How Much Do Dentures Cost? Average Price by Type and State

Dentures are a common solution to losing teeth and 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 their natural teeth, and 90% use dentures in their place, with nearly 15% of them getting dentures made every year.¹

While dentures can be a significant step forward in regaining your dental health, the cost can be substantial, and patients may require dental financing to help cover the expense. This article will explore the types of dentures available, their costs and how the dentures procedure typically works.

What Are Dentures?

Dentures are a type of prosthesis used to replace missing teeth. They come in sets that replace all your teeth in your upper or lower jaw (or both), or partial dentures that replace just a few missing teeth.²

Dentures can help maintain the shape of your face, prevent remaining teeth from moving, make it easier to chew your food and even make your speech clearer. While traditional removable dentures replace missing teeth, implant-supported dentures can also help reduce the bone loss that naturally occurs after teeth are lost. They may seem expensive initially, but the boost to your confidence and health can make them a worthwhile investment.²

Types of dentures

There are many different types of dentures to choose from, ranging from permanent to removable.² Your dentist can advise you on what’s best for your situation.

Below are some of the types of dentures your dentist might recommend:²

Fixed vs. removable dentures

When choosing between fixed or removable dentures, consider these pros and cons:³

• Fixed dentures. Also known as permanent dentures, these are more stable than removable dentures, and you may even forget you have them. However, they cost more and require surgery to place implants in your jaw.
• Removable dentures. These cost less than fixed dentures but will still improve your smile and ability to chew. They need daily removal and cleaning. Because they’re not permanently attached, they cannot prevent bone loss.

How Much Do Dentures Cost?

The national average cost** for dentures in the United States can range from $340 for low-cost dentures to $11,018 for premium dentures. This price can vary widely depending on the type of dentures you decide to get, the material they’re made of, where you live and your dentist.⁴

Average cost for dentures by type

So, how much does it cost if you decide to get full, implant-supported dentures versus removable overdentures? The average costs** of different types of dentures are as follows:⁴

Calculate the cost of dentures near you**

Average cost of dentures by state/district

Below is a breakdown of the average cost** of traditional, removable dentures in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.⁴

Prices do not reflect the cost of a consultation, possible insurance coverage or potential maintenance and repair. Costs can also vary depending on how much customization you want, the quality of the dentures and the type of materials you choose.

Additional denture costs to consider

When calculating the cost of dentures, it’s important to remember that other factors can play into the total price, such as appointments before getting your dentures. You may face the following additional average costs** depending on the type of dentures you’re getting and the procedure your dentist wants to perform:⁴

You will need several visits to get your dentures, and it could take around two months to complete the process from start to finish.⁵

Denture Maintenance and Repair Costs

You’ll also need to pay for the costs involved with keeping your dentures clean and working properly. Depending on the type of dentures you have, these might include:⁶

• Denture adhesives to hold removable dentures in place²
• Denture adjustments to ensure your dentures continue to fit comfortably
• Denture cleansers for removable dentures
• Denture relining the base of your dentures, which may need to occur every few years for a proper fit

Dentures may need to be replaced when they break or if they stop working well for you. But with proper care and maintenance, they could last as long as 10 years.⁶

Are Dentures Covered by Dental Insurance?

Your dentures may be at least partially covered by private dental insurance plans, Medicaid or Medicare. However, you’ll likely still need to pay some out-of-pocket costs.

Medicare and Medicaid

Traditional Medicare does not cover dentistry. You’ll need a Medicare Advantage plan, which may cover your dentures fully or partially.⁷

Medicaid coverage varies by state, with some states limiting you to one set of dentures every five or six years.⁷

Private health and dental insurance plans

Most private health insurance plans don’t cover dental work, including dentures. In some situations, your health plan might cover dental work after an accident or injury.⁸ To have procedures like dentures covered, you’ll need supplemental dental insurance in addition to your private health plan.⁹

Private dental policies typically cover 50% of the cost of partial or full dentures, but this may vary depending on your plan. Some plans may cover traditional dentures but limit coverage for advanced prosthetics like implant-supported dentures.⁹

How Can You Pay for Dentures?

There are several ways to pay for dentures, depending on what your provider offers and your budget. Some pay up front with cash, check or a credit/debit card. Others may choose a payment plan offered through the practice.

If you’d prefer to pay over time, the CareCredit credit card is another option many patients use for out-of-pocket health and wellness services. If approved, you can make monthly payments (with promotional financing options where available). Promotional financing options vary, so review the details and ask the office whether they accept CareCredit before deciding.

Signs You May Need Dentures

Just having a missing tooth doesn’t mean you need dentures. But if missing teeth impact the quality of your life, it may be time to get them.

You may want dentures if:⁵

• Missing teeth are affecting your appearance (such as your smile, the shape of your face) or your confidence overall.
• Missing teeth are affecting your ability to chew or speak.
• You have tooth damage that a dental crown or bridge can’t fix.
• You’ve lost teeth from injury or disease.

If you’re missing all your teeth, you may want to consider full dentures that resemble your natural teeth and match your gum and jawbone contours. They can improve your quality of life and confidence by restoring your smile and your ability to speak and chew. If you’re just missing some of your teeth, then you may want either fixed or removable partial dentures.²

How Does Getting Dentures Work?

