Have you ever thought about losing your teeth and replacing it with fake ones? It might feel a little off, but it would totally make you feel better. Who wouldn’t want to do something that can help them boost their confidence, right?
But before you put on that smile, let us first find out, “How much do fake teeth cost?”
The average cost of false teeth ranges from around $300 to $3,000.
If you, for unfortunate reasons, lost your teeth to an injury, decay, or any dental health issues, considering a constructed set of plates would help change your look and your need for comfort. Fake teeth, although artificial, pose a number of advantages.
When a missing tooth is filled in, the facial muscles are lifted making the person’s face light up and look younger. Also, since the plan is to align the usual drooping mouth and jaw, it will be easier for the person to eat and speak more comfortably.
So if one decides to spend on fake teeth or dentures, then people should know that it is not just for physical enhancement but for health reasons and personal relief as well.
The prices vary from one state to another and from one local dentist to another, so you ought to do a little research and canvassing before you decide on “the one”.
Aside from your budget, what is taken into consideration in checking the cost of false teeth is the desired and required structure. There are some cases where the teeth need special adjustments or features. This depends on the patient’s condition. For instance, the gaps may be huge and would need more filling.
Other Fake Teeth Costs
Before planning out your budget, you should also consider saving for extra expenses. Services like x-ray and anesthesia may be needed to assess your condition before the actual teeth construction. Just to be sure, you may also prepare some contingency funds for emergency consultations. Always be vigilant in asking for a quotation and the total net price.
There are other procedures like tooth extraction that ranges from $75 to $450,for simply pulling out an emerging tooth, and surgical extraction that costs around $150 to $650 if it is more complex.
Dental Bridges and Implants
Is there an alternative to the construction of dentures? Yes, there are. The idea is the same—filling in the missing teeth—but the materials to be used and the procedure by which the teeth will be installed make it different.
First, there is the dental bridge. These are basically false teeth that have metal “wings” that attach to the adjacent teeth that are left in the mouth. The average cost of this ranges from $1,000 to $1,200.
Then there are dental implants. Here, the procedure involves inserting titanium in the jawbone first and letting it heal before attaching the crown or the dentures. These cost from $1,000 to $3,000.
Tips for Saving Up
One of the most cost-efficient options is to consult and request for the services of dentistry school clinics. Look for universities that offer dentistry as a degree program and check whether they open their internship or practice clinics. Students and licensed prosthodontists in this setting charge a relatively lower rate than the average. If you know someone who works here, you may even get a free consultation.
If you are up for discounts, there is information provided online about low-cost dental care, such as that of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Although they do not give out financial assistance or funding for oral health, they refer assistance from their other branches.
Just like in any other purchase, you would, of course, look into getting a discount or save up a few bucks if possible. There are dentists that pose fixed prices on their denture, factoring in their professional expertise and the difficulty of labor. Aside from that, they also charge separately for the consultation alone. But, of course, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
The good news is that if you ever find it hard to close a deal with a dentist, there are always dental plans up for grabs. This is not for free, of course. It may even look pricier, but this may be the most convenient choice for you.
Use of Dental Insurance
A lot of insurance companies and organizations offer a dental plan at reasonable rates. Membership plan fees vary depending on your preferences for the coverage and your payment methods. All you have to do is subscribe via the help of a financial adviser and look for a dentist that is accredited by such plan.
If you do not have a list of contacts for the dentists who are approved and accredited in your insurance plan (although this should be provided by the insurance company), you may check the members of American College of Prosthodontists and the American Dental Association.
You may also check out other dental plans that offer no maximum coverage. If you avail of such, you can get even the highest-priced, high-quality dentures.
If you are working full-time, it is best to ask your human resource personnel about your company health benefits. If the company that you are working for is in partnership with an HMO or Health Maintenance Organization and if the plan covers cosmetic dentistry, then you better grab the opportunity. It will be more convenient for you if your HR people serve as the “middle men”.
Your Other Options
Dental Care USA offers a good prepaid plan for dental services in general. If your employer does not provide bonuses such as this, you may opt to secure one for yourself. Few of the benefits of their plan include the following: no deductible or annual dollar maximums, no exclusions for pre-existing conditions or missing teeth, and ability to change selected or assigned network dentists via telephone or the internet.
So, if your concern is with how much do false teeth cost, run back to these options and you will be good.