Worked Estimates and Checklists
Full-arch dental implants cost in Canada: overdenture vs fixed bridge, worked out
Illustrative costs for replacing a whole arch of teeth in Canada with a complete denture, an implant overdenture or a fixed full-arch implant bridge, with coverage and maintenance.
Replacing all the teeth in one jaw can be done three main ways, and the costs differ by a factor of ten or more: a complete denture (the lowest cost and coverable under the CDCP and many public programs), an implant-retained overdenture that clips onto two or more implants (a middle option), or a fixed full-arch implant bridge screwed onto several implants (usually the largest dental expense people face, often marketed under names such as "All-on-4" or "teeth in a day"). Public plans do not pay for the implant parts, and private plans usually pay only up to an annual maximum or an alternate denture benefit. Get an itemised quote that shows the temporary and final prosthesis separately, because the final teeth are sometimes priced apart from the surgery.
This guide is part of the guide to reading a dental treatment estimate. Figures are illustrative; marketing names are used only to describe a treatment type, not any provider.
The three approaches
| Approach | What it involves | Removable? | Typical maintenance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complete denture | Impressions, try-ins, delivery | Yes | Relines; replacement over years |
| Implant-retained overdenture | Two to four implants with attachments; denture snaps on | Yes, by you | Attachment inserts replaced; relines; denture replacement |
| Fixed full-arch implant bridge | Usually four to six implants; extractions often same day; temporary arch, then final bridge | No, only by the dentist | Professional cleanings with removal; possible repair or remake of the bridge |
Illustrative cost build: one lower arch
Option 1: complete denture
- Extractions of remaining teeth (illustrative 6 teeth × $200): $1,200
- Immediate complete denture: $2,000
- Relines during healing: $400
- Total: $3,600
Option 2: two-implant overdenture
- Extractions: $1,200
- CT scan: $300
- Two implants at $2,200 each: $4,400
- Two attachments (locator-type) at $500 each: $1,000
- Overdenture: $2,800
- Total: $9,700
Option 3: fixed full-arch bridge on four implants
- Extractions and bone reduction: $2,000
- CT scan and planning: $600
- Four implants at $2,200: $8,800
- IV sedation: $900
- Temporary fixed acrylic arch: $3,500
- Final bridge (for example zirconia or metal-reinforced acrylic): $10,000
- Total: $25,800
You can model each option with the implant cost estimator: choose the overdenture or full-arch preset, set the quantity to 1 arch, and put extractions and imaging in the one-time extras.
What coverage changes
CDCP member (0% tier): the CDCP can cover extractions and a complete denture under its rules, but implants and all implant-related procedures, and precision attachment partial dentures, are excluded.
| Option | Illustrative CDCP-covered portion | You pay |
|---|---|---|
| Complete denture | Extractions and denture, about $3,600 at CDCP fees | About $0 plus extra charges |
| Overdenture | Extractions about $1,200 | About $8,500 |
| Fixed bridge | Extractions about $1,200 (if covered as listed services) | About $24,600 |
Group plan with 50% prosthodontic coverage, $2,000 maximum, alternate benefit of a complete denture:
- Complete denture: 80% of extractions ($960) + 50% of denture and relines ($1,200) = $2,160, capped at $2,000; you pay $1,600.
- Overdenture or fixed bridge: plan pays at most what a denture would earn, up to $2,000; you pay roughly $7,700 or $23,800.
Questions that change a full-arch quote
- Is the final bridge included? Some offers quote the surgery and temporary arch; the final prosthesis is priced later.
- What material is the final bridge? Materials differ in cost and repair options.
- How many implants? Four, five or six changes the fixture cost and planning.
- Is sedation included and who provides it?
- What are the maintenance visits and their fees? Fixed bridges are often removed by the dentist periodically for cleaning.
- What happens if an implant fails during healing? Ask about any policy on redoing work and who pays.
- What is the cost of the opposing arch? Treating one jaw may change what is needed in the other.
Paying for full-arch treatment
With totals above $20,000, people often combine savings, staged payment, a line of credit or patient financing. A 7-year term at 9.99% on $20,000, for example, comes to roughly $330 a month and about $7,900 of interest; at 3 years, about $645 a month and about $3,200 of interest. Run your own figures in the dental financing calculator and read dental financing and payment plans.
The medical expense tax credit can return part of the cost; with a large expense, choosing the right 12-month period and the right spouse to claim can matter. See timing dental payments for the tax credit.
FAQ
Is a fixed full-arch bridge permanent?
It is fixed in the mouth, but implants and the bridge can need maintenance, repair or replacement over time. Ask for an estimate of maintenance costs.
Do I need implants in both jaws?
Not necessarily. Many people treat the lower jaw first because lower complete dentures are often harder to keep stable. Discuss this with your dentist.
Can a denturist make the overdenture?
In several provinces denturists make implant-retained overdentures in collaboration with the dentist or surgeon who places the implants. Rules vary by province.
Will my provincial health plan pay because I lost teeth to illness?
Generally no for implants placed in a dental office. Limited hospital or special programs exist for reconstruction after cancer or trauma; ask your hospital team.
Sources
- Canadian Dental Care Plan — denture coverage and implant exclusions
- Canada Revenue Agency — medical expense tax credit
- BC College of Oral Health Professionals — denturists and dentists in British Columbia
- College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta — Alberta regulator
