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How Much Do Dental Bridges Cost With and Without Insurance?

If you need to replace weak or missing teeth, you may be a good candidate for a dental bridge. These devices can be expensive without insurance. Fortunately, Aflac's network dental insurance for individuals and families can help cover the costs. Read on to learn how dental bridges work and how much they cost with and without insurance.

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Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

  • Dental bridges typically cost between $1,041 to $5,197 without insurance.1
  • The price for dental bridge procedures depends on the bridge type, materials, number of missing teeth, and location within your mouth.
  • Aflac's network dental insurance can help cover the cost of eligible dental work, while our supplemental dental insurance can help cover additional expenses that your network plan doesn’t cover.

What is a dental bridge?

A dental bridge is an oral device that replaces one or more missing teeth. It can help restore your smile, improve your ability to chew and speak, and prevent your remaining teeth from shifting out of place.

Dental bridges typically consist of the following components:2

  • Abutment: The natural teeth or dental implants on either side of the gap that support and anchor the bridge in place.

  • Pontic: The artificial tooth that fills the space left by the missing tooth.

  • Crowns: Custom-made caps that fit over abutments to hold the bridge in place.

Types of dental bridges

Depending on how many teeth you're missing and their location, your dentist will decide the right type of bridge for your needs. The most popular options include:2

  • Traditional bridge: A traditional bridge is the most common type of dental bridge. It fills the gap left by a missing tooth with an artificial tooth that’s anchored in place by crowns on the healthy teeth on either side.
  • Cantilever bridge: A cantilever bridge only places a crown on one side of the gap. Since it has just one support tooth, this type of bridge is best suited for areas in the mouth that don’t experience much biting pressure.
  • Maryland bridge: A Maryland bridge is also called a resin-bonded bridge. It bonds the bridge to the surrounding teeth with small metal or porcelain “wings,” rather than crowns.
  • Implant-supported bridge: An implant-supported bridge attaches to dental implants instead of your natural teeth. It’s a popular option for patients who have multiple missing teeth in a row.3
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How much does a dental bridge cost without insurance?

Dental bridges can cost anywhere from $1,500 to $16,000 without insurance.1 Price ranges vary depending on the type of bridge, as shown by this chart:1

Bridge Type Average Price Range
Traditional Bridge $5,197
Cantilever Bridge $1,041
Maryland Bridge $1,569
Implant-Supported Bridge $5,195

Factors that can impact the cost of dental bridges

Along with the type of bridge you receive, the following factors can impact your total costs:4

Materials

Dental bridges can be made from metal alloy, porcelain and other materials. Metal is often the most affordable. Porcelain typically costs more, but it more closely resembles the look of natural teeth. As a result, some patients are willing to pay extra for porcelain if they're replacing teeth in visible areas.

Number of missing teeth

The more teeth you need to replace, the more your dental bridge will cost. That's because larger gaps require more materials and may involve more complex procedures, such as dental implant placements.

Location of missing teeth

The location of your dental bridge can affect the total cost in several ways. If you're missing front teeth, you may want to pay more for a porcelain bridge. On the other hand, if your bridge is in the back of your mouth, you may need more durable materials or additional support structures to ensure it can withstand greater biting pressure.

Required work on support teeth

Preparing your surrounding teeth to support a dental bridge can add to the overall cost. In some cases, your dentist may need to perform additional procedures to make sure the area is healthy and secure.

Here are a few examples of these services and their average costs:4

Service Average Price Range
Oral exam $50 to $200
Dental X-rays $25 to $50
Tooth extraction $50 to $500
Local anesthesia $40 to $150
Professional cleaning $70 to $250

Does dental insurance help cover dental bridges?

Dental bridges are often considered medically necessary; so many dental insurance plans cover them. For example, Aflac’s network dental insurance covers dental bridges and other major services. Our network plans often offer more coverage the longer you remain a policyholder.

If you want additional coverage for expenses your primary dental insurance plan doesn’t offer, Aflac offers supplemental dental insurance for individuals and families. We also offer Dental, Vision and Hearing (DVH) Insurance that can give you three types of coverage in one comprehensive plan.

How much would a dental bridge cost with insurance?

Dental insurance can reduce your out-of-pocket costs for dental bridges considerably. These plans typically cover 50% to 80% of the total price, depending on your specific plan and how long you’ve been a policyholder.

Below, we outline the estimated costs for the following dental bridge types with and without insurance. Just keep in mind that this example does not account for deductibles or annual maximums.1

Bridge Type Average Cost Without Insurance Estimated Cost With 50% Insurance Coverage Estimated Cost With 70% Insurance Coverage
Traditional Bridge $5,197 $2,598.50 $1,559.10
Cantilever Bridge $1,041 $520.50 $312.30
Maryland Bridge $1,569 $784.50 $470.70
Implant-Supported Bridge $5,195 $2,597.50 $1,558.50

Get dental bridge coverage with Aflac

Dental bridges can be expensive, but delaying treatment can lead to more serious and costly dental problems. Luckily, Aflac’s network dental insurance can reduce your out-of-pocket costs for dental bridges and other major services, making this essential care more affordable.

Additionally, our supplemental dental insurance can help cover other dental expenses that fall outside the scope of your network plan, while our Dental, Vision and Hearing (DVH) Insurance can provide three types of coverage under one premium.

You can purchase your preferred plan directly from Aflac. Speak with an agent today to learn more and get started with a quote.

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