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If you’re not happy with your smile because of missing teeth, know that tooth loss is very common. Half of American adults aged 20 to 64 have lost at least one permanent tooth, and 1 in 6 Americans over the age of 65 are missing all their teeth.1 But thanks to advances in dental treatments, people looking to restore their smile have options.
Keep reading to learn about 15 different treatments available to help restore your smile.
1. Dental Implants
Dental implants are the most permanent solution for missing teeth. They are surgically implanted into or onto your jaw to support an artificial tooth, such as a crown or denture, depending on the number of teeth being replaced.2
The average cost of dental implants is $2,695 but can range from $1,450 to $3,875, depending on your location and other factors.3
2. Dentures (Conventional Dentures)
Dentures are removable dental appliances made to resemble your natural teeth. Conventional dentures replace all the upper or lower teeth, or both.4
Conventional dentures cost $1,968 on average but can range from $1,520 to $3,648, depending on if you need an upper and lower plate.5
3. Partial Dentures
Partial dentures are removable dental appliances consisting of one or more prosthetic teeth attached to a gum-colored resin base that is then attached to the roof of your mouth or your natural teeth.6
Partial resin dentures cost $1,738 on average but can range between $1,333 and $3,283. Partial dentures with a mix of resin and metal cost $2,229 on average but can range between $1,728 and $4,203.5
4. Dental Bridges
Dental bridges literally act as a bridge between two teeth to fill in the empty space. They typically consist of a prosthetic tooth flanked by two crowns that are placed over your adjacent teeth (called a traditional bridge) or dental implants (known as an implant-supported bridge), or metal wings that are bonded to the back of your adjacent teeth with resin (called a Maryland bridge).7
A traditional single tooth bridge costs $5,197 on average but ranges between $4,100 and $9,650, while a single tooth implant-supported bridge costs $5,195 on average but ranges from $4,000 to $9,450. A Maryland bridge costs $1,569 on average but ranges between $1,200 and $2,910.5
5. Removable Dental Bridges
Unlike dental bridges that are fixed and anchored to adjacent teeth, removable dental bridges are made to be removable, with clasps to keep them in place. People may use the term removable dental bridges when referring to partial dentures because of the similarities to a bridge.8
Removable dental bridges made of acrylic cost $1,204 on average but can range between $943 and $2,363. Removable dental bridges made of metal cost $1,812 on average but can range between $1,414 and $3,370.5
6. Hybrid Dentures
Hybrid dentures, also called implant-supported fixed dentures, provide more stability than conventional dentures. Rather than sitting on your gums like traditional dentures, hybrid dentures are permanently secured to implants in your jawbone.8
You can expect to pay $3,976 on average and anywhere from $3,055 to $7,294 per implant for hybrid dentures.5
7. All-on-4® Dental Implants
All-on-4 is a trademarked hybrid dental implant process that involves securing a full arch of dentures to just four implants. It usually doesn’t require bone grafting, and it has a shorter recovery than traditional implants, so dentures can be attached sooner, providing almost immediate results.9
All-on-4 dental implants cost $15,176 on average but can range from $11,640 to $27,500, depending on the denture material used and other factors.5
8. Bone Grafting
Dental bone grafting is a surgical procedure often used to increase bone in areas of the jaw where there’s insufficient bone to support dental implants. Bone grafts can be harvested from your body or be made of a synthetic material.10
A socket graft that adds bone to an empty socket costs $558 on average but ranges between $427 and $1,088, while a ridge expansion that adds bone to widen the jaw costs $2,511 on average but ranges from $1,940 to $4,559.5
9. Sinus Lift
Sinus lift surgery is sometimes needed before getting dental implants if you don’t have enough bone in the jaw to secure implants or if your maxillary sinus is too close to your upper jaw to safely accommodate implants. The procedure involves lifting the sinus membrane and adding a bone graft.11
The average cost of a sinus lift is $2,022 but can range from $1,591 to $3,841, depending on your location and other factors.5
10. Mini Dental Implants
Mini dental implants are a less invasive and less expensive alternative to conventional dental implants and are smaller in diameter and length. They can be topped with a crown to replace a missing tooth or be used as anchor points for a bridge when replacing multiple missing teeth or to affix full dentures for complete tooth loss.12
A single mini dental implant costs $860 on average but can range from $676 to $1,616, depending on the implant material used and other factors.5
11. Flipper Teeth
Flipper teeth are similar to dental bridges in that they clasp onto the teeth on either side of one or more missing teeth to fill in the space. The key difference is that flipper teeth are considered a temporary solution and are usually used to complete your smile while you wait for a long-term solution, like dentures or implants. As such, they tend to be more affordable than other dental prosthetics.13
Flipper teeth cost $605 on average but can range from $471 to $1,164, depending on the material used and other factors.5
12. Snap-On Smile®
Snap-On Smile is a removable, custom dental arch that fits over your teeth for an instant smile makeover. Unlike other dental prosthetics that improve your bite as well as appearance, Snap-On smile is a cosmetic alternative that conceals smile imperfections like gaps, discoloration and crooked teeth. With proper care, it can last three to five years.14
The average cost of Snap-On smile is $2,480 but can range from $1,901 to $4,729, depending on your location and other factors.5
13. Temporary Tooth Replacement Options
If you lose a tooth, whether real or fake, consult a dentist as soon as possible. They may suggest a flipper tooth or Snap-On Smile for a missing tooth. If you’ve damaged or lost a crown, a temporary crown can be placed, which costs $697 on average but can range between $488 and $1,593.5
If you can’t get to a professional right away and would rather not be seen with an incomplete smile, you can try an over-the-counter (OTC) temporary tooth replacement kit, OTC temporary dentures or orthodontic wax, which can be shaped and applied where a tooth is missing.15
14. Overdentures (Snap-On Dentures)
Overdentures, also called snap-on dentures or snap-in dentures, are removable dentures placed over dental implants. They offer more stability than traditional dentures. But unlike fixed hybrid dentures, overdentures can be removed for cleaning and then simply snapped back in.16
Overdentures cost $3,136 on average but can range from $2,436 to $6,014, depending on the material used and other factors.5
15. Immediate Dentures
Immediate dentures are full or partial dentures that are placed immediately after the removal of teeth without having to wait — toothless — for a set of dentures to be made. They tend to be costly because they’re placed before your gums have healed, which affects fit and usually requires refitting or replacement.17
Immediate dentures cost $2,178 on average but can range from $1,707 to $3,540.5
Financing Teeth Replacement Options With the CareCredit Credit Card
Whether you're replacing missing teeth 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
Adrienne Santos-Longhurst is a writer who has been covering health and lifestyle for almost two decades. Her work has appeared in Healthline, Insider, Medical News Today and more.
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