• About
  • Mortgage Basics
  • $40K Challenge
  • Aunt Doris
  • Grandfather Says
  • Privacy
  • Archives

Len Penzo dot Com

The offbeat personal finance blog for responsible people.

8 Ways to Save on Dental Care Without Insurance

By Mikey Rox

dentist-sign-toothDo you need to get your grill fixed, but don’t have dental insurance? You’re not alone. More than 100 million US consumers — that’s nearly one-third of the nation’s population — are without access to dental care because of increased costs that don’t show any signs of slowing.

If you’re paying out-of-pocket at the dentist, you can keep your mouth clean and healthy with these savings tips:

Visit a Dental School

About a year after I graduated college, I was unemployed and without health insurance — which made that a terrible time for my wisdom teeth to act up. One of them was abscessed and painful, so I needed to have it treated. I visited a regular dentist who quoted me a price that was far more than I could afford, so I decided to take my grandmother’s advice and visit a dental school where professionals supervise the work done by students. It certainly wasn’t as convenient as going to a private practice — I had to get up very early in the morning to be first in line for an appointment — but I got the tooth pulled efficiently and inexpensively. For those who are interested, the American Dental Association provides a list of dental schools across the country.

Consider Community Health Clinics

Community health clinics allow sliding scale payments for patients without insurance based on income and family size.

‘The sliding scale payment can include a reduced fee or a free service,” says money-saving expert Andrea Woroch. “However, this option doesn’t apply to everyone, and proof of annual household income is necessary when determining service cost.”

Find a Charity

Several charities offer quality dental services at free or reduced costs depending on the service. As Woroch points out, “These services provide thorough dental care regardless of income or health insurance coverage, and websites like The National Association of Free Clinics provide a list of member free clinics in each state.”

Ask About Cash Discounts and Other Payment Options

Woroch advises that many times you can avoid a lump-sum bill by working with your dentist’s office to arrange a payment plan.

“Some dentists will consider a monthly payment plan, which may involve a fraction of the cost to be paid directly as a down payment,” she says. “You should also ask your dentist if cash discounts are available. Oftentimes paying in cash saves your dentist money by avoiding third-party costs and processing fees, so it’s a win-win situation for both you and your dentist.”

Budget Wisely And Plan Ahead

There are a variety of resources available to help you create a budget, plan for routine teeth cleaning, or ensure you’re prepared to cover any emergency dental issues that arise.

Look for Daily Deals

Sure, Groupon and LivingSocial are great for discounted meals and activities, but you can get real services on the daily deal sites, too. In fact, Groupon recently featured a voucher for 60% off a dental implant procedure at E-Dream Dental in Los Angeles.

“DentalPlans.com is another option where you can save up to 60% on dental services, with additional discounts available using promo codes from sites like CouponSherpa,” adds Woroch.

Get a Discount Card

If you sign up for a Dental Solutions Discount Card at edentalsolutions.com, Woroch explains, you can save 20% or more on routine checkups including cleanings as well as advanced dental care such as teeth whitening and oral surgery. The dental plan is available to anyone and costs about $10 a month for you and your family.

Practice Healthy Dental Habits

Here’s my secret for staying out of the dentist’s chair as much as possible: take care of your teeth! Brush at least twice a day for as long as it takes to sing the Happy Birthday song two times — or so I hear, anyway — and floss before bed. Other great oral hygiene practices include cutting back on sugary foods and drinks, and replacing your toothbrush every six months. All of which cost mere pennies when compared to the price tag of fixing cavities and gum disease.

Photo Credit: get directly down

8 Comments November 10, 2020

Comments

  1. 1

    Kathy says

    My dentist gives a 5% cash discount if you pay the day of the procedure. We don’t have dental insurance so even the 5% is welcome.

    Reply
  2. 2

    marco says

    Mexican dentists in Mexico charge less. consider a trip down south.

    Reply
    • 3

      Len Penzo says

      Thanks for the tip, Marco. I assume they follow the same medical standards they do everywhere else.

      Reply
  3. 4

    AniVee says

    Dental tourism has become very popular in Central America, especially Panama. The care is first rate, the appointment waiting times are short and the labs get the crowns, etc., back in record time. Porcelain crowns and bonding, whitening and root canals have been so much cheaper and faster than back in New York .

    Reply
    • 5

      Len Penzo says

      Wow … I had no idea! This is good to know, AniVee. Have you taken advantage of this?

      Reply
      • 6

        John says

        https://www.knau.org/post/cross-border-dental-care-part-one $20,000 vs $3,800

        Reply
    • 7

      Mikey says

      Interesting. I probably won’t be heading across the border for dental work anytime soon, but good to know.

      Reply
  4. 8

    Laura says

    Many dentists in Mexico and Central America trained in the US and have up to date equipment.

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Laura Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Question of the Week:

Are you expecting an income tax refund this year?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

Recent Posts

  • How Home Crowdfunding May Let Millennials Live the American Dream
  • 3 Important Tax Deduction Rules You Should Always Remember
  • 5 Ways You Can Save Money on Groceries This Week
  • Economic Collapse 101: How to Prepare for Water Supply Disruptions
  • Black Coffee: Painting the Town Red
  • 5 Ways the Oil Industry Affects the US Economy
  • An HVAC Professional Teaches High School Students About the Field
  • The Fastest Way to Improve Your Credit Score
  • How to Determine How Much Rent You Can Really Afford
  • A Simple Test to Know If It’s Better to Rent or Buy a House

Disclaimer

This site is for informational and entertainment purposes only, and the content herein should not be mistaken for professional financial advice. In fact, making investment decisions based on information published here, or any other website for that matter, is more than unwise; it is folly. This website accepts advertising in the form of monetary and other compensation; as such, topics of discussion are occasionally influenced by these advertisers. Sometimes, an article may also include affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, this blog earns a commission if you click through and make a purchase (for example, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases). Remember, you and you alone are responsible for the decisions you make in life, so please contact an independent financial professional for advice regarding your unique personal situation.

Sign up for the weekly Len Penzo dot Com newsletter
Len Penzo dot Com Delivered Weekly
Join more than 30,000 readers and fans who enjoy personal finance and macroeconomics with an offbeat twist!
Invalid email address
Thanks for subscribing!

Popular Now:

  1. 1. A Simple Test to Know If It’s Better to Rent or Buy a Home
  2. 2. My Cola Taste Test: Is Coke Really Better Than Pepsi?
  3. 3. My 10 Commandments of Personal Finance
  4. 4. The Best Personal Finance Book I’ve Ever Read
  5. 5. Planning a Wedding? Here Are 9 Ways to Ensure You’ll Pay Too Much
  6. 6. 5 