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Dentures are a great way to restore the function of missing teeth. Learn how much they cost and how to afford them without insurance.
Having a healthy smile can have immense benefits for your overall health and well-being. However, sometimes, tooth decay with age is inevitable. When push comes to shove, you might need to get yourself a set of dentures.
Whole or partial dentures are an excellent way to restore the structure and function of your teeth, but they can be costly without a dental plan. Denture costs often prevent people who need them from accessing them, which can result in a deterioration in oral health.
Here is everything you need to know about getting a set of affordable dentures without a dental insurance plan, as well as other ways to save money on your dental care to maintain your oral health while keeping total dental costs low.
Dentures are removable pieces of equipment that can replace missing teeth to restore the structure and function of your smile.
When people think of dentures, they usually have a specific image in mind. Those standard dentures aren’t the only types available, however. With the different options available, it’s possible to find an option that offers the highest level of comfort while also having the most natural appearance.
Conventional dentures are a full set of false teeth that are placed in the mouth after your remaining teeth are extracted. While it can take several months for the tissue to heal before you can get the complete set, this is one of the most common types of dentures. These are often called full dentures or complete dentures.
If you receive a tooth extraction or similar dental procedure, immediate dentures are inserted on the same day. Your dentist will make a model of your jaw during a preliminary visit. The denture might need to be realigned or remade after the healing period to adjust to your jaw.
It’s always good to try to keep as many of your natural teeth as possible, even when you have permanent dentures. An overdenture fits over a small number of remaining teeth while filling in the gaps with replacement teeth.
Partial dentures are usually removable devices that help replace multiple teeth, either in the upper or lower area of your mouth. They can improve chewing as well as speaking while simultaneously helping keep your remaining teeth in place.
Dentists tend to recommend partial dentures for people who have three or more missing teeth next to each other.
Full dentures are removable dentures that function like a complete arch of teeth that you can remove at night. These types of dentures sit on top of your gums and rely on the roof of your mouth or lower jawbone for support. Most people need to use an adhesive to hold the dentures in place.
Instead of relying on your gums, palate, and jawbone for support, implant-retained dentures attach to dental implants. Dental implants are made up of titanium posts that your dentist places in your jawbone to hold a crown that functions like a tooth.
You can remove implant-retained dentures at night like you would with other options. One of the best aspects about them, however, is they offer more stability and don’t require the use of any adhesives.
Dentures are temporary in the sense that they can be removed. However, dental implants are permanent fixtures that are fixed to the jawbone. Through a prosthesis, a metal post is placed into the bone, and a crown is placed over the top once the bone has healed. This is called an abutment.
While dentures and implants share the same purpose, note that implants tend to be more expensive because they are more durable. Insurance companies may also not always cover them. However, they are more reliable than dentures, which might not stay in place or can cause sores on the gums.
If you’re not sure which option is right for you, speak with your dental professional to see what they recommend.
The cost of dentures depends greatly on the type you choose as well as on the materials they’re made of. You should also keep in mind that the dentures that last the longest will usually cost the most.
Immediate dentures can cost between $600 and $1,000, while partial dentures can cost between $500 and $2,500. For full traditional dentures, you can expect the cost to be anywhere from $1,000 to $15,000. Because they’re meant to last about 10 years, the quality of the materials of the more expensive traditional dentures will hike up the price.
For implant-retained dentures, you can expect the cost to be $3,000 to $6,000 per implant, plus the price of the dentures.
When you have missing teeth, your facial muscles can start to sag, and it can make you look a bit older. Removable dentures restore the appearance of your smile after tooth loss and can help you look even younger and fresher. They can closely resemble your natural teeth and are able to be removed.
Having missing teeth can prevent you from being able to enjoy certain foods, but high-quality dentures also restore the function of your jaw. With dentures, you can eat your favorite foods and not need to worry about missing out.
Many factors impact how long dentures last, with one of them being the materials they’re made from.
Most dentures are made from acrylic resin, though you can also get porcelain dentures. Although porcelain offers the most natural look, they’re more expensive than acrylic options because they tend to last about ten years. Acrylic resin dentures can wear down in five to eight years.
Partial dentures tend to last longer than full dentures and often function well for up to 15 years. Full dentures last between five and 10 years.
Keep in mind that taking care of your dentures can extend their lifespan. You will want to maintain the devices as you would regular teeth, brushing them on a daily basis with a soft-bristled brush. If the dentures are removable, make sure to use the appropriate soaking solution exactly as your dentist directs you.
It also makes a difference to follow any guidelines your dentist may give you about what you can and can’t chew. Traditional full dentures could suffer damage if you eat very chewy or hard items, for example.
You may know you need dentures, but you may not know how much you’ll need to pay for them. Here’s an overview of how much they cost with and without insurance.
Dental insurance coverage can help you pay for dental services like routine checkups or dentures. However, since dental insurance is a separate policy from health insurance, it leaves many individuals without access to the care they need. In fact, over 33% of adults over the age of 19 do not have any dental benefits whatsoever.
This lack of insurance coverage means many people are stuck paying out of pocket for dentures and other services.
