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Wednesday, January 6, 2016

5 Ways to Afford Dental Care without Insurance

A visit to the dentist can be a bit troubling for those without dental insurance: whether you have recently signed up for dental coverage with your new employer and need to wait until a certain period has passed before it becomes active, or you simply don’t have dental insurance because you work part-time, are self-employed, or have retired.
Affordable Dental Care InsuranceAdditionally, Medicare does not include most dental care, including tooth extractions, fillings, cleanings, dental plates, dentures, or other dental appliances.
In the event of an emergency, when something hurts or breaks, they usually have no choice but to visit their dentist with lots of fear and anxiety about the bill. Fortunately, many good dentists know how to deal with patients who don’t have dental coverage, and often provide a range of solutions to fit their needs.

Before you ignore your dental problem and allow it to worsen, consider the following options for making dental care affordable:

1. Regular check-ups
Visiting your dentist on a regular basis is one of the best ways that can save you money, because it helps you detect any dental problems or related health concerns early before they result in more serious and expensive issues later on. Diagnosing problems early is one of the many specialties for dentists, and provides an effective way to manage many problems. Although the check-ups may cost you a little money, you pay the amount at different times, as opposed to paying one huge bill for serious dental problems after 5 years of absence.
2. Prioritizing
Although there are many dental procedures you would like to perform if you had the money, it is important to always take care of health-threatening conditions first, while minor problems or cosmetic visits come later on.
3. Pay upfront
Studies have proven that most dentists are willing to cut the price by at least 5 percent for patients who pay in advance. Many dentists offer a number of special deals, so ask for suggestions on ways you can save on dental care.
4. Consider a dental payment plan
Many dentists offer alternative payment arrangements for those without insurance. For instance, you may be required to pay an annual fee – over some time and with no interest or financing – in exchange for one comprehensive exam, two cleanings, a teeth whitening, one set of X-rays, and 20 percent off on any other dental service. Others may offer considerable discounts (up to 60 percent) on dental costs for an annual membership fee.
5. Participate in medical studies or charity events
Many organizations and universities research new treatment methods and specific dental conditions, and volunteering to participate in the study in exchange for free dental care can be worthwhile. Alternatively, you can track practices that organize free service days for the communities they operate in for free dental care. All members of the Dental Group Practice Association (DGPA) participate in such volunteer work.
Although some dental problems are unavoidable – like impacted wisdom teeth – you can minimize the risk of most problems through preventive care practices, like proper brushing and flossing and regular dental checkups, so you can attend to dental problems in an expedient manner before they get worse.

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