Affordable dentures are not hard to find. They are closer to you than you think. This article discusses several strategies that can help you make your partial or full dentures more affordable. Following these strategies can save a big part of your denture treatment or replacement costs.
How much do dentures cost?
Denture costs are calculated per arch. They generally depend on the following:
- How much customization you need.
- What material you choose for denture teeth and denture plate.
- What kind of denture you need, i.e., full or partial or immediate or permanent.
- If you are looking for a specific brand of dentures.
- The experience level of your dentist.
- Your oral health, i.e., if you need a specific kind of denture or if you need another dental treatment before getting your dentures. Your dentist should examine your saliva to see its mineral content.
- Location of the dental clinic.
- Whether you are getting your dentures for the first time or looking for replacements.
Generally speaking, full dentures will cost you from $800 to $1,500 per arch, while partial dentures will cost you from $1,300 to $1,700 per arch if you are a first-time denture wearer.
Full dentures will cost you from $400 to $1,300 per arch if you are looking for replacements. Replacements for partial dentures will cost from $1,000 to $1,400 per arch. Partial dentures always cost more because they need more work.
Classic dentures can cost approximately $1,000 per arch for full dentures and $900 per arch for replacement dentures.
Basic dentures belong to the lower end of the price range. You should get your full dentures at $800 per arch and your replacement dentures at $400 per arch.
Also Read: Before and After Dentures: A Must-Read Feature
Are dentures affordable for you?
At the above rate, a full set of full dentures will cost you from $1,600 to $3,000. Many dental patients may not afford them right away. Many may choose to delay their treatments, risking a deterioration in their oral health. Many may look for a suitable alternative, for example, veneers.
The situation may quickly get complicated if you need to take more dental restoration treatments, for example, a root canal or dental bonding. The fact that your dentures come with a limited warranty, it is not impossible to think that dentures can be an unpopular choice for many.
The situation can become even more complicated if your dentures get discolored or break down before the end of their expected lifespan. Some dentures may require relining within two years if you exert extreme pressure on them or if you do not keep them clean. Wear and tear are common for dentures since they are always wet in your mouth.
Also Read: Dentures: 20 Questions Answered
The costs of dentures are not the only costs
The costs of dentures are not the only costs to calculate when it comes to understanding your affordability for dentures. If you don’t have any other oral complications, you may still need at least four appointments with your dentist to get your dentures. Besides, you may choose to have immediate dentures or temporary dentures before your permanent dentures are ready.
Upon that, you may find having a spare pair of dentures a good idea in case your regular pair breaks down or gets lost. Add to that the thought of having premium dentures, which may cost you as much as $5,000. The costs can easily skyrocket for you, making dentures unaffordable.
Does having dental insurance make dentures affordable?
Having dental insurance that covers denture treatment costs helps. Most dental insurance providers cover such treatment and are willing to pay about 50% of the treatment costs. But you may still have to pay a handsome amount out of your pocket. That amount may exceed $1,000 per set of dentures. You may consult your nearest professional denture specialist to learn if they accept your insurance and how much you will have to pay out of pocket after claiming your insurance benefit.
6 realistic ways to make dentures affordable
Do not underestimate your federal medical assistance and insurance programs
If you qualify for Medicare Savings Programs, use them to reduce your medical costs. Medicaid can also come to your assistance if you belong to a low-income family.
Ask your dentist how these two agencies can assist you in meeting your denture costs. Your dentist can also tell you of any specific assistance programs under these two agencies that you should look into.
If these programs do not cover your state, similar programs may be available to low-income families. Making a few phone calls, or doing some online research, can save you hundreds, if not more.
If such assistance does not cover the costs of dentures, it may still be valuable if it covers the costs of dental appointments.
Dental Savings Plans can be crucial to make dentures affordable
Let me explain how dental savings plans work. When you subscribe to such plans, you are not an individual patient seeking treatment from an individual dentist or clinic. You become a part of a pool of patients and access a network of treatment service providers.
