Where to Get Free and Low Income Dental Services

Where to Get Free and Low Income Dental Services

Many dental services are expensive, so many Americans tend to neglect treatment. Even if you have insurance, most dental procedures are still costly.

Some dental insurance plans cover 100 percent of preventive treatment, which includes two dental exams and teeth cleanings per year. However, restorative treatment (e.g., fillings and crowns) may only be partially covered or not covered at all.

Depending on your situation and income, you may qualify for the following low-income dental services: 

1. Low-Cost Dental Clinics

There are a few different types of clinics that offer dental services at reduced rates. These are:

Nonprofit and free dental clinics

Charities, churches, and dental organizations operate free clinics by donating dental services to low-income families.

The only downside is that free dental care clinics are hard to find and typically have a long waitlist.  

Public dental clinics

These dental clinics are funded by taxpayers. State or local health departments must receive grants from the federal government to run them.

At public clinics, people can expect to pay fixed, low prices on many types of dental treatments. These include:

• Cavity fillings
• Crowns
• Implants
• Bridges
• X-rays
• Tooth extractions
• Teeth cleanings
• Dental exams

Dental Schools

Many college dental programs around the U.S. offer discounted dental services. These programs include:

• Allied dental education programs
• Predoctoral dental education programs (DDS/DMD)
• Advanced dental education programs

Dental hygiene schools (American Dental Hygienists’ Association) 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.

Some advantages to these low-cost dental services include:

• Preventive, restorative, and surgical procedures can be at least 50 percent cheaper
• Professional supervisors with extensive training in dentistry check each step in the process during treatment
• All of the schools are accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)

The disadvantages of these low-cost dental services include:

• Appointments take longer than they would at an established dentist’s office
• The students are in training, so there is a higher risk for mistakes to occur; although this is rare
• The treatments can only be completed on-campus, and many colleges are located in busy cities

2. Donated Dental Services (DDS)

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. 

3. Government Assistance Programs

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:

Medicaid

This program is funded by the federal government and each U.S. state. It provides dental and health coverage to eligible low-income Americans, including:

• People with disabilities
• Children
• Adults
• Pregnant women
• Elderly people 

Medicare

This program provides health insurance to people 65 years of age and older and those with specific disabilities. Although, dental care coverage through Medicare is restricted. In particular, it does not cover dentures and routine dental services, including teeth cleanings, x-rays, and dental exams.

CHIP

Similar to Medicaid, this program provides dental coverage to children under 19 years of age. Coverage varies from state to state. Other eligibility requirements include:

• The child has to be uninsured and determined ineligible for Medicaid
• The child must be a resident of the state
• The entire family must meet CHIP’s low-income requirements
• The child must be a U.S. citizen or meet immigration requirements

4. Low-Fee Clinics

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.

5. Clinical Trials

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. Although, not everyone can participate in these trials. Eligibility depends on your age and your general and oral health history. 

Even though clinical trials are free, they are risky. This is because many of the medications and techniques used during the trials aren’t FDA-approved, so you are more likely to develop side effects.

These effects can range from mild to severe. Therefore, they will inform you about the potential complications before beginning the trial.

What is The Best Dental Insurance For Low Income?

If you are interested in buying dental insurance, many insurance companies offer affordable dental plans. 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:

• Delta Dental
• Aetna
• Humana
• United Healthcare

These companies also offer more affordable plans. Similar to CIGNA, preventive treatments are covered in full. But you typically pay for restorative treatments, orthodontics, and oral surgeries out-of-pocket. 

A routine check-up, dental exam, and teeth cleaning costs between $150 and $350 without insurance. You should visit your dentist twice a year for these services, which can cost up to $700 per person annually.

If you invest in a reduced-cost dental insurance plan (about $19 per month), you’ll save money in the long-run.

Who Qualifies for Free Dental Care?

Each U.S. state has its own guidelines regarding who qualifies for free and low-income dental care.

If you do not have enough money to pay for treatment and are over 65 years of age, have a disability, or a medical condition, you may qualify for free treatment through the Donated Dental Services (DDS) program.

In the U.K., individuals may qualify for free NHS dental care if they meet certain criteria. Learn more here.