Without private health insurance, the average set of dentures runs between $1,000 and $2,500 per jaw. So if you need dentures for both the upper and lower jaw, it should cost somewhere in the range of $2,000 and $5,000.
Note these are just averages from the 2022 Australian Dental Fee Survey. You may pay more or less depending on what you need and the clinic you use. Here's a breakdown of the exact averages the survey found:
| Denture type | Average cost |
|---|---|
| Complete maxillary denture (upper jaw) | $1,522 |
| Complete mandibular denture (lower jaw) | $1,534 |
| Complete maxillary and mandibular dentures (both jaws) | $2,765 |
| Partial maxillary denture - resin base | $883 |
| Partial maxillary denture - cast metal framework | $1,625 |
Here are a few policies from Finder policies that will cover dentures. You can compare private health insurance from 40+ companies here, or just check our best health insurance page for a selection of great policies. All prices are based on a single individual with less than $97,000 income and living in Sydney.
No, Medicare does not cover the cost of dentures. However, there are some state-based dental programs that provide some public dental services, which can include dentures, to people who can't afford them. Typically, you'll need to be receiving some sort of government benefit to be eligilbe, and use a specific clinic.
The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) also gives eligible children access to dentures. You can find out whether you or your child might be eligible here. Additionally, the Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) offers some dental services for people who have served in the military and their familes.
"My grandma and pop had dentures for most of my life - which I guess was about a third of their lives. They certainly freaked me out as a kid - I still remembering my mum shout "Don't use the cup next to this bathroom sink!". They didn't have a lot of money, but they were able to get free dentures through the Department of Veteran Affairs, as pop was in the navy in the 1940s. If they didn't have access to that, the cost of dentures could have been a massive issue for them."
Yes, you can get cover for dentures with most mid-range extras policies which cost around $5 a week. It's likely to pay you around $600 towards the cost of treatment. A more comprehensive policy should be able to reimburse you for more than $1,200.
A mid-range policy will also give you health insurance for general dental as well. You'll also be covered for things like dental care, optical and physio – most of which isn't covered by Medicare.
You should find dentures covered under major dental. Major dental includes more complex procedures than general dental (which covers things like check-ups and cleaning and scaling) such as wisdom teeth removal, crowns, bridges and dentures.
| Response | |
|---|---|
| Somewhat satisfied | 54.97% |
| Very satisfied | 36.84% |
| Not satisfied | 8.19% |
Yes. When you sign up to a policy that covers dentures, you'll usually have to serve a 12-month waiting period before you're eligible for cover.
It may seem like a while, but it's so that insurance companies aren't overwhelmed with people buying policies only when they need treatment for something. If you need treatment now, it might be possible to get health insurance without waiting periods.
Luckily though, there are lots of other services including general dental, physio, optical and chiro that don't have as long a waiting period, so there are still lots of ways you can benefit from having an extras policy before you're eligible for dentures cover.
Some of the ways you can pay for dentures include:
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