The latest The Wealthy Dentist survey reveals that the average gross production of a new dentures patient in the first 9 months of treatment in 2012 was $3,790.

Suburban dentists reported the higher production figures reporting amounts between $5,000 – $8,000.

Currently, there is much speculation among dental educators that the need for complete dentures will decline markedly in the future and that complete denture training should be removed from the dental curriculum.

Estimates based on national epidemiologic survey data indicate that edentulism has declined by 10% every decade and that 90% of edentulous adults obtain and wear complete dentures. (Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine)

However, when the number of adults in each specific age group is multiplied by the percentage who need a complete maxillary or mandibular denture, the results suggest that the adult population in need of 1 or 2 complete dentures will increase from 33.6 million adults in 1991 to 37.9 million adults in 2020. The 10% decline in edentulism experienced each decade for the past 30 years will be more than offset by the 79% increase in the adult population older than 55 years. (Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine)

In this survey, general dentists report average production profits between $1,000 and $8,000 for new dentures patients, while prosthodontists average $4,500.

One dentist responded, “While a set of dentures is $5000 most patients in my practice are either overdenture or implant retained. I rarely edentulate a patient but will frequently make interim overdentures with locators as the first step of extensive treatment plans.”

What are your thoughts on new dentures patient gross production for 2012?