Since service providers serve many clients, they can offer better value for your money. They can source dentures at a better rate from dental labs. The labs are also happy to be able to sell lots of dentures.
Savings plans can save you up to 60%. Your dentist can tell you which savings plans are available in your state and exactly how much you will save with them.
Dental Plans is one such dental savings plan. Not only can they help you get your dentures at a discounted rate, but you may also use them for regular checkups, cleanings, root canals, bridges, implants, gum disease, tooth decay, and tooth whitening.
Your savings plan activates within 24 hours, and immediately you qualify for discounted rates on complex cosmetic treatments like root canals, crowns, or bridges.
You can also subscribe to Humana or Delta Dental. Humana has over 335,000 dentists on its network.
Pay your denture costs in installments
You may not afford to pay $3,000 at one go out of your pocket to get your denture treatment, but you can pay $3,000 over ten months.
Many dental clinics have in-house payment plans, and many join plans other businesses provide. Talk to your dentist to see their financing options and if you could join one.
Joining such financing plans is easy. Your dentist will be able to supply you with information regarding the plans they accept and how you might fill necessary paperwork to subscribe to them.
American Dental Association (ADA) has clear guidelines regarding how these financing plans might work. If you are interested, you can check their downloadable brochures here.
Have a student dentist help you out
Dental schools produce many dentists who specialize in cosmetic dentistry, specifically dentures. During their training, they work under experienced dental professors who are not only dentists but respected scholars in their fields.
Dental schools often offer denture treatments at an affordable price to patients. Your appointments may be longer than expected, and you may have to wait for those appointments, but the result can be financially rewarding. If you want affordable dentures, you do not want to overlook this opportunity.
If you have any doubt about the quality of the dentures you may get from dental schools, it is time to shed those doubts. Student dentists have qualified dentists to supervise them, which is why the quality of your treatment will not be compromised at any stage.
Seek assistance from a specific federal program
If you are 65+ or disable, or a veteran, you may want to see if any specific program serving these sections of the population can also cover the costs of your dentures.
You may qualify for such assistance if you live below the national poverty level.
Your search should start with making a phone call to an organization that serves the section of people that you belong to. Then you can ask your dentist whether they respect such assistance.
Gather as much information as possible about any program that may be of assistance to you because some programs can be generous.
Dentists are people too. They do volunteer
We are talking about Dental Lifeline Network. They are an organization of dentists and dental labs that have provided comprehensive dental care to adults with special care for decades. They serve the following sections of people:
- Elderly
- People with Disabilities
- Those in need of life-saving care
Dental Lifeline Network receives donations from dentists as well as corporations. Their donors include American Dental Association, Oral-B, Colgate, Ivoclar Vivadent, and Delta Dental. Those that have recognized their mission include the following:
- American Diabetes Association
- American Psychiatric Association
- American Society of Clinical Oncology
- American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists
- American Society of Transplant Surgeons
Some of their programs are tied to state programs. You can easily find out what programs your state has by going to their website.
Donated Dental Services (DDS), a program funded by Dental Lifeline and others, is very successful in providing free dental care. Since its beginning, the program has coordinated $10 million worth of free dental treatments only for Floridians.
You cannot overlook Donated Dental Services in your search for affordable dentures.
Follow the link to check your Eligibility for the Donated Dental Services (DDS) or Veteran (WYSOV) Program.
Affordable Dentures: Final Word
The best way to make dentures affordable is to keep your teeth clean. Nothing compares to having good oral hygiene.
Your mouth is an integral part of your appearance. It is connected to your brain and, ultimately, your whole body. When you need to have dentures, you will have them. But your efforts should be directed at avoiding it if possible.
Brush your teeth twice daily and floss your teeth, do not miss your appointments with your dentist, and keep your eating habits and lifestyle within an acceptable limit.
Because when you must see a dentist for cosmetic treatments, you will have to spend lots of money.
Sources:
- Cureus
- Medicare
- Medicaid
- American Dental Association
- Dental Lifeline Network
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