, no healthy teeth have to be ground down when implants are inserted.

Prevention of bone resorption: The imitation of the natural tooth roots prevents bone resorption, which is partly caused by dentures, when the bone under the denture is no longer properly loaded.

High effort and treatment time: Placing dental implants is a relatively invasive surgical method to replace missing teeth. On average, it takes 3 to 6 months for the implants to heal completely.

Highest cost among tooth replacement options: Dental implants are the most expensive of all tooth replacement options.

Risk of surgery and wound healing disorders: Surgical interventions are always associated with a certain risk, for example, there may be disturbances in wound healing.

What costs should I expect for dental implants?

In Switzerland, a single dental implant including a crown and excluding bone augmentation costs approximately CHF 2,500 to 5,000, depending on the manufacturer. With bone augmentation, costs of 3,500 to 5,500 per dental implant can be expected. With multiple dental implants, the cost per dental implant decreases.

Bridges on 4 implants (ALL-ON-4®) per jaw currently cost CHF 8,000 to CHF 15,000 in Switzerland.

2. removable dentures: dentures

What are dentures?

In common parlance, dentures are referred to as the “third teeth” that lie in a cleaning fluid in the glass at night.

Dentures are a removable dental prosthesis used by doctors to replace missing teeth – either all the teeth in the mouth (full denture) or some teeth in the mouth (partial denture).

Removable dentures consist of a plastic base that is shaped to fit over the gums and the artificial teeth that are attached to the plastic base. 

For whom are dentures suitable?

Dentures are used especially when a patient has lost many or all teeth. Partial dentures are used when fixed dental crowns or dental bridges can no longer be anchored.

Dentures are typically used in older adults who have lost a large number of teeth or when fixed dentures are not an option due to lack of bone density.

What are the variants?

There are basically several variants of removable dentures – on the one hand, a distinction is made here between full dentures and partial dentures, and on the other hand, a distinction is made between how the dentures are fixed.

Extent of the replaced teeth

• Full dentures or complete dentures: Full dentures are used when all the teeth in the mouth need to be replaced. Full dentures are typically made of plastic and are molded to fit over the gums
• Partial dentures: Partial dentures are used when only part of the teeth in the mouth need to be replaced. Partial dentures are additionally differentiated according to the type of attachment in the oral cavity:
  • Clasp denture or cast model denture: This variant of partial dentures is made of plastic and metal. The replacement teeth are placed on a pink plastic base and attached to the patient’s remaining teeth with the help of metal clasps
  • Telescopic prosthesis: In the case of a telescopic prosthesis, the remaining teeth are usually ground by the dentist and provided with so-called inner crowns as a fixed element for anchoring the prostheses. The inner crowns serve as a base for a removable part of the prosthesis

What are the advantages and disadvantages of dentures?

Low cost: The advantage of removable partial or full dentures is that they cost less than fixed dentures. An acrylic denture is the most affordable alternative for a removable denture.

Short therapy time: The treatment for inserting removable dentures is much easier, because there is no need to insert implants, for which the dentist has to drill the jaw including months of healing.

Acceptable aesthetics: In the past, removable dentures were often easily recognizable, but thanks to innovative technology, dentures today are aesthetically better and can often hardly be distinguished from the patient’s own teeth.

Medium durability: The durability of dentures depends on the quality of the remaining teeth and jawbone. In addition, good oral hygiene is important to ensure that dentures last as long as possible.

In general, removable dentures last about five years, and even up to 10 years with good oral hygiene.

Low wearing comfort: Prostheses often impair patients’ quality of life. Dentures in the upper jaw still adhere relatively well due to a relatively large contact surface on the palate, but dentures in the lower jaw often slip or wobble and cause the feeling of a foreign body in the mouth and corresponding uncertainty.

Risk of jaw atrophy: Wearing dentures means that the jawbone is no longer naturally loaded by chewing, which can lead to jaw atrophy, which in turn reduces the support of the dentures.

What costs should I expect for removable dentures?

In Switzerland, a removable denture costs between CHF 1,500 and CHF 2,500 per jaw. Patients should therefore expect costs of between CHF 3,000 and CHF 5,000 for a total prosthesis for the lower and upper jaw.

The prices for partial dentures are significantly lower, depending on the design, and in some cases start at around CHF 700.

It can also be worthwhile for dentures to be treated in other European countries.

3. combined dentures (hybrid dentures)

What is a combined denture?

A combined denture is the middle ground between fixed and removable dentures.

These are removable dentures that are attached to the remaining teeth or implants with fixed anchorage elements. The fixed and removable parts of the prosthesis held together by various connecting elements.

For whom is a combined denture suitable?

A combined denture is used for patients who no longer have enough teeth for fixed bridges. The specific anchoring elements used are adapted to the patient’s individual situation.

What are the variants?

A wide variety of anchorage systems are used for a combined denture. Their common feature is that in each case a so-called primary part is attached to an abutment tooth or implants (fixed part for anchorage), and a so-called secondary part attaches the removable  prosthesis to the primary part.

The most common types of combined dentures by anchorage system are:

• Telescopic prosthesis: These are double crowns or so-called sleeve attachments. They consist of a primary crown (also called primary telescope), which is cemented onto the abutment tooth. A secondary crown (also called a secondary telescope) fits onto the primary crown and is incorporated into the prosthesis
• Attachment prosthesis: These are rigid retaining elements that hold the prosthesis in place by friction. Attachments consist of a matrix, which is incorporated into the crown of the abutment tooth, and a patrix, which is incorporated into the prosthesis and allows attachment to the matrix by insertion
• Bar prosthesis: Metal bars (called bars) are used to connect the crowns of abutment teeth. A part incorporated into the dentures (the so-called rider) can be placed on the bars, which connects the denture to the bit

What are the advantages and disadvantages of combined dentures?

Combined dentures have several advantages over removable dentures:

Improved retention of dentures and better chewing function: A combined denture allows better retention than removable dentures and allows normal chewing function.

Improved esthetics compared to dentures: A combined denture is usually free of visible elements (e.g. metal clasps) and thus has improved esthetics compared to a cast model denture.

Increased wearing comfort: Since combined dentures are individually adapted to the patient in several steps, they are usually more comfortable to wear than removable dentures.

Better cleaning than fixed dentures: The advantage over fixed dentures is that part of the denture can be removed from the mouth for cleaning.

Higher treatment costs: A combined denture is usually more expensive than a removable denture due to the more complex treatment process.

More time-consuming treatment: The time required for a patient from the beginning to the end of treatment for a combined denture can take several months, which is significantly longer than the time required for a removable denture.

Necessary treatment of teeth and implants if necessary: The use of a combined denture requires the insertion of the primary elements in the denture, which can be more uncomfortable compared to a removable denture and carries a lower risk of complications.

In some cases (when there are no remaining teeth as abutment teeth) implants are also needed with the corresponding treatment risks.

What costs should I expect for a combined denture?

The costs of a combined denture are very individual and strongly depend on the chosen solution, the materials used and the necessary treatment steps, therefore an individual cost estimate should always be obtained.

Costs for telescopic dentures in Switzerland start between CHF 2,000 and CHF 4,000, but can quickly turn out much higher.

Last update: December 12, 2022