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 of their natural teeth, and 90% use dentures in their place, with nearly 15% of them getting dentures made every year.¹

But while dentures can be an important step forward in regaining your dental health, the cost can be significant and may require dental financing to help cover the price.

What Are Dentures?

Dentures are a type of prosthesis used to replace missing teeth. They can be a great solution if you lose some or all of your teeth. Dentures can help reduce jaw deterioration and facial sagging, improve nutrition by making it easier to chew and make your speech clearer.²

Types of Dentures

There are different types of dentures, ranging from full to partial and fixed or removable. They include:²

• Full dentures. These removable dentures replace all the teeth in your mouth, fitting over your gums. The base is typically made of resin or metal, and the teeth are made of porcelain or polymer.³
• Immediate dentures. These are temporary dentures that you might wear after getting teeth extractions. They give your gums time to heal while your dentures are being made.
• Partial removable dentures. These dentures replace just a few missing teeth, rather than all of them. They use metal hardware to attach to neighboring teeth, and you can unclip them.
• Implant-retained, snap-in dentures. These full dentures snap onto implant posts that are attached to your jaw. They're removable like traditional full dentures but are more stable.
• Implant-retained, fixed dentures. These dentures are held in place by implants. A common type has a full bridge that attaches to four posts in your jaw. They're not removable.⁴
• Fixed partial dentures. These use a fixed bridge that's anchored to healthy teeth. You can't remove these yourself.
• Dental implants. These are alternatives to dentures where one individual tooth is implanted in your jaw to replace each missing tooth. Dental implants tend to last longer than dentures, but they're also more expensive.⁵

Anyone who is missing teeth could potentially be a good candidate for getting at least partial dentures. But other factors will also weigh into the decision, such as:³

• Bone loss
• Cost
• Number of missing teeth
• Patient preference

How Much Do Dentures Cost?

The national average cost for dentures in the U.S. can range from $452 for low-cost dentures up to $6,514 for premium dentures according to CareCredit’s 2024 Cost Study.⁶

Average cost for dentures by type

Below is the average national cost* of dentures per type. The costs can vary based on your geographic location and other factors, like material.⁶

Average cost for dentures by state

The cost of dentures can also vary depending on where you live.

Below is a breakdown of the average national cost* of traditional dentures (both upper and lower plates) by all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Prices do not include 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.⁶

The material used for your dentures can also impact the price. For example, the average price for partial metal dentures is $2,229, but the average price for partial resin dentures is $1,738.⁶ Dentures made with a metal framework are less likely to break, while resin bases are the least strong of your options.⁷ Typically, the longer-lasting the material, the higher the price.

Additional denture costs to consider

When calculating the cost of dentures, it's important to remember that other factors can also play into the price, including the preparation before getting your dentures, recovery time and the need for replacements or repairs.

For example, you may face these additional average costs just to get dentures:⁶

• Dental exam with full cleaning and X-rays: The average cost is $203, ranging from $50 to $350.⁸
• Dental scaling and planing: If your teeth need more extensive, deeper cleaning, this can cost an average of $242, ranging from $185 to $444.
• Denture sealants: The average cost is $42 per tooth, ranging from $33 to $82.
• Single tooth extraction: The average cost is $177, ranging from $137 to $335. More complicated surgical extractions of a single tooth average $363, ranging from $281 to $702.
• Anesthesia: The cost of anesthesia averages $639, ranging from $494 to $1,253. The price can vary based on the length of the anesthesia.

In total, you might need up to six dental visits to get your dentures, and it could take around two months to complete the process from start to finish.⁹

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:

• Denture adhesives to hold removable dentures in place, which can help with stability and bite force³
• Denture adjustments, which may be necessary as your gums change and can cost $100 or more¹⁰
• Denture cleansers for removable dentures³
• Denture relining the base of your dentures, which may need to occur every few years for a proper fit, costing $200 to $900 if done professionally¹⁰

Dentures may need to be replaced if you develop issues like chronic irritation, constantly needing adhesives on removable dentures when you're eating or denture degradation.³ In general, removable dentures are expected to last at least five to seven years, with some patients not needing replacements for 10 years.¹¹

Are Dentures Covered by Dental Insurance?

Unfortunately, things get a little tricky if you're hoping dental insurance will pay for your dentures. Talk to your insurance provider about what they will or will not cover.

Medicare and Medicaid

Basic Medicare A and Medicare B don't cover dentistry. You'll need a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C), which may cover your dentures fully or at least partially.¹²

Medicaid coverage varies by state, with some states limiting you to one set of dentures every five or six years.¹²

Private health and dental insurance plans

In contrast, most private health insurance plans don't cover any dental work for adults, so they won't cover your dentures. In rare situations, your health plan might cover dental work after an accident or injury.¹³ But if you want procedures like dentures covered, you'll need supplemental dental insurance in addition to your private health plan.¹⁴

Dental insurance will typically cover at least part of the cost of your dentures, but it varies from plan to plan. Often, private policies will cover 50% of the cost of dentures, but this also will vary depending on your plan. And you'll need to meet your deductible first.¹²

In addition, many dental plans might have a low yearly maximum benefit, and if your dentures cost more than that, you'll have to cover the rest.¹⁵ For example, if a plan has a maximum annual coverage of $1,500, then that's all it will pay toward your dentures after you've met the deductible. This can leave you with quite the bill even if you have insurance.

Options to Pay for Dentures

Many times, you'll still be left with a bill even after applying your private dental plan, Medicare or Medicaid to the cost of your dentures. The good news is that there are steps you can take to help cover the remainder of the cost.

You can ask your dentist if they offer installment plans or discount programs.¹² You can also look for financing options on your own, such as the CareCredit credit card.

If you're missing some or all of your teeth, dentures can greatly improve your quality of life. But while insurance may cover part of the cost, you'll likely still be left with a bill. Thankfully, financing through an option like CareCredit can make getting dentures a reality.**

CareCredit Credit Card Financing for Dentures

Whether you're investing in 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 orthodontist near you that accepts CareCredit to help get you on track to your perfect smile. Continue your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App to manage your CareCredit 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 and is a business owner, non-practicing attorney and writer.