Once you decide which type of dentures you want, getting them is a fairly straightforward process. Here’s generally what you can expect:

Preparation

If you want dentures, your dentist will perform a comprehensive exam of your teeth, gums and jaw.³ They will then take a mold (or impression) of your teeth using soft plastic or wax. The mold and bite records will be sent to a lab, where a technician will use the mold to build your dentures.² Some dental practices may use T-scan technology to take 3D images of your teeth instead of using physical molds. These digital images may provide a more exact fit.³

In general, it takes about two months to get removable dentures and a little longer to get permanent ones. Below is a rough timeline of how the preparation process unfolds, which may vary depending on your dentist.⁵

• Expect about 30 minutes to get your first impressions or molds of your teeth.
• Then it’s about two weeks for the lab to create custom mold trays.⁵ (With digital impressions, these first two steps might be faster.)³
• Two weeks later, you’ll have an hour-long appointment with your dentist to record how your upper jaw fits with your lower jaw. This is necessary for a proper denture fit.
• Two weeks after that, you’ll have an hour-long dental appointment to confirm that the dentures fit before final delivery. This is called a wax try-in.
• After another two weeks, your completed dentures will arrive.

If you’re getting permanent dentures with implants and your jawbone doesn’t have enough volume for your implants, your dentist may need to do a bone grafting procedure.¹⁰

Procedure

The procedure for placing your dentures varies depending on whether you’re getting permanent dentures or the removable kind.

With removable dentures, you’ll simply have another appointment with your dentist for a final fitting. Your dentist might trim your dentures to make sure you have a comfortable bite. This typically takes no longer than an hour.⁵

But if you’re getting permanent dentures with implants, the procedure is more in depth. Here’s how it works:¹⁰

• Metal posts that act like tooth roots are inserted into your jawbone.
• You’ll then wait several months while your jawbone fuses with the implants (called osseointegration). This creates a strong bond for the dentures. During this time, a laboratory will be making your dentures (as described above).
• Once the osseointegration is complete, your dentist will put an abutment connector on each implant post.
• Next, the dentures are attached and fitted securely to the abutments.

Recovery

If you’re getting removable dentures, there’s not much downtime required. Just remember, adjusting to your dentures can take some time. You’ll adjust faster if you leave them in for longer periods of time during the day when you first get them.²

If you’re getting permanent dentures, recovery can be a bit more involved. You’ll have some discomfort and may need to use ice packs the day after the implant surgery.¹⁰

For the first couple of days after the surgery, your dentist may also recommend:¹⁰

• Avoiding smoking
• Avoiding straws since suction can cause bleeding
• Rinsing your mouth with warm water to help with soreness
• Taking prescription or over-the-counter pain medication as advised
• Sticking to a diet of clear fluids the first few days, and then gradually introducing solid foods

Potential side effects and complications

As with any dental procedure, you may experience side effects or complications. These may include:¹⁰

• Abutment screw loosening or fractures
• Dental implant failure from inadequate osseointegration
• Difficulty chewing if the dentures aren’t fitted properly
• Increased gag reflex if you get upper dentures
• Sore spots or even mouth infections if the dentures aren’t fitted properly
• Soreness and irritation after surgery
• Speech difficulties as you get used to the dentures
• Swelling and sensitivity the first few weeks after surgery

Tips on Denture Care and Maintenance

After getting dentures, consider these tips so they last as long as possible:¹¹

• Avoid abrasive cleaners and tooth whiteners since these can damage dentures.
• Clean your dentures with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
• If you have removable dentures, rinse them after eating and soak them overnight.
• For permanent dentures, brush them like you would your normal teeth and use floss threaders.¹⁰

Dentures Can Be a Worthwhile Investment

If you’re missing some or all your teeth, dentures can greatly improve your quality of life by restoring your ability to eat, speak and smile with confidence. With the right fit and care, they offer a comfortable, functional solution that can enhance both your appearance and overall well-being. Whether you choose removable dentures or implant-supported options, your dentist can help you weigh the benefits, costs and long-term considerations to determine which solutions best fits your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dentures

Still want to know more about dentures? Here are the answers to some commonly asked questions.

Financing Dentures With the CareCredit Credit Card

Whether you’re getting dentures or you’re simply paying for a dental exam, the CareCredit credit card can help you pay for costs not covered by insurance.* Use our Acceptance Locator to find a dentist or oral surgeon near you that accepts CareCredit. Use the CareCredit credit card, again and again, to pay for your health and wellness wants and needs, and download the CareCredit Mobile App to manage your account, find a provider on the go and easily access the Well U blog for more great articles, podcasts and videos.

In addition to dental care, you can also use your CareCredit credit card for pet care, cosmetic, vision, hearing, health systems, dermatology, pharmacy purchases, spa treatments and so much more within the CareCredit network. How will you invest in your health and wellness next?

Author Bio

Stephanie Dwilson specializes in science journalism, breaking news and animal health. She is a business owner, licensed attorney and writer.