Let’s be honest — dentures can be very expensive. So expensive that it hurts to see the price tags. Fortunately, there is a world of cheap dentures out there. You just have to know where to look.
How Expensive Are Dentures?
The price of dentures varies depending on what you need. Everybody’s mouth is different, so you may pay a different amount than your neighbor for the same procedure.
The cost will change depending on if you need full or partial dentures, denture implants, or a dental bridge.
For example, getting a tooth pulled can cost anywhere between $50 and $900 per tooth. On top of that, you may need alveoloplasty, which is a surgery that reshapes the jaw bone to help minimize the chance of complications.
Plus, your dentist will probably need to reline your denture multiple times over the years, just to make sure your dentures continue to fit properly. These relines can cost $300 up to $500, or sometimes more.
Other things that can alter the price of your dentures is where you’re located (cities are more expensive), the experience of the dental professional (the more experienced, the higher the cost), and whether there are any complications.
Take all of this into account and you can understand why getting dentures can end up being quite expensive. The total cost of a full set of dentures can range anywhere between $1,500 and $90,000.
Yes, you read those numbers correctly.
This is why many people go on a search for more affordable dentures.
Factors To Consider Before Getting Cheap Dentures
Before you get affordable dentures, you’ll need to know some key factors about what type of dentures you need and what’s involved in the whole “getting dentures” process.
Will this be your first set of dentures or do you need to replace your current ones? Will you need surgery to remove natural teeth? Are you going to need a full set of teeth or just a few teeth? What material do you want your dentures to be made of?
These are questions you and your dentist can find the answers to. Once you do, it will make your search for low-cost dentures much easier.
Full Denture Cost
If you need a full arch of permanent dentures, meaning a full row of artificial teeth, it can set you back at least $1,000, whether it’s on the upper or lower jaw. However, it depends on whether you get a conventional or immediate denture.
Conventional Full Dentures
This is when the patient goes for days or sometimes weeks without having teeth while their dentures are being made. During this time, the gums and jawbone can heal better and the construction of the denture can be more precise.
Typically, a conventional full denture will cost between $1,200 and $3,000.
Immediate Full Dentures
With an immediate full denture, the patient’s teeth remain while the dentures are being constructed. In this case, the back teeth have already been removed so the gum tissue and jawbone in those areas can heal, and the front teeth remain.
Once the dentures are ready, the dentist will extract the remaining front teeth and place the new dentures right away. These can be either a transition prosthesis until permanent dentures can be placed, or they can be permanent in some cases. Though most dentists consider immediate dentures as temporary, not to be worn more than six months before the permanent option is placed.
Whatever the case, immediate full dentures usually cost between $1,500 and $3,300.
Implant-Retained Dentures (Removable)
The average cost is $11,000 per arch, but the prices across the US can range from $8,000 – $17,500.
With an implant-retained overdenture, also called snap-in dentures, you would get two or more implants to connect a removable denture. These typically do better with chewing than your standard denture, although you can experience some sore spots from the implants.
Implant-Supported Dentures (Fixed)
Generally speaking, the cost of implant-supported dentures can range from $3,500 to $30,000 for an upper or lower. If you need both an upper and a lower, it could run you $7,000 to $90,000. Your dentist should give you a much more precise quote because they know exactly what you need and are familiar with your situation.
When it comes to appearance, implant-supported overdentures are similar to implant-retained ones. The most significant differences are that they use at least four implants to hold the denture and are a permanent solution.
The most popular option here are All-on-Four dental implants. AO4’s can range from $20,000 to $25,000 if you complete all the necessary visits at one location.
If you’re interested in these types of dentures and wondering how to save money on implants, visit www.cheapdentalimplants.org to find some tips.
Partial Dentures Cost
As with full dentures, the cost of a partial denture will vary based on what type you get. And there are two basic types of partial dentures: flexible and metal.
Flexible Partial Dentures Cost
Flexible partial dentures are made of bendable material that’s colored to look like real gum tissue. Because of their flexibility, they are often more comfortable to wear. And a lot of times, they are removable, meaning you can take them out for cleaning.
These usually cost between $1,000 and $1,500.
Metal Partial Dentures Cost
Metal partial dentures are much more durable and comfortable than flexible dentures, and the latter types are usually compared to the former. Each one is custom made for each patient, so they can be a bit more pricey.
You can expect to pay anywhere between $900 and $2,000 for a metal partial denture.
Implant-Supported Bridges
This is a very popular option because of their comfort and convenience. With an implant-supported bridge, you get a prosthesis with the exact number of artificial teeth you need.
Usually, they cost $500 to $1,200 per artificial tooth.
Associated Costs
But wait, we didn’t include the cost of tooth extractions. These are not included in the above estimated costs.
There are two main types of tooth extractions: simple and surgical.
Simple Tooth Extraction
A simple tooth extraction refers to the typical, no-complications removal of a natural tooth. It can cost between $110 and $220 per tooth.
Here are some cases where you might need a simple tooth extraction:
- The tooth has penetrated through the gums
- Fractured or chipped from facial or mouth injury
- Tooth decay
- Infection or disease
This fee includes the anesthetic, the stitches, and any post-operative care (removing the stitches, pain management, possible complications). However, the total cost does not include any exams or X-rays to diagnose the condition of the tooth, and it doesn’t include sedation (if needed during surgery).
Surgical Tooth Extraction
A surgical tooth extraction requires more precise work. It deals with erupted teeth that require extra steps, like trimming bone surrounding the tooth or cutting the tooth into smaller pieces in order to remove it.
So if your tooth has broken off at or below the gumline, you can expect a surgical tooth extraction. These procedures usually cost $185 to $370 per tooth. Like a simple tooth removal, this cost estimate doesn’t include the other services, like X-rays, sedation, etc.
Denture Reline
Another accosiated cost with dentures is getting them relined. This is when the material on the inside of the denture (the part that touches the upper or lower part of your mouth) needs to be replaced. Basically, you’re getting the lining of the denture replaced.
For a complete denture reline, you can expect to pay between $280 and $400 per upper or lower denture. If the laboratory relines your dentures instead of your dentist, that can cost upwards of $500 per upper or lower.
How Much Do Dentures Cost Without Insurance?
Sometimes a dental insurance plan helps pay for dentures, but not always. Usually, you can only get coverage for certain types of denture work in certain time frames. And often, you’ll have to pay half the cost of the dentures after meeting the policy’s deductible. You also are limited by your policy’s annual spending limit.
However, there are ways to get low-cost dentures. You can get what’s called economy dentures, which will cost between $500 and $1,400 per upper or lower.
Dental Discount Plans
One super helpful way to save on dentures is to a dental discount plan.
They have no restrictions on when you can get dentures, or even what dental services you can and can’t get. You don’t have to worry about first paying a deductible, because there isn’t one. And there’s no annual spending limit. You just sign up, get your membership card, and start getting discounts of up to 60% on every dental visit.