“What is the difference between full upper dentures and implants?”

Full upper dentures are not locked in and rely on saliva or adhesives to sit on the roof of the mouth. Implants are surgically anchored into the bone allow the prosthetic to be "locked in" and not move around in the mouth when eating or talking.

Don't be confused. You can have a denture done with or without implants. To have better stability, you need implants.

A full upper denture has NO natural teeth in the prosthesis. Plastic and ceramic teeth are used. Plastic teeth wear faster than ceramic teeth. Ceramic teeth are usually used because they are more like natural teeth than the plastic teeth unless they were incorporated with fillers to wear slowly. These are not used with implants due to cost. Those people who want a rigid denture often use 2, 3 or 4 implants which will have metal "keepers" to hold the bones in the upper and lower arches. This makes the prosthesis rigid, almost strong enough to hold the shape of the denture. Implants which have been become bound to the bone hold the metal substructure to be really strong and longer lasting for more years than a plastic denture will last.

You need visual aids to help you understand the difference between complete dentures and implants. Removeable dentures are like a "plate" that sits on your gum, whereas implants are screwed into the bone to act like tooth roots to support your teeth. Consult a prosthodontist for your best diagnosis and treatment recommendations.