How Much Do Partial Dentures Cost?
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Partial dentures will usually have teeth attached to a metal or plastic base, usually pink in color. These dentures will be removable at any time and are held in by the natural teeth in the mouth by using a metal clasp. This framework holds the dentures in place and will be recommended when one or more teeth are missing in either the upper or lower jaw, filling in the gaps while preventing the teeth from changing positions. This type of denture is often used by those who don’t want implants or a bridge.
How much do partial dentures cost?
The cost of partial dentures will depend on the material they are made from, who’s performing the procedure, the complexity, if you have dental insurance and if any additional procedures, such as extracting your teeth, will be required. The three most common types of partial dentures you will find will include cast metal, acrylic and flexible acrylic, and the prices mentioned below will be priced “per unit,” which means either the upper or lower part of the mouth.
Cast metal partial dentures, which will typically be the standard dentures found, will be made from a metal alloy and can cost anywhere from $1,000 to close to $2,200 per unit. They are known to be strong, durable and highly recommended by most professionals.
Removable acrylic partial dentures will have a plastic base and can cost anywhere from $600 to $1,400 per unit. This base will be made of a gum-colored plastic and the denture teeth and tooth clasps will be embedded into this base. Typically considered to be less desirable, these dentures have a main advantage: if natural teeth were lost in the future, additional artificial teeth can be added to the existing base and a new base won’t have to be made, unlike a cast metal type. Most people often choose this type because they tend to be cheaper or it’s needed for a temporary purpose.
Lastly, a flexible acrylic material, which is often branded under Valplast Nesbit®, Duraflex®, tcs®, will be made from a flexible plastic base and clasps and can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $2,700 per unit. This flexible material will be less irritating to the teeth and the clasps, unlike the cast metal, will be blend in with your natural gum color, making them less noticeable.
Bauer Smiles, a dentist located in Illinois, says a full jaw will cost about $2,500, but it may be a little more if teeth were to be removed.
Partial dentures overview
As noted above, partial dentures will be made from either a plastic or metal base that is designed to fill in the gaps in either your lower or upper jawline. This base will support the number of teeth that need to be replaced by resting around the natural teeth and will be held in the mouth by using clasps, commonly made from metal. Metal bases are commonly preferred due to the strength it offers; however, a plastic base may be used if it’s an emergency or used as a temporary replacement. The base can either be pink or as a gum color, mimicking the gums to help it blend in naturally. As for the clasps, they can either be made from metal or can be used as another type of connector to create a natural appearance.
After the dentures have been created, your dentist will be able to show you how they should be put into place, along with care instructions and how long you should wear them each day. Ideally, most people will wear these types of dentures 24 hours per day, but in some case in the beginning, it may make the mouth sore, forcing you to take them out for certain periods of time.
What are the extra costs?
A lab fee may be an additional fee charged to patients when the dentures have to be created. This lab fee can cost an additional $150 to $250.
A tooth extraction may be needed if the affected teeth aren’t removed yet. A simple tooth extraction will often be $100 to $220.
In some cases, an alveoloplasty may be required as well. This is a surgical procedure that helps reshape the jaw ridge to fit the new partial. The cost of this procedure will greatly vary on a case by case basis.
Sometimes, crowns may be needed on your natural teeth to improve the fit. These crowns may be an additional cost, depending on the office billing policy.
Like toothpaste for your teeth, dentures will need a special cleaner to keep them in tip-top shape. It’s recommended you don’t use toothpaste on your dentures as this may be too harsh for the material. Instead, a brush designed for dentures should be used.
Over time, as your mouth naturally changes, you will have to come in for readjustments, which is about every five years. Plan on spending at least $200 to $450 for this visit without any insurance.
Sometimes, these dentures may break and will require repairs, and the average repair can be around a few hundred, depending on the complexity. The same can be said with wear an dtear. As time goes on, the teeth can wear down, creating a worn shape.
If new teeth need to be added to the mold in the future, this can be an additional $150 to $350.
Same day partial dentures may be available in some locations but will often come with a surcharge.
Tips to know:
At the beginning, the new dentures may feel unnatural or awkward, but as time goes on, the feeling will go away.
How can I save money?
Dental plans may cover benefits toward this sort of service, but it’s best to check with your policy before having the procedure done. Animated-teeth.com says most benefits are limited to half of the costs, subtracted by the policy’s deductible.
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Average Reported Cost: $920
How much did you spend?
- geon (Miramar Beach, Florida) paid $1300 and said:
I paid $1300 for a lower partial
Was it worth it? Yes
- Jim R. (sedalia, Missouri) paid $1000 and said:
I paid $1000.00 for a lower partial.
Was it worth it? Yes
- colleen watson (beech grove, Vermont) paid $ and said:
I Have not had it done yet.
Was it worth it? Yes
- H. Smith (Sunrise, Florida) paid $1000 and said:
$1,000.00
Was it worth it? Yes
- Dave (Fairfax, Virginia) paid $1300 and said:
After getting a quote for 2200 for each set I found another dentist who did he same Valplast flexible denture for only 1200 for each partial. Shop around!
Was it worth it? Yes
