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Many dental services are expensive, and affordable dental care isn’t always easy to find. It can even get more expensive if you don’t take care of your teeth and get regular checkups.
Even if you have insurance, most dental procedures can still cost a lot of money. Because of the exorbitant cost, many Americans tend to neglect dental treatment.
Fortunately, there are various ways to get a discount on dental services. Let’s discuss how.
Some dental insurance plans cover 100% of preventive dental care. This includes two dental exams and cleanings per year.
However, restorative treatment (e.g., fillings and crowns) may only be partially covered or have no coverage at all.
Fortunately, you may qualify for the following low-income dental services:
There are a few different types of clinics that offer dental services at reduced rates. For example, nonprofit and free dental clinics provide dental care for low-income families.
These clinics are run by churches, charities, and dental organizations. The only downside is that free dental care clinics are hard to find and typically have a long waitlist.
On the other hand, public dental clinics are funded by taxpayers and receive grants from the federal government. These clinics offer the following services at a lower price:
Over 15,000 volunteer dentists and dental labs across America operate Donated Dental Services (DDS). There is one program in each U.S. state, and they provide free dental treatment to those with disabilities.
The elderly and people with chronic medical conditions are also candidates for DDS. However, people also have to meet certain criteria, including not being able to afford regular dental treatment and having no access to public aid.
Many college dental programs around the U.S. offer discounted dental services. These programs include allied, predoctoral (DDS/DMD), and advanced dental education programs.
Dental hygiene schools also offer low-cost, supervised dental care. The general public can visit them to receive treatment from dental students, who all require hands-on training before graduation.
These schools offer preventative, restorative, and surgical procedures at least 50% cheaper than regular dental clinics. However, getting an appointment might take longer, and there may be a higher risk of mistakes.
The government has three financial assistance programs that provide dental care to specific individuals. You may qualify for one or more of the following programs, depending on your age and income:
There are also dental charities and nonprofit dental clinics in each U.S. state. These oral health centers provide dental care on a sliding scale, which is a payment model for patients who can't afford dental work.
Some of these organizations have financial and residency requirements. Other centers only help certain people, including children, the homeless, and people with disabilities.
If you have been diagnosed with a dental condition or disease that is expensive to treat, you may be eligible to participate in a free clinical trial. However, not everyone can participate in these trials.
Eligibility depends on your age, general health, and oral health history. Even though clinical trials are free, they can carry risks because many medications and techniques used in these trials aren’t FDA-approved.
This means you’ll be at risk of developing side effects that can range from mild to severe. They will inform you about the potential complications beforehand, so it’s up to you if you still want the treatment.
Remote Area Medical (RAM) events or pop-up clinics offer free dental services such as fillings and extractions during short-term pop-up clinics. These events don’t require proof of income or residency.
However, you might not get treated if you can’t line up early enough. These lines fill up fast, and you must be there as early as possible.
Dental discount memberships can significantly cut treatment costs, sometimes by up to 50%. Choose reputable plans that clearly list participating dentists and the exact discounts you’ll receive before signing up.
On the other hand, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) can be used to pay for preventive and restorative dental work.
However, your annual contributions are capped, so you may not be able to use them to cover all of your dental expenses.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides dental care. Additionally, families of veterans can get dental care through specific VA programs.
However, free dental services aren’t offered to families. The VA’s free dental services are only available to those who meet the following criteria:
Calculate your dental savings now with a DentalPlans plan. Visit DentalPlans.
Many insurance companies offer affordable dental plans if you want dental insurance. For example, CIGNA offers three different plans.
The lowest one starts at just $19 a month per person. It covers 100 percent of preventive services twice a year, which includes dental exams and teeth cleanings.
However, this plan does not cover orthodontics or restorative services. Other popular dental insurance companies include:
These companies also offer more affordable plans. Similar to CIGNA, preventive treatments are covered in full. But you typically pay out of pocket for restorative treatments, orthodontics, and oral surgeries.
Each U.S. state has its own guidelines regarding who qualifies for free and low-income dental care. If you don’t have enough money for treatment and have the following conditions, you may be eligible for free treatment through the DDS program:
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