If your dentures slip when you eat, need adhesive to stay put, or have you covering your mouth when you laugh, you're not alone, and you don't have to put up with them. Below are the options for fixed and more secure teeth in North Wales, how same-day fixed teeth work, and what to expect from recovery.
What are the alternatives to dentures?
There are four main routes, and the right one depends on your jaw bone, your gums, your health and what you want day to day.
Fixed teeth on implants. A full arch of teeth is fixed to four to six implants in the jaw. The teeth don't come out, at night or for cleaning, and they're the closest thing to having your own teeth back. With a same-day approach, the implants and a first set of fixed teeth are fitted in one visit.
Implant-retained dentures. A removable denture clips onto two or more implants. It's far more stable than a conventional denture and usually costs less than fixed teeth, but you still take it out to clean it and at night.
Staged implants and a bridge. Implants are placed, left to heal for a few months, and the fixed teeth are added afterwards. The result is similar to same-day fixed teeth, but there's a period with a temporary denture in between.
A new denture. Sometimes a better-fitting denture is the right answer, particularly if implants aren't possible or wanted. Bear in mind that without roots to stimulate it, the jawbone under a denture slowly shrinks, so even a good fit tends to loosen over time.
What are same-day fixed teeth?
Same-day fixed teeth replace a whole arch of failing or missing teeth with a fixed set supported by implants, fitted on the same day as surgery. You may see the approach called All-on-4 or teeth in a day. At West End Dental, it's called SureFix®, and we offer SureFix® consultations at our practices in Colwyn Bay, Llangefni, Porthmadog and Prestatyn.
You leave on the day with precision-made, temporary fixed teeth. They look and work like natural teeth from the start, and stay in place while your implants fuse with your jawbone. Once your implants have integrated, your temporary fixed teeth are replaced with final, custom-made teeth.
How does SureFix® work?
It starts with a free consultation so we can confirm your suitability for treatment, discuss your goals and set out your options. You'll then receive a written treatment plan with a fixed fee, agreed before anything goes ahead.
On the day, any remaining failing teeth are removed, the implants are placed and your fixed teeth are fitted, all in one appointment. It takes around two to four hours per jaw under local anaesthetic, the same kind used for a filling, and sedation can be arranged at our Colwyn Bay and Prestatyn practices if you'd prefer. You go home that afternoon with teeth.
Over the following four to six months, the implants fuse with your jawbone, a process called osseointegration. Your fixed teeth stay in throughout, so you're never without teeth. When integration is complete, we fit your final set. Two years of professional aftercare are included as standard, and SureFix® is delivered by the largest dental implant team in North Wales.
You can read the full detail on how SureFix® works.
What is recovery like after same-day fixed teeth?
Most people are more worried about recovery than they need to be. The first 48 hours are usually the most uncomfortable, with soreness and some swelling around the jaw and cheeks that peaks on the second or third day. It's generally a tender, bruised feeling rather than sharp pain, and over-the-counter painkillers manage it well. Many patients are surprised by how well they cope with immediate recovery.
By the end of the first week, most patients have stopped taking painkillers, and by the end of the second the soreness is normally gone. You'll come back to the practice a couple of times in the first few weeks so we can check on healing and make small adjustments.
You'll go home with written aftercare instructions. If anything doesn't feel right, such as pain getting worse rather than better, simply give us a call.
How long until I can eat normally?
You'll be on soft food for the first few weeks while you heal, then build up gradually. Because the teeth are fixed from day one, eating is often easier early on than it was with dentures.
Once the implants have integrated, usually by four to six months, and your final teeth are fitted, you can eat normally again. Many SureFix® patients tell us they're now enjoying foods they'd avoided for years.
Am I suitable for same-day fixed teeth?
If you have failing, missing or no teeth and want a solution, the answer is usually yes, even if you've been told no elsewhere. Bone loss is the most common reason people are turned away, and it's something our team plans around routinely, using various surgical and restorative techniques to manage complex situations.
Some things may need addressing before treatment, such as active gum disease, and heavy smoking or certain medications need careful planning. The only way to know for sure is a consultation and scan. Our suitability guide covers the common situations.
How much do same-day fixed teeth cost in North Wales?
SureFix® starts from £11,250 for a single jaw and £18,000 for both, as one fixed fee covering extractions, implants, both sets of teeth, scans, appointments and two years of aftercare. Higher tiers use more implants and stronger, more natural-looking materials, with longer guarantees. When both jaws are treated together, the total is reduced by 20%.
Finance is available to spread the cost, subject to status. Our finance page sets out the options. West End Dental Colwyn Bay Ltd is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, number 698377.
Your written plan confirms exactly what's included before you commit, so there are no surprises later.
