A regular dental check-up or cleaning can cost hundreds of dollars. Filling cavities, braces, and dentures can cost thousands. A dental emergency, such as surgery or a root canal can also have a cost in the thousands. The problem of paying for dental treatment is one of the main reasons people can’t see a dentist.
People without insurance typically forgo the dental office all-together. The under-insured have the same problem. Many types of insurance don’t cover dental, and thus visits to the dentist’s office have to be paid for out-of-pocket.
There is good news though. It can be difficult, but it certainly isn’t impossible to get dental treatment without insurance.
Dental Schools
Students need hands-on training. Fortunately, every state in the Union has at least one dental school or dental hygiene school. Just about every school also offers free or reduced-priced clinics. These clinics fulfill two important functions. One, they provide a wonderful service for the local populace. People without insurance or who generally don’t have a lot of money can get dental treatment they would otherwise miss. Two, the dental students can get some much-needed real life training. Services provided range from root canals, cleanings, fillings, and much more. Unfortunately, they only offer clinics at some times, making them a less than ideal choice for emergency dental visits. You can also expect treatment at a dental school to take longer than it would at a private dentist’s office. Supervisors and teachers have to watch each step of the process in order to assure that it is done correctly. Fortunately, you can expect treatment that is done to exacting academic standards.
Free Dental Clinics
Charities and various other organizations, sometimes churches, often run free medical clinics. Professional dental organizations will donate their materials and time to serving people in these clinics. You can expect the clinics to be busy, and have long waiting times. Make sure to make your appointment well in-advance. Some clinics have income cut-offs (you can’t be treated there if you make too much money) or other restrictions. Restrictions might include only treating seniors, only dealing with emergencies, or working primarily with people who need care most urgently.
Dental lifeline is an example of one of these clinics, it provides care to people 65 and over. Here’s another list of charitable dental clinics.
Public Dental Clinics
Public clinics are run by state, local, or community-based government organizations. Often they are run by health centers that get grants from the federal government. They offer basic services like x-rays, fillings, cleanings, and more advanced ones, like surgeries. Their pricing works on a sliding scale, where you pay according to how much you can afford.
Public dental clinics are good choices for when you have an emergency and no insurance. They sometimes keep emergency dentists on-call.
Dental Savings Plans
A dental savings plan, also called a dental discount plan, is a sort of dental yearly membership. It’s different from insurance because there is no deductible, so you don’t have to pay a certain amount for it to take effect. A dental savings plan works with a yearly fee. With the fee comes reduced prices on dental visits. The reduced prices range from 10-60%. Depending on how much dental work you and your family need, it may be a cheaper, better alternative to insurance.
Additionally, you can sign up for a dental savings plan just a few days before you go in for treatment. This way you can avoid paying the fees until you are certain you need to see a dentist.
Private Dental Office
Private dentists will sometimes treat a patient for free. If the patient has been referred by another dentist, dental school, or friend, the dentist might perform a procedure for no charge, or at a reduced price.
Dental offices also often have financing plans. You can call an office and speak with them to figure out a financing plan that works for you.
We’re Here to Help
If you are in the Carrollton Texas area, and you are struggling with not being able to pay for dentistry, we can help. Josey Lane Dentistry is an experienced, professional dental office, and our passion is helping people. If you are in a tough situation, or just want to know about how to get dental care without paying too much, send us a message today.
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