Without insurance, a full set of dentures can be quite costly. Depending on the experience of your provider, you can expect the price of dentures to be anywhere from $1,300 to $3,200. And this doesn’t include the cost of extraction, which can range upwards of $350 per tooth.
The cost of dentures depends on the type of coverage you have. For example, with Humana, you will need to meet a deductible before being able to get 50% coverage for dentures.
If you have Medicaid, your coverage for dentures can vary depending on your state of residence. In North Carolina, for example, Medicaid often covers almost all costs related to dentures. In Oklahoma, on the other hand, Medicaid only covers emergency dental services.
A standard Medicare plan will usually not cover dental services. If you have Medicare supplemental plans like Medicare Advantage, however, you could get up to 50% coverage for dentures.
Dentures can vary significantly in cost, even within a single type of denture. Here are some of the main factors that influence the price.
Immediate denture options can vary widely when it comes to cost. One of the reasons for that is that they’re not custom-fitted to your mouth the way other dentures are. You may think that cuts down on costs, but it actually means you will likely need to reline or even replace them as your gums heal after a tooth extraction.
Partial and full dentures are more expensive up front because they’re custom-fitted to sit more comfortably against your gums. They tend to last longer, however, so you don’t have to worry about replacing them so often.
The type of denture that typically costs the most is implant-retained dentures. This added cost is because you have to get dental implants, too. When you consider that each implant could cost as much as $6,000, if you need a few of them, you could already expect a higher cost than a full denture.
The more preliminary work the dentist has to perform to prepare your mouth for dentures, the more expensive the entire procedure will be. That’s reflected in the cost of the dentures.
When it comes to the materials dentures are made of, the rule of thumb is that the more natural-looking and longer-lasting they are, the more you can expect to pay. The most common material for dentures is acrylic resin because of its durability and comparatively lower cost.
Porcelain looks more natural and won’t stain, but it is also the most expensive material. Composite resin is a slightly newer option that tends to be more affordable than porcelain while still offering similar benefits.
If you take care of your dentures, they’ll last longer, which means they’ll end up being less expensive. If you have to replace your dentures every five years because they stop fitting correctly or they’re cracked or stained, you could end up spending a fortune.
Even if you don’t need to completely replace them, not taking care of your dentures might mean needing repairs or adjustments to ensure they fit you correctly.
Don’t feel like you need to take out a second mortgage just to be able to afford your dental care.
Here are some tips and tricks to make dentures and other services more affordable.
All the talented dentists in your area had to start somewhere, and dental schools or clinics are exactly where they began their journey. Here, dental students can practice dentistry on your teeth and provide you with high-quality care at extremely low prices.
Since the students can’t profit from these services, you often only pay for the price of the materials used during treatment.
While the quality of care is at risk while students are still learning, note that these services are always supervised by a professional to ensure that everything runs smoothly.
If you are above a certain age, government-funded healthcare plans like Medicare and Medicaid can also be used in order to get low-cost dentures. While Medicare does not cover most dental services, note that it can cover expenses that are required during a hospital visit. With that in mind, dentures are extremely unlikely under this plan.
Medicaid, on the other hand, varies from state to state. Most states provide emergency dental services for adults, and this often includes dentures if it is considered a necessary treatment for your overall health.
However, less than half of the states provide comprehensive dental care that includes things like routine cleanings or cosmetic treatments.
If you’re still not sure about dentures and have more questions, check out these common questions and answers about dentures.
Premium dentures can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $15,000. These are made of high-quality materials and are custom-fitted. You can expect them to last about 10 years if you take care of them.
For many patients, the rule is to wait about six months after tooth extractions before getting dentures. This gives your gums and oral cavities the time they need to heal from the extraction. You can expect your dentist to carefully monitor your healing process to be able to get your dentures in place as soon as possible.
This healing period is crucial for ensuring the right fit of the dentures. Getting fitted for dentures while your gums are still swollen means the dentures won’t fit correctly when the inflammation goes down.
The exact time you’ll have to wait depends on your overall health and how the healing process progresses. If you need to get bone grafts for implant-retained dentures, you can expect a longer healing time.
In some instances, your dentist may recommend immediate dentures. These are temporary dentures you can get right after the tooth extractions occur.
A complete set of dentures can range from $1,000 to $15,000, depending on the quality of the materials and other factors. If you choose to get full implant-retained dentures, you have to add the costs of the implants to that of the dentures.
Implant-retained dentures are generally the best if you’re looking for maximum stability. With these dentures, you don’t have to worry about the devices shifting as you eat or talk because they’re attached to your dental implants. They also allow you to have the full force of your bite back. With regular dentures, which only rest on your gums, you’re more limited.
These kinds of dentures do have some drawbacks, however, including a high cost and invasive procedures required to fit the implants.
Dentures are one of the best ways to enhance the appearance of your smile when missing teeth have made you feel less than perfect. Dentures are a prosthetic addition to your mouth that can replace all, or some, of your missing teeth.
While these are great procedures to restore the structure and function of your jaw, they can be expensive. A full set of dentures can cost upwards of $3,500 without insurance, and that’s not including the price of the tooth extraction.
Sources:
Dentures - American Dental Association | MouthHealthy
Dental coverage, access & outcomes | American Dental Association
