How Much Do Dentures Cost? Average Price by Type

Dentures are a common solution to losing teeth that can greatly improve your quality of life, whether you're missing all your teeth or just a few. More than 36 million Americans are missing all of their natural teeth and 90% use dentures in their place,¹ with close to 15% of them getting dentures made every year.²

But while dentures can be an important step forward in regaining your dental health, the cost can be significant and may require dental financing to help cover the price.¹

What Are Dentures?

Dentures are a type of prosthesis that can be used to replace missing teeth. If you lose some or all of your teeth, dentures can be a great solution. They can help reduce jaw deterioration and facial sagging, improve nutrition by making it easier to chew and make your speech clearer.³

Types of dentures

There are different types of dentures, ranging from full to partial and fixed or removable.³ They include:

• Full dentures. These are removable dentures that replace all the teeth in your mouth, fitting over your gums.³ The base is typically made of resin or metal, and the teeth are made of porcelain or polymer.⁴
• Immediate dentures. These are temporary dentures that you might wear after getting teeth extractions.¹ They give your gums time to heal while your dentures are made.³
• Partial removable dentures. These are dentures that just replace a few missing teeth, rather than all of them.³ They use metal hardware to attach to neighboring teeth, and you can unclip them.³
• Implant-retained, snap-in dentures. These full dentures snap onto implant posts that are attached to your jaw.³ They're removable like traditional full dentures, but are more stable.³ They are also better at helping your jawbone's health.³
• Fixed, implant-retained dentures. These dentures are held in place by implants.³ A common type has a full bridge that attaches to four posts in your jaw.³ They're not removable.
• Fixed partial dentures. These use a fixed bridge anchored to healthy teeth.³ You can't remove these yourself.³
• Dental implants. These are alternatives to dentures where one individual tooth is implanted in your jaw to replace a missing tooth.⁵ Dental implants tend to last longer than dentures and are more stabilizing to the jawbone, but they're also more expensive.⁵

Anyone who is missing teeth could potentially be a good candidate for getting at least partial dentures. But other factors will also weigh into the decision, such as:

• Bone loss⁴
• The number of missing teeth⁴
• Where your missing teeth are located⁴
• Cost⁴
• Patient preferences⁴

How Much Do Dentures Cost?

The national average cost for dentures can range from $2,000 for partial dentures up to $55,000 if you're getting both upper and lower fixed-implant dentures and have more extensive preparation needed.³

Here's a look at the breakdown of average costs for different types of dentures.⁵

The material you use for your dentures can also impact the price.¹ As an example, here's a look at how the price of partial dentures can vary based on the type of material you choose.¹

Dentures made with a metal framework are less likely to break, while resin bases are the least strong of your options.¹ The longer lasting the material, the higher the price.

Additional denture costs to consider

When calculating the cost of dentures, it's important to remember that other factors can also play into the price over time, including the preparation before getting your dentures, recovery time and the need for replacements or repairs.

For example, you'll face these additional average costs just to get dentures:¹

• Oral exams cost $100 or more.
• Tooth extractions cost $300 per tooth.
• Anesthesia during tooth extractions costs $250 an hour and then $200 per 15 minutes thereafter.
• The mold of your mouth costs about $35.
• Dental X-rays cost $130 or more.
• You might need tissue conditioning if your gums need help healing. It can cost an average of $190.

In total, you might need four to five dental visits to get your dentures, and it could take as long as six months to complete the process from start to finish.³

Denture Maintenance and Repair Costs

You'll also need to pay for costs associated with keeping your dentures clean and working properly. Depending on the type of denture you have, these might include:

• Denture cleansers for removable dentures⁴
• Denture adhesives, which help hold removable dentures in place. They can help with stability and bite force.⁴
• Denture adjustments, which may be necessary as your gums change.¹ These can cost $100 or more.¹
• Denture relining, which involves the base of your dentures. It may need to be relined every year for a proper fit and could cost $400 to $500 if done professionally.¹

Sometimes dentures need to be replaced if you develop issues like chronic irritation, constantly needing adhesives on removable dentures when you're eating or denture degradation.⁴ In general, removable dentures are expected to last at least five to seven years, with some patients not needing replacements for 10 years.⁶ Partial dentures can last up to 15 years, and implant-supported dentures can last 10 to 15 years.¹

Are Dentures Covered by Dental Insurance?

Unfortunately, things get a little tricky if you're hoping dental insurance will pay for your dentures. Talk to your insurance provider about what they will or will not cover.

Medicare and Medicaid

Basic Medicare A and Medicare B don't cover dentistry.³ You'll need a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C), which may then cover your dentures fully or at least partially.³

In addition, Medicaid in 31 states covers dentures fully, but some states will limit you to just one set of dentures in your lifetime.¹

Private health and dental insurance plans

In contrast, most private health insurance plans don't cover any dental work for adults, so they won't cover your dentures. In rare situations, your health plan might cover dental work after an accident or injury.⁷ But if you want procedures like dentures covered, you'll need supplemental dental insurance in addition to your private health plan.³

Dental insurance will typically cover at least part of the cost of your dentures, but it varies from plan to plan.⁵ Often, private policies will cover 50% to 80% of the cost of dentures, but when this kicks in, it will also vary depending on your plan.⁸ You'll need to meet your deductible first.⁸

In addition, many dental plans have a low yearly maximum benefit, and if your dentures cost more than that, you'll have to cover the rest.⁸ For example, if a plan has a maximum annual coverage of $1,500, then that's all it will pay toward your dentures after you've met the deductible. This can leave you with quite the bill even if you have insurance.

Options to Pay for Dentures

Many times you'll still be left with a bill even after applying your private dental plan, Medicare or Medicaid to the cost of your dentures. The good news is that there are steps you can take to help cover the remainder of the cost.

About one-third of Americans have had to forego medical or dental care because of the cost, so more dentists are offering installment plans to help pay for treatments.⁹ In fact, 71% of patients say they would regularly use a buy-now-pay-later option for their dental care instead of a regular credit or debit card if it were available.⁹

You can ask your dentist if they offer installment plans. You can also look for financing options on your own, such as the CareCredit credit card.

If you're missing some or all of your teeth, dentures can greatly improve your quality of life. But while health insurance may cover part of the cost, you'll likely still be left with a bill. Thankfully, financing through an option like CareCredit can make getting dentures a reality.*

CareCredit Credit Card Financing for Dentures

Whether you're investing in dentures or you simply need a dental exam, the CareCredit credit card can help you pay for costs not covered by insurance.^* Apply today and use our Acceptance Locator to find a dentist or orthodontist near you that accepts CareCredit to help get you on track to your perfect smile. Continue your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App to manage your CareCredit account, find a provider on the go and easily access the Well U hub for more great articles, podcasts and videos.

Author Bio

Stephanie Dwilson specializes in science journalism, breaking news and animal health and is a business owner, non-practicing attorney and writer.