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How Much Do Dentures Cost in Ontario?
This is probably my most asked question so what I want to do is to provide for you a rough price range as well as walk you through the factors that can influence the price to go up or down.
As a rough guide to the price of dentures;
- If you are missing all of your teeth, the range of price for complete dentures would be $1100-$1500 for the top and $1300-$1600 for the bottom.
- If you still have some of your teeth, the cost for a partial denture can range from $1000-$1800, (for either top or bottom). The higher price representing the metal cast partial type as explained below.
- Repairing a broken denture usually ranges between $100 and $200, but more about repairs later.
These prices include initial oral examinations, any lab fees and any minor adjustments that are needed right after the denture is taken home.
In general, there is a grace period anywhere from 3 month to 1 year after insertion of the denture where adjustments needed will be covered by the original cost. After that additional adjustments wanted will be charged for. Also as our mouths and jaws go through changes the dentures can become looser and a reline of the denture will be required as an additional cost.
Now to explain:
I would say there are 5 general things that affect the price of a denture:
Type of Denture (complete dentures or partials)
Standard Denture vs. Precision Denture
Various Upgrades: For example the type of teeth used
Other Costs (eg. referring you to a dentist for any needed extractions)
Dentures vs. Implants
1. Type of Denture: Complete (Replacing All Teeth) or Partial (Replacing Some Teeth)
The cost of a denture will include all the necessary procedures, materials and lab fees used to make the denture. Lower dentures tend to cost a bit more than upper dentures due to a slightly more complex technique needed to make them. With a partial denture, the price goes up a bit because a metal cast frame will be needed. This frame is used to clasp onto any natural teeth you have to help keep the denture in your mouth, (this is not needed with a complete denture, which relies on suction to stay in your mouth).
There is however an alternative to this partial denture with metal frame (called a cast-partial), and that is a partial denture made without a metal frame but instead uses wire clasps to hook onto any natural teeth, (called an acrylic partial denture). These tend to be around $1000 or so for either the upper or lower.
However, they are not recommended for long term wearing and usually act as a transition type denture, (for example, if eventually the rest of your natural teeth will be extracted, you can wear this acrylic denture before a final complete denture is made. This is also know as an ‘immediate denture’). Another factor is also the number of teeth that are being replaced, (for example, if you are missing a single tooth, this denture would be about $500-$1000. This is also known as a ‘flipper’).
In Summary: The type of denture will affect the cost; complete denture, cast-partial (with metal frame), and acrylic partial (only wire clasps). Also to consider is the number of teeth being replaced and if we are talking about an upper denture or lower denture.
2. Standard Denture vs Precision Denture
You may or may not be familiar with these terms, so allow me to explain. Getting a denture involves 4 general appointments:
First – impressions of your mouth are take which will be used to create a stone model of your mouth, (this model is used in the lab to actually make the denture).
Second – Your bite is recorded and the shade of your teeth are chosen.
Third – Trying in your denture, (which at this point is made of wax), then having your speech and bite checked and making sure you like the look of the denture.
Fourth – Inserting the final denture and checking for any sore spots.
These are the basic appointments for a standard denture. This type of denture is a regular denture which looks great by using average measurements to put the denture teeth according to where the gums and jaw are.
A precision denture is a slightly more accurate fitting denture due to a few extra appointments and steps in the denture process. The appointments would look something like this:
First – Initial impression of your mouth (same as standard denture) taken with an average size tray.
Second – A second impression of your mouth will be taken with a custom size tray and a more accurate impression material, (unique to the precision denture).
Third – Your bite is recorded and the shade of your teeth are chosen (same as standard). Additional jaw movements are then recorded to make a more custom fit for the denture, (unique to the precision denture).
Fourth – Trying in your denture, checking the bite and speech, (same as standard).
Fifth – Inserting the final denture and checking for any sore spots.
The Precision Denture type applies to both upper and lower dentures as well as complete and partial dentures.
3. Various Upgrades, Materials and Extras
Teeth: There are so many different materials Denturists use to make dentures, and therefore, the quality of cost of dentures can vary. Denture teeth differ in the way they look, how much they resist wearing down, their shape and even how much light they reflect, mimicking natural teeth the best they can. With a higher quality of tooth used the denture will look more natural and has the potential to last longer, but it also means it can cost more.
Base Material: The base of the denture is made of acrylic, (a type of plastic), which also tried to mimic the colour of the gums. Here too, there is a variety of qualities when it comes to this pink denture material.
Extras: There can be different additions to a denture. You can have your name added to the denture, metal can be added inside the pink base material to reinforce the denture, (especially when it comes to repairing a broken denture), and even a digital/scannable ID chip can be placed inside a denture. Like any product, any additional accessories will cause the cost to go up.
4. Other (External) Costs
Extractions: Sometimes you can have a situation where someone will be having some, (or all), their natural teeth extracted by a dentist, (perhaps due to poor health of the teeth), but to prevent that person from leaving the dentist without any teeth, a denture, (made ahead of time), is inserted into the mouth immediately after the teeth are extracted, (hence this is a called an ‘immediate denture’). Having teeth extracted would be an example of an additional cost that would need to be considered, although not directly connected to the denturist making the denture.
Oral Health and Teeth Cleaning: It cannot be stressed enough the importance of one’s oral health, so regular dental checkups and cleanings with your dentist is a must. In addition to oral health, (and to relate this to getting a denture), before an impression of your mouth is taken, it is always recommended that your teeth were cleaned by a hygienist at the very least within the year.
The dentist you visit may also want to take x-rays to determine the health of your mouth and natural teeth. This allows for a more accurate impression and so that a denture won’t be sitting in a mouth that is not being checked on by a dental professional.
With a partial denture, (which uses wire clasps hooking onto your teeth), if any teeth are mobile, (ie. they wiggle), or are unhealthy, there can be further serious damage that can occur when those teeth are being clasped with metal.
These additional costs should be considered although they are not directly related to the actual denture itself.
Implant Placement: If a dentist is going to be sitting on implants, a visit to the dentist to place implants will be another cost to be discussed with your dentist.
5. Implant Retained and Implant Supported Denture
When implants are being considered this will drastically affect the amount of money one is going to put into restoring their smile. Although when someone gets an implant it can be referring to a single tooth replacement, however when we are talking about dentures, it refers to having implant posts placed in your mouth, and then the denture sits and is held in by those posts.
The cost of each implant (the post) would be determined by the dentist that is placing them and can cost several thousands of dollars. The dentist will also have to examine your mouth and take x-rays to determine if there is enough bone in the jaw to support an implant post.
It is usually recommended to get at least 2 implants for a lower denture and 4 or more for the upper. A denturist does not put the implants in, (the denturist would refer you to a dentist), but the denture itself will need to be constructed in such a way that it attaches to any implants. A complete upper denture that attached to implants ranges around $2500-$3500 plus an additional $750-$800 for each implant there is, (this is for special parts and attachments embedded in the denture which are needed to attached it to the implants), and a complete lower denture attached to implants ranges around $2000-$3000. Partial dentures attached to implants can be $200-$600 more.
Additional Notes
The above prices are as of the year 2024, include tax and are based on Denturist fee guides as well as the general price some Denturists in Ontario charge.
It is also important to consider how crucial it is to have a full mouth of teeth, whether it be with a full denture or partial and that cost should not be the only determining factor for someone looking to restore their smile.
For more information and clarification or if you have any further questions, send me an email at LBdenture@gmail.com or call at (647) 974-8449.
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