It can be difficult to get a clear cut answer on how much dentures cost.
“Dentures vary greatly in quality,” says Roger Levin, D.D.S., CEO of the Levin Group, Inc., a dental-management consultancy based in Owing Mills, Maryland. “Higher fees usually reflect a better quality [fabrication] lab and better materials. The old adage that ‘you get what you pay for’ applies here.”
Additionally, the pre-denture procedures each person requires will vary—some people may need multiple teeth extracted or even bone grafts done (for implant-retained false teeth) before dentures are made. “It usually takes four or five visits to get dentures,” says Dr. Jones, who is also a professor at the University of Detroit Mercy in Detroit, Michigan. “And you’ll need one or two follow-ups. It’s a six-month process.” Most dentists or implantologists will do the job from start to finish, although some may send patients to an oral surgeon for extractions.
Average costs nationwide for various denture types vary widely, but recent industry figures indicate that they can range from just under $2,000 for partial dentures, to all the way up to $55,000 for upper and lower All-on-4 dentures.
Intraoral digital scanning, which substitutes regular tray impressions (molds), and 3D printing technology that’s applied to the fabrication of dentures have been studied, developed and applied more and more. These new technologies and fabrication processes can potentially reduce treatment time and cost.
