How Much Do Full Dentures Cost in Australia?

What the ADA fee survey shows

The $1,522 average comes from CHOICE⁠ (another site) (updated March 2023), which reported the Australian Dental Association’s 2022 fee survey of general dentists, leaving out the top and bottom 5% of fees. It is for one full upper denture (a complete upper denture, item 711), and it isn’t our fee. A full set of dentures, upper and lower, costs more. Prices vary with your needs, so we give you an accurate quote at your consultation, before anything starts.

That said, the cost of dentures comes down to two main factors:

• What treatment you need: generally speaking, the price of your dentures is likely to depend on the work which needs to be done, the number of appointments you’ll need at your dental clinic, and even the dentist providing the service. If you need a tooth extraction, then that’s another cost to factor into the price of your dentures.
• Materials used: denture bases are usually made from rigid acrylic which is cheaper than those made from chrome. The false teeth attached to the base are often crafted from plastic or resin, although you can opt for porcelain. While this gives a more natural look, they will cost you more. Some health and dental insurers will cover the cost of dentures, others regarding them as a cosmetic procedure may not.

How can I pay less for dentures?

Many Australians go overseas for dental treatment such as dentures, crowns and bridges, and dental implants, although this doesn’t come without risks. Before you start, ask your health fund what it pays towards dentures, using the item numbers on your written quote.

On-site dental laboratory: speed and convenience

Making removable dentures usually requires numerous visits between patients, their dentist, and the lab. The first appointment is to take impressions in order to create an exact mould of your teeth and mouth, so that the laboratory can get to work making your custom dentures. The following appointments involve verifying the bite and choosing the shape, size, and colour of the teeth. Since we have our own dental lab here onsite, our dentists can save time by working closely with our experienced dental technicians.

Our technicians work tirelessly to provide patients with natural-looking smiles by means of exact colour matching, and even rotating or slightly crowding teeth to give a more authentic appearance. They can even add in the odd blemish or two.

We use modern dental techniques to give patients natural-looking dentures. A full set of teeth can also be fixed on four implants (All-on-4): the surgery is done by a surgeon we refer you to. If you’re happy with your dentures but they slip, your dentist can talk you through implants that hold them in place.

We’re proud to provide patients with contemporary dentures which are lightweight, long-lasting, and attractive.

Full denture repair

You’ll also be pleased to know that minor denture repairs can often be done within a day, and we reline dentures too. Complete dentures last about 10 years on average, and most at least five, before they start to lose their fit and slip around in the mouth. This is because of the bone loss which naturally occurs when teeth are lost. A denture reline consists of resurfacing the part of the denture that is in contact with the soft tissues in the mouth, helping them to fit more snugly and increasing their life expectancy.

Who needs dentures?

If you have significant tooth loss or you’re missing all of your teeth, then your dentist is likely to recommend full dentures. A partial denture is also an option for those with some of their teeth remaining. Other factors that warrant wearing dentures, even for younger people, include periodontal disease, tooth decay, and dental abnormalities.

Why replace missing teeth with full dentures?

Just imagine how difficult life would be without teeth. You’d struggle to eat anything other than soft food, your speech would be severely impaired, and your face would lose the support that dentures lend it.