All about dentures – options, treatment process, cost

In the following, we will first give an overview of the two groups of dental prostheses, and then provide a rough guide to the costs patients in Switzerland and other European countries can expect to pay for treatment.

Dentures overview

For a better overview, we would like to preface the description with a brief overview of the different types of prostheses:

Category	Prostheses variants
1. removable denture	Clasp denture, model cast denture, telescopic denture, Total or complete denture
2. combined dentures (hybrid dentures)	Telescopic prosthesis, conical crowns, attachment prosthesis, bar prosthesis, push-button anchor

1. removable dentures

What are removable dentures?

In common parlance, dentures are referred to as the “third teeth” that lie in a cleaning fluid in the glass at night.

Dentures are a removable dental prosthesis used to replace missing teeth. There are two main types of dentures: Full dentures, which are used to replace all the teeth in the mouth, and partial dentures, which are used to replace only some teeth.

Both types of dentures consist of a plastic base that is shaped to fit over the gums and the artificial teeth that are attached to the plastic base. Dentures can be customized to match the shape, color and size of a person’s natural teeth.

For whom are removable dentures suitable?

Dentures are used especially when a patient has lost many or all teeth. Partial dentures are used when fixed dental crowns or dental bridges can no longer be anchored.

Dentures are usually used for older adults who have lost a large number of teeth. However, the group of patients for whom dentures are suitable also includes younger people who have lost teeth due to caries, gum disease or injury.

Removable dentures are also used when fixed dentures are not an option due to insufficient bone quality.

What are the variants?

There are basically several variants of removable dentures – on the one hand, a distinction is made here between full dentures and partial dentures, and on the other hand, a distinction is made between how the dentures are fixed.

Extent of the replaced teeth

• Full dentures or complete dentures: Full dentures are used when all the teeth in the mouth need to be replaced. Full dentures are typically made of plastic and are molded to fit over the gums
• Partial dentures:Partial dentures are used when only part of the teeth in the mouth need to be replaced. Partial dentures are similar in design to full dentures, but fit around the remaining natural teeth

Both types of prosthesis are held in place by either suction or special adhesives and can be removed for cleaning or rest periods.

Partial dentures: Type of attachment in the oral cavity

Partial dentures are additionally differentiated according to the type of attachment in the oral cavity

• Clasp denture or cast model denture: This variant of partial dentures is made of plastic and metal. The replacement teeth are placed on a pink plastic base and attached to the patient’s remaining teeth using metal clasps. The metal clasps can be conspicuous, but the clasp denture is significantly less expensive than the more aesthetic telescopic denture.
• Telescopic prosthesis: In the case of a telescopic prosthesis, the remaining teeth are usually ground by the dentist and provided with so-called inner crowns as a fixed element for anchoring the prostheses. The inner crowns serve as a base for a removable part of the prosthesis. The removable part of the prosthesis can be placed over so-called outer crowns on the inner crowns to fix the prosthesis. Inner and outer crowns are also referred to collectively as telescopic crowns. The advantage of the telescopic prosthesis is a stronger hold than with a clasp prosthesis. Telescopic dentures are also counted as combined dentures.

What is the course of treatment?

The treatment time to get dentures is much faster than other types of dentures. It usually proceeds in three steps:

Step 1: Fabrication of impressions

During the examination, the dentist surveys the patient’s mouth to determine the most appropriate type of denture with the patient. In this step, the different options including the material and the number and placement of the teeth are determined.

Then the dentist takes impressions of the patient’s mouth and, if necessary, takes further measurements of the mouth in order to fabricate a customized prosthesis on this basis.

Step 2: Fabrication and fitting of the denture

A dental technician fabricates a suitable prosthesis based on the impression. First, a metal framework is created for the prosthesis, which rests on the gums and any remaining teeth.

At a further appointment, the accuracy of fit of the prosthesis is checked on the patient. Depending on the accuracy of fit of the prosthesis in the patient’s oral cavity, the prosthesis may need to be readjusted before it can be worn permanently.

Step 3: Acclimatization phase and follow-up checks

After the prosthesis is fitted, the person must practice eating and speaking with it, as it may take some time to get used to the feel of the prosthesis in the mouth.

The dentist instructs the patient on the correct insertion and removal of the prosthesis, as well as proper care.

Usually, the patient also needs regular follow-up visits to ensure that the prosthesis continues to fit properly.

What are advantages of removable dentures?

Low cost: The advantage of removable partial or full dentures is that they cost less than fixed dentures. An acrylic denture is the most affordable alternative for a removable denture.

Short therapy time: The treatment for inserting removable dentures is much easier, because there is no need to insert implants, for which the dentist has to drill the jaw including months of healing.

Acceptable aesthetics: In the past, removable dentures were often easily recognizable, but thanks to innovative technology, dentures today are aesthetically better and can often hardly be distinguished from the patient’s own teeth.

Medium durability: The durability of dentures depends on the quality of the remaining teeth and jawbone. In addition, good oral hygiene is important to ensure that dentures last as long as possible.

In general, removable dentures last about five years, and even up to 10 years with good oral hygiene.

What are disadvantages of removable dentures?

Low wearing comfort: Prostheses often impair patients’ quality of life. Dentures in the upper jaw still adhere relatively well due to a relatively large contact surface on the palate, but dentures in the lower jaw often slip or wobble and cause the feeling of a foreign body in the mouth and corresponding uncertainty.

Risk of jaw atrophy: Wearing dentures means that the jawbone is no longer naturally loaded by chewing, which can lead to jaw atrophy, which in turn reduces the support of the dentures.

2. combined dentures / hybrid dentures

What is a combined denture?

A combined denture is the middle ground between fixed and removable dentures.

These are removable dentures that are attached to the remaining teeth or implants with fixed anchorage elements. The fixed and removable parts of the prosthesis held together by various connecting elements. A combined denture ensures that the denture holds well and that the chewing pressure is regularly transferred to any remaining teeth.

For whom is a combined denture suitable?

A combined denture is used for patients who no longer have enough teeth for fixed bridges. The specific anchoring elements used are adapted to the patient’s individual situation.

What are the variants?

A wide variety of anchorage systems are used for a combined denture. Their common feature is that in each case a so-called primary part is attached to an abutment tooth or implants (fixed part for anchorage), and a so-called secondary part attaches the removable prosthesis to the primary part.

Often 6 types of anchoring systems are distinguished:

• Telescopic prosthesis: These are double crowns or so-called sleeve attachments. They consist of a primary crown (also called primary telescope), which is cemented onto the abutment tooth. A secondary crown (also called a secondary telescope) fits onto the primary crown and is incorporated into the prosthesis. The secondary crown with the prosthesis holds on the primary crown by friction
• Cone crowns: These are a special form of double crown in which the primary and secondary crowns have conical (i.e., tapered) surfaces relative to each other, thus connecting the two crowns by wedging them together
• Attachment prosthesis: These are rigid retaining elements that hold the prosthesis in place by friction. Attachments consist of a matrix, which is incorporated into the crown of the abutment tooth, and a patrix, which is incorporated into the prosthesis and allows attachment to the matrix by insertion
• Bar prosthesis: Metal bars (called bars) are used to connect the crowns of abutment teeth. A part incorporated into the dentures (the so-called rider) can be placed on the bars, which connects the denture to the bit
• Push button anchor: This consists of a ball button and a sleeve that snaps onto it. The ball knob is attached to the fixed prosthesis and the sleeve is the connecting element to the removable part of the prosthesis
• Latch: A latch is a lock-like fastening element of the partial denture that is used in addition to other anchoring elements to enable better retention of the denture. The prosthesis can only be removed when the latch is released

What is the course of treatment?

Step 1: Consultation and fabrication of impressions

Before treatment is started, the doctor advises the patient about the treatment and possible alternatives. For this purpose, the dentition is examined and X-rays are taken.

The treatment then begins with the fabrication of impressions of the jaw using so-called impression trays. Based on the impressions, plaster models of the jaw are made in the dental laboratory for the fabrication of the denture elements.

Step 2: Crown preparation, if necessary additional implants

While the primary parts of the denture are being made in the dental laboratory, the dentist prepares the patient’s abutment teeth for the fixed parts of the denture (the crowns).

If the combined denture is to be attached to an implant, implants may also have to be implanted in the patient’s jaw in order to then attach the crowns for the combined denture to these.

Step 3: Fabrication of the primary parts and Fitting the primary parts to the patient

Since dentures must fit perfectly, denture teeth are first attached to a wax-up so that corrections can be made.

Based on a fit test of the primary parts on the patient, they are further adjusted.

Step 4: Selection and manufacture of the secondary parts

At a further appointment, the patient is given a trial fitting of the primary parts of the denture on the anchor teeth.

A new impression will also be taken at this appointment to fabricate the abutments of the prosthesis. Together with the dentist, the patient determines the color and shape of the future replacement teeth, so that the esthetics of the prosthesis perfectly match the patient’s ideas.

The dental laboratory then fabricates the abutments of the prosthesis.

Step 5: Final adjustments and fixation of the prosthesis

At a further appointment, the combined prosthesis (not yet finally fixed) is placed on the patient on a trial basis and further adjustments are made if necessary before the positioning of the elements of the prosthesis is fixed.

Step 6: Integration

The completed combined denture is placed in the patient’s mouth, and minor corrections can still be made. First, the primary parts are placed on the teeth with luting cement. The removable part of the denture is placed over the primary parts in the mouth while the cement is still setting.

After the cement has set, the prosthesis is removed and checked for cement residue – if necessary, this is done several hours apart at a separate appointment.

Step 7: Oral hygiene and follow-up checks

The patient receives detailed instructions on oral hygiene and care of the removable parts of the denture.

In further appointments with the dentist, possible pressure points of the patient are examined. In addition, regular follow-up appointments are held, which are based on the individual patient’s oral health status. During these appointments, the condition of the crowned teeth, the denture and the tissue on which the denture is supported in the mouth is checked.

What are the advantages of a combined denture?

Combined dentures have several advantages over removable dentures:

Improved retention of dentures and better chewing function: A combined denture allows better retention than removable dentures and allows normal chewing function.

Improved esthetics compared to dentures: A combined denture is usually free of visible elements (e.g. metal clasps) and thus has improved esthetics compared to a cast model denture.

Increased wearing comfort: Since combined dentures are individually adapted to the patient in several steps, they are usually more comfortable to wear than removable dentures.

Better cleaning than fixed dentures: The advantage over fixed dentures is that part of the denture can be removed from the mouth for cleaning.

What are disadvantages of a combined denture?

Higher treatment costs: A combined denture is usually more expensive than a removable denture due to the more complex treatment process.

More time-consuming treatment: The time required for a patient from the beginning to the end of treatment for a combined denture can take several months, which is significantly longer than the time required for a removable denture.

Necessary treatment of teeth and implants if necessary: The use of a combined denture requires the insertion of the primary elements in the denture, which can be more uncomfortable compared to a removable denture and carries a lower risk of complications.

In some cases (when there are no remaining teeth as abutment teeth) implants are also needed with the corresponding treatment risks.

What costs should I expect for a removable / combined denture?

In Switzerland

In Switzerland, the following costs are typically to be expected

• The costs for a removable partial denture are relatively low, depending on the design, and in some cases start at around CHF 700.
• For a cast full denture, costs of between CHF 1,500 and CHF 2,500 per jaw are to be expected  – for a full denture for the lower and upper jaw, patients should therefore expect costs of between CHF 3,000 and CHF 5,000.
• Costs for telescopic dentures in Switzerland start between CHF 2’000 and CHF 4’000 per jaw, but can quickly turn out much higher

The costs of a combined denture are very individual and strongly depend on the chosen solution, the materials used and the necessary treatment steps, therefore an individual cost estimate should always be obtained.

In European foreign countries

It can also be worthwhile for dentures to be treated in other European countries.

Germany and Austria have similar price levels for dentures, which are lower than in Switzerland:

• For a removable partial denture, costs between EUR 600 and EUR 900 are to be expected 
• For a model cast full denture, costs between EUR 700 and EUR 1,200 per jaw are to be expected.
• For telescopic prostheses, costs of EUR 1,500 to EUR 3,500 per jaw are to be expected. 

 Greece and Hungary have similar price levels for prostheses:

• For a removable partial denture, costs of between EUR 200 and EUR 800 can be expected.
• For a model cast full denture, costs between EUR 500 and EUR 1,000 per jaw are to be expected
• For telescopic dentures, costs of EUR 900 to EUR 1,500 per jaw are to be expected.

The Czech Republic is significantly cheaper than Hungary and Greece, where prices for removable partial dentures and cast full dentures per jaw start at EUR 200-250. No price information is freely available for telescopic dentures in the Czech Republic.

Country	Cost removable partial denture	Cost model casting full denture per jaw	Cost telescopic prosthesis per jaw
Switzerland	CHF 700+	CHF 1’500 – 2’500	CHF 2’000 – 4’000
Germany	EUR 600 – 900	EUR 700 – 900	EUR 1’500 – 3’500
Austria	EUR 600 – 900	EUR 900 – 1’200	EUR 1’500 – 3’000
Greece	EUR 500 – 800	EUR 500 – 1’000	EUR 900 – 1’100
Czech Republic	EUR 250 – 700	EUR 200+	Information not available
Hungary	EUR 200 – 500	EUR 500 – 800	EUR 1’300 – 1’500

Sources: Various dental practice and medical tourism provider websites.

Who covers the cost of dentures?

In Switzerland, the basic insurance does not usually cover dental treatment costs; normally, dentures have to be paid 100% by the patient. An exception exists if certain serious diseases of the masticatory system are present or if the consequences of serious diseases make dental treatment necessary.

Private supplementary dental insurance in Switzerland usually covers the cost of dentures. Most insurance companies offer different rates with reimbursements ranging from 50% to 80%, usually there is also a maximum reimbursement in a year.

In case of tooth loss as a result of an accident, the accident insurance will cover the cost of dentures after clarification.

Last update: December 13, 2022