- The average cost of a full denture is $1,800. Partial dentures cost about $1,500. Dentures are very likely to be covered by insurance.
- The dentures cost depends on the type of denture and the number of appointments. You will have to pay extra for additional treatments.
- The average price for interim dentures is $900. For immediate dentures, you will have to pay about $1,900.
Use Authority Dental to find a low-cost denture dentist near you. Or get an affordable dental plan and save up to 60% on all dental procedures, including dentures.
Due to the increasing aging population and widespread oral health issues, almost 42.5 million Americans are expected to wear dentures by the end of 2025. This number has grown by almost 1.5 million since 2020.
As more people turn to dentures, are you aware of what they cost? Here's everything you need to know.
Partial dentures cost without insurance
The biggest cost factor here is the materials.
The average price for a resin base partial denture is $1,500, metal ones cost about $2,000, and flexibles come out to roughly $1,700.
| PARTIAL DENTURE TYPE | AVERAGE COST | COST RANGE |
|---|---|---|
| Resin base | $1,500 | $800-$2,700 |
| Metal cast | $2,000 | $1,300-$3,100 |
| Flexible | $1,700 | $900-$2,500 |
| Interim | $750 | $450-$1,100 |
Interim dentures with the price tag of $700 are the cheapest option among partials. Notice, however, that this type is a temporary solution. Sooner or later they should be replaced with more durable prosthesis or even a dental implant.
If you want to have a radiant smile, but have a missing tooth, you may have to visit the dental office more often than you would expect. Scroll down to see procedures that your dentist might deem necessary.
Full dentures cost without insurance
The most important factor in determining the cost of a full denture is how much time it takes to make it. The faster you need new teeth, the more expensive the prosthesis might be. Here’s how you can save.
You should expect to pay about $1,800 for conventional, $1,900 for immediate, and $900 for interim dentures.
| FULL DENTURE TYPE | AVERAGE COST | COST RANGE |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional | $1,800 | $1,000-$3,000 |
| Immediate | $1,900 | $1,000-$3,500 |
| Interim | $900 | $300-$2,000 |
Another option you might be interested in is an implant-supported denture. This is a more stable solution. It does, however, involve surgery. You can have a look at how much one could cost on our dental implant cost page.
Keep in mind that all kinds of dentures come with additional costs such as cleaning materials, adhesives, and relines. Include these expenses in your final denture price.
Hidden costs of dentures
Picture by Authority Dental under CC 2.0 license
The process of getting dentures can involve extra dental care and examinations that can add up to the final price. Thus, with exams and extractions, basic dentures are likely to cost you between $1,000 and $3,500. Meanwhile, the total cost of getting premium dentures with follow-up care can exceed $5,000.
Your dentist will let you know what additional procedures need to be performed.
| PROCEDURE | AVERAGE COST | COST RANGE |
|---|---|---|
| Oral exam | $100 | $50-$200 |
| Tooth extraction | $300 | $200-$700 |
| Diagnostic casts | $35 | $50-$300 |
| Panoramic X-ray | $130 | $100-$250 |
| Tissue conditioning | $190 | $100-$450 |
| Denture adjustment | $100 | $50-$250 |
| Chairside relining | $400 | $200-$500 |
| Laboratory relining | $500 | $350-$900 |
Below are just some of the most common ones.
Oral exam
The first charge you will encounter when meeting a dentist to get a denture is the fee for a dental exam. This usually ranges between $50 and $200.
An oral evaluation will help assess what kind of denture is best for you. This is also an opportunity for you to explain your expectations and ask any questions you may have.
The dentist will have a look at which teeth are still present in your mouth. Minor issues like cavities might have to be resolved. They will also have a look at the state of your gums. If they are receded, inflamed, or infected, you may need SRP.
At this stage, you will be informed whether any procedures need to be done before a denture is fitted. If some teeth need to be extracted or treated, an appointment will be set up.
Tooth extraction
Your dentist may find that certain teeth are beyond repair. If that is the case, they will have to be removed. This might be a steep, additional fee, as tooth extraction can cost almost as much as the dentures themselves.
How much you will have to pay depends on the condition of the tooth and whether or not you will need sedation. This cost can vary between $200 and $700.
Diagnostic casts
A diagnostic cast, also referred to as a study model, allows the dental professional to determine your current bite and any adjustments needed.
You might be asked to use a tongue depressor. That will ensure that your mouth is in its most relaxed state. This is vital for assessing your bite. Your jaw will be moved to a central position.
A silicone or wax mold will be made of your teeth. It will be sent to a lab, where it will be converted to a mold of dental stone.
