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How Much Do Dentures Really Cost Without Insurance?

Dentures are a great way to restore the function of missing teeth. Learn how much they cost and how to afford them without insurance.

Last updated on

July 31, 2023

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How Much Do Dentures Really Cost Without Insurance?

Having a healthy smile can have immense benefits for your overall health and well-being. But sometimes, tooth decay with age is an inevitability. 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. 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 costs low.

What Are Dentures?

Dentures are removable pieces of equipment that can replace missing teeth to restore the structure and function of your smile.

There are three main types of dentures:

Conventional Dentures

This is 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 this complete set of dentures, this is one of the most common types of dentures out there. These are often called full dentures or complete dentures.

Immediate 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.

Overdenture

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.

The Effects of Missing Teeth

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 more young and fresh. 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 without needing to worry about missing out.

Dentures can be made of a variety of materials, but they are most notably made with acrylic, nylon, porcelain, metal, or resin. Acrylic and nylon are the most common.

While dentures are prosthetic, they still need to be taken care of in the same way as your real teeth. Practice proper oral hygiene by brushing your dentures twice a day with a soft-bristled brush to reduce inflammation and keep your dentures from becoming stained.

Additionally, be sure to remove your dentures and place them in a safe location at night or during times when you’re not using them.

Dentures vs. Implants

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 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. With that said, 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.

Average Cost of Dentures Without Insurance

Dental insurance coverage can help you pay for dental services like routine checkups or dentures. But 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 dental benefits whatsoever.

This means that 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 isn’t including the price of extraction, which can range upwards of $350 per tooth.

But you don’t need to let price be a barrier between you and the care you’ve been searching for.

How To Afford Low-Cost Dentures Without Insurance

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:

Flossy

Not having insurance can be stressful, but Flossy can save you 50% on common dental treatments. There are no membership dues, annual premiums, or hidden fees. Flossy can be used instead of or as a supplemental discount to your current insurance policy. You can rest assured that you’re getting the best prices.

So that means you can save up to half off on premium dentures from a variety of experienced, knowledgeable dentists in our network. Out-of-pocket costs have never seemed so attainable.

And there’s no waiting period, so you can sign up today and then have immediate access to care in your area. Book an appointment today and see how easy, painless, and effective dental care really should be.

Dental Discount Plans

Even with insurance, monthly fees can become expensive. And especially if you’re paying for insurance during months where you’re not actually receiving treatment, it can feel like you’re just throwing money to the wind. But a dental discount plan can help you save.

With these, you’ll pay an annual fee upfront instead of monthly. You’ll present a dental discount card to your dentist each time you go, and you’ll then get a lower price on services. 

Remember, you must use a dentist in your plan’s network in order to receive those discounts. The discounts won’t be as high as with traditional insurance. Finally, you might be limited in services, meaning that you might not be able to get dentures as part of your plan.

Dental Schools

All the talented dentists in your area needed to start somewhere, and dental schools or clinics are exactly where they started 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. 

Medicare or Medicaid

Government-funded healthcare plans like Medicare and Medicaid can also be used if you are above a certain age 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.

How To Access High-Quality Dental Work

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 teeth extraction.

Flossy is here to make a difference, and if you don’t have insurance or your policy won’t cover you, we can save you up to 50% on common treatments like dentures, extractions, and everything in between. No waiting period. No hidden fees. No membership dues.

So book an appointment with a dentist in your area today to give yourself a reason to smile.

Sources:

Dentures - American Dental Association | MouthHealthy

Dental coverage, access & outcomes | American Dental Association

Dental Care | Medicaid

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