Get Low Cost Dental Work

Dental work can be expensive, even more so without insurance. It's important then to find which methods work best for you to reduce the cost of and be able to afford any dental care that you might need. Don't wait for a dental emergency, start looking today for ways that you can receive affordable care.

Steps

Finding Affordable Centers for Dental Care

1. Look for a local free clinic. You may live next to a free health clinic which you can visit to receive free or low cost dental care. Those who work at a free health clinic do so on a volunteer basis, which results in these low costs.
   • Free clinics are a great fit for people with low income or those with no insurance.
   • If you are able, you can make donations to these clinics that will help them stay in operation.
2. Visit a dental school. Dental schools are a great place to search for low cost dental care. Receiving care at a dental school will allow a student to gain real world experience and save you money.
   • Students are supervised by licensed and experienced dentists, in addition to having some experience themselves.
   • Some schools provide services from post-graduate students.
   • For low-cost dental cleaning you can find schools that train dental hygienists.
   • You can find a full list of dental schools at “American Dental Association”
3. Consider taking part in a clinical trial. Clinical trials are done when a new form of treatment is being tested. Some trials require that you have no pre-existing health issues while others require you have a specific condition. By volunteering in these trials, you can obtain either low-cost or free dental care.
   • Always make sure you fully investigate the trial you are interested in for possible dangerous risks to your health.
   • You can find a list of these clinical trials at “NIDCR”. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research is dedicated to promoting and improving dental health and care in America.
   • You may also search for clinical trials at “ClinicalTrials.gov”
   • Once you find a clinical trial you think is a good fit for you, you will need to apply.
   • Most all applications are done on-line, so you will need access to a computer and the Internet.

Finding Helpful Programs and Groups

1. Investigate the Health Resources and Services Administration. The Bureau of Primary Health Care is part of a program that federally funds free or low-cost health care options. Many of these programs offer dental care in addition to other health care needs.
   • You can find the nearest office to you using the website “Find a Health Center”
   • You can also contact the Health Resources and Services Administration by phone at 1–888–275–4772
2. Learn about state funded insurance programs. In the United States there are three major federally funded programs that are designed to provide insurance to certain age groups. Learn more about the following programs to see which one is right for you:
   • Medicare is offered to individuals over the age of 65 or if you have certain medical conditions.
   • Medicaid is available to both families and individuals. Applying for Medicaid will have different requirements depending on which State you live in.
   • CHIP is a program designed for those under the age of 19. Most often dental insurance is covered by CHIP in addition to standard health insurance.
3. Learn more about the ACA. The Affordable Care Act, or ACA, is a legislative act that extends the coverage of the Medicaid program. The ACA aims to make health care affordable and accessible to millions of Americans. Check to see if you are eligible for the benefits provided by the ACA to help lower the cost of dental care.
   • Enrolment into the ACA will depend largely on your income level and the size of your household.
   • You can find a chart that explains the income and household size requirements at "healthcare.gov"
4. Check with the United Way organization. Find your local branch of the United Way organization as they may be able to direct you to dental services in your area that are low-cost or possibly free. United Way is a non-profit that makes use of volunteers and donations to help bring health care to those who need it.
   • You can locate your nearest United Way branch at “unitedway.org”
5. Contact your state and local health departments. Try asking your local or state health department about dental programs in your area. These programs may provide free or low-cost dental care to you as well as other financial aid programs designed for health care.
   • You may be able to locate your local office by calling 2–1–1.
6. Try to obtain dental insurance. If you are able to, you may wish to enroll in a dental insurance plan. Some of these plans may already be included in your health insurance policy while others may be stand-alone policies. Either type of plan can help reduce the cost of dental work.
   • Some plans have high monthly payments but will charge you less when you have dental work done.
   • Other plans have low monthly payments but require you to pay more when receiving any dental work.
   • Insurers must offer dental care plans to children under 18 years of age.

Tips

• Don't wait until there's an emergency. Try to establish some kind of plan, should a dental emergency arise.

Sources and Citations

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