It will be placed in a machine to mimic the movement of your jaw. This way, the dentist will know what shape the denture has to take.
The price of diagnostic casts starts from $50.
Dental X-rays
Sometimes the dentist might need to see what your jaw looks like inside and out. This means the cost of an X-ray should be included in the budget for a denture.
A panoramic radiograph, the most common type of X-ray conducted in conjunction with fitting dentures, is taken by a device that moves slowly around your head. You will have to remain motionless so as to not make the image distorted. The resulting image will be two-dimensional, but will show all your teeth on one plane.
Tissue conditioning
If your current denture is ill-fitting or causing you pain, or if you recently had teeth extracted, you may need tissue conditioning.
This procedure requires a denture of some sort, so you may be fitted with a temporary one. A lining is placed along the surface that touches your gums. It will help your gums take the shape they need for fully-functioning replacement teeth.
The lining is soft and flexible but can make it harder for you to speak or eat. The goal is to help your gums heal and take the right shape. It is not meant to be a permanent solution. You will have to wear a denture with lining for a couple of weeks at most.
You may have to pay up to $450 for this procedure.
Denture adjustment
Denture adjustments are often minor changes, either cosmetic or functional, that help create a more natural appearance and enhance comfort. This procedure is especially common with immediate dentures and priced at $50-$100. Your gums change with time and an immediate denture is fashioned even before your mouth is ready for it. This means adjustments are inevitable.
A number of adjustments might be included in the cost of your dentures. It is worth checking with your dentist or dental plan whether this is the case.
If your gums have drastically changed shape (which does happen, especially after teeth are removed), an adjustment might not be enough. You might have to consider a reline.
Sometimes denture adjustment may be an emergency. In this case search for emergency dental services near you.
Denture relining
A chairside relining will take place at a local dental lab, and your denture will be ready during your visit. A laboratory relining usually takes about a day. Having your dentures relined in a laboratory can cost up to $900, whereas the price of a chairside relining usually does not exceed $500.
The three types of relines are: a hard reline, a soft one, and a temporary one.
A hard reline will alter your denture to take the exact shape of your mouth. Soft one will remain so for about a year and will be more gentle on the gums. A temporary reline contains a medicated material and should only be worn for a couple of weeks.
There are also at-home solutions. A do-it-yourself denture reline kit is a lot cheaper but does not have the quality you can expect from a dentist or laboratory. The prices for such a kit range from $10-$50.
Does insurance cover dentures?
Dental insurance is one possible way of getting affordable dentures. Whether your plan can cover prostheses depends on your expectations - most of the time.
Standard, low-cost dentures are more likely to be covered. The condition is that dentures have to be medically needed.
Getting false teeth, however, will always require putting in some money yourself. It is also worth checking if your provider is willing to sponsor relines. This is a running cost alongside cleaning materials.
The easiest way to find a good deal on dentures is to take advantage of the so-called dental plans. They work similarly to memberships. You pay an annual fee and get a discount on all dental procedures. Those reductions can be anywhere between 10%-60%.
With dental plans, there is no paperwork or yearly maximums. The work you have done in your mouth doesn’t have to be medically necessary. You don’t have to collect evidence in the form of dentist statements or X-rays either. The only requirement to receive affordable dental care services is that you have to go to an in-network dentist.
FAQ
What affects the price of dentures the most?
What is the cheapest type of dentures?
Interim dentures are the cheapest ones. Both for the partial and full options. As the name suggests, this is merely a temporary solution, though, so you have to take into account future costs.
It may be more prudent to buy a sturdier type straight away. The cheapest option will be made from a resin base.
How much does it cost to get all your teeth pulled and get dentures?
Getting all your teeth pulled in order to be fitted with a traditional denture can turn out to be quite pricey. A single extraction costs about $200, so you need to multiply that by the number of teeth you have left.
A traditional denture with 10 extractions will come with a bill of roughly $4,000. You can use our calculator to estimate your fee.
How much do dentures cost with extractions with insurance?
About 50% of the cost of extractions, along with the initial consultation, impressions, and denture fitting, is often covered by insurance. For example, if you need tooth extractions worth $100 and your full denture without insurance is priced at $1,000, the total expenses for you will be $550.
References
- A comprehensive approach to tissue conditioning for complete dentures
- Time efficiency and cost of fabricating removable complete dentures using digital, hybrid, and conventional workflows: A systematic review
- Digital Complete Dentures: An Updated Comprehensive Review
- Comparative cost-analysis for removable complete dentures fabrication with conventional and digital workflows
Namrita Harchandani, DMD
Traditional partial dentures are much cheaper than permanent options. However, they may get loose over time and sometimes have a metal clasp that may show through when you smile.