Dentistry care can be expensive and is therefore put on the backburner. Some employers don’t even offer dental insurance, and when they do, it can seem to cost too much. But dental care is foundational to health care. Your dental health affects your overall health, and setting a good foundation for dental care can help your child for a lifetime. Here are 8 ways to find affordable dental care for you and your family:
- Don’t give up on insurance. Your state may have affordable options for lower income families for individual dental insurance. Look around.
- Ask for reduced prices and payment plans with your local dentists. Dental offices offer programs of getting services at a reduced fee or paying over time with a payment plan. Be ready to prove your income to see if you qualify.
- Check out your local dentistry school. Dentistry schools will offer services at a reduced price so that their students get real world practice. Don’t worry; they won’t have freshmen messing with your teeth. These will be upperclassmen who are wanting to use all of their classroom knowledge in a real environment, and they are supervised by their professors.
- Check out the American Dental Association’s Give Kids a Smile program. These are local events where a dentist sets up shop and provides care for any children who come. For more information, go to their website here: http://ebusiness.ada.org/adaf/find-dental-care-for-your-kids.aspx
- Join a dental savings plan. These plans work like a Costco or Sam’s Club membership. For a monthly fee, you get a discount on dental services. They are designed for seniors and families with a limited income. You can find a list of these plans at https://www.dentalplans.com/
- Go to a Community Health Center. Community Health Centers are not only for seeing the doctor. Some are served by local dentists as well. Contact your local center to see if they have dental services. You can find your nearest center here: https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/
- Find your local dentist who takes Medicaid and SCHIP. You can find them here: https://www.insurekidsnow.gov/
- Contact your state American Dental Association or United Way for local resources. If all else fails, your state American Dental Association or United Way can be great resources for what is available in your specific area.
You can find your state ADA at: http://ebusiness.ada.org/mystate.aspx
You can find your local United Way at: https://www.unitedway.org/find-your-united-way
By Bethanie Ryan