Both general dentists and prosthodontists can make dentures, and most people get theirs from a general dentist. A prosthodontist is the specialist option, with three additional years of training focused specifically on replacing and restoring teeth. In some states and Canadian provinces, a third provider called a denturist can also design, build, and fit removable dentures without a dentist referral.
Which provider is right for you depends on how straightforward your case is. Here’s how to sort through the options.
General Dentists Handle Most Denture Cases
A general dentist is trained to handle routine dental care and minor to moderate procedures, including standard denture fittings. If you’re in generally good oral health and need a conventional full or partial denture, your general dentist can take impressions, coordinate with a dental lab, and manage the fitting process from start to finish. This is the most common path for denture patients, and it’s perfectly adequate for cases without complicating factors.
The advantage of staying with your general dentist is continuity. They already know your dental history, can handle any extractions you need beforehand, and can manage follow-up care like relines and adjustments over the years.
When a Prosthodontist Makes More Sense
A prosthodontist is a dentist who completed an additional three years of residency training through an ADA-accredited program, focused entirely on replacing and restoring teeth. Their training covers complex cases including implant-supported dentures, jaw surgery, severe bone loss, and full-mouth reconstruction.
Your general dentist might refer you to a prosthodontist if your case involves significant bone resorption (where the jawbone has shrunk considerably after tooth loss), TMJ pain or dysfunction, a difficult bite relationship between your upper and lower jaws, or if you’re considering implant-retained or implant-supported dentures. Cosmetic concerns that go beyond a standard denture, like rebuilding a smile after trauma or cancer treatment, also fall squarely in prosthodontist territory.
Think of it this way: a general dentist repairs and maintains teeth, while a prosthodontist specializes in replacing them. For a straightforward case, the distinction rarely matters. For a complex one, the extra training can mean a better-fitting, longer-lasting result.
Denturists: A Third Option in Some Areas
A denturist is a licensed dental professional who specializes in designing, fabricating, fitting, and maintaining removable dentures. Unlike dentists, denturists don’t extract teeth, treat oral diseases, or perform surgery. If you need extractions or have an active infection, you’ll need to see a dentist or oral surgeon first.
Denturists are licensed in some U.S. states and across much of Canada. Where they practice, you can go directly to one without a referral. Because dentures are their sole focus, they often handle the lab work in-house, which can shorten the timeline and sometimes reduce costs.
Types of Dentures and Who Provides Them
The type of denture you need can influence which provider you should see.
- Full (complete) dentures replace an entire arch of teeth. They rest on your gums and rely on the roof of your mouth or lower jawbone ridge for support. These are the most common type and can be made by any of the three providers. Some wearers find they shift or slip during speaking and chewing, and denture adhesive helps keep them in place.
- Partial dentures fill in gaps when you still have some natural teeth. They use clasps that hook around your remaining teeth for added stability. General dentists, prosthodontists, and denturists all provide these.
- Implant-retained dentures snap onto small threaded posts surgically placed in your jawbone. They’re far more stable than conventional dentures and don’t require adhesive. You still remove them at night for cleaning. The surgical portion requires a dentist or oral surgeon, and prosthodontists are specifically trained in planning and restoring these cases.
- Implant-supported (permanent) dentures are fixed in place and can only be removed by your dentist. They feel closest to natural teeth but require thorough daily cleaning, including flossing underneath. These are almost always handled by a prosthodontist or a general dentist with advanced implant training, often working alongside an oral surgeon.
What the Denture Process Looks Like
Regardless of which provider you choose, the process follows a similar sequence over several appointments spread across a few weeks.
At your first visit, the dentist examines your gums, bone structure, and any remaining teeth, reviews your health history, and discusses what you’re looking for. Preliminary impressions of your mouth may be taken at this appointment or the next one.
The second appointment focuses on detailed impressions using specialized trays, along with a bite registration that records how your upper and lower jaws meet. These impressions go to a dental laboratory, where a technician builds a 3D model of your mouth and uses it to construct your dentures to the dentist’s specifications.
Before the final version is made, you’ll try on a wax model. This is your chance to evaluate how the dentures look and feel, and to request changes to tooth color, shape, or alignment. It’s worth being honest at this stage because changes are much easier to make in wax than in the finished product.
At the final fitting, the completed dentures are placed and checked for comfort, fit, and bite alignment. Expect some immediate adjustments. Follow-up visits over the next few weeks let your provider address sore spots, correct looseness, and monitor how your gums are adapting. Over time, your jawbone will gradually change shape, so periodic relines or rebasing will be needed to maintain a good fit.
Cost Ranges for Dentures
Denture prices vary widely depending on materials, customization, and where you live. Based on 2024 pricing data across all 50 states, national averages break down roughly like this for a full set (upper and lower):
- Low-cost removable dentures: around $450 on average, with a typical range of $350 to $880
- Conventional (mid-range) removable dentures: around $1,970 on average, ranging from $1,520 to $3,650
- Premium dentures with higher-end materials and more customization: around $6,500 on average, ranging from $5,000 to over $12,000
Implant-retained and implant-supported options cost significantly more because of the surgical component. Prosthodontists generally charge higher fees than general dentists, reflecting their additional training, but the difference matters most in complex cases where the outcome justifies the cost. Many dental insurance plans cover a portion of conventional dentures, though coverage for implant-based options is less consistent.
How to Decide Which Provider to See
Start with your general dentist if you already have one. They can assess your situation and either handle the dentures themselves or refer you to a prosthodontist if your case warrants it. If you don’t have a dentist and you’re confident you need straightforward removable dentures, a denturist (where licensed) is a direct route that skips the referral step.
Consider going straight to a prosthodontist if you’ve had significant bone loss in your jaw, you’re interested in implant-supported dentures, you have a complicated bite or jaw joint issues, or a previous set of dentures never fit well despite multiple adjustments. The extra training in complex tooth replacement is exactly what these situations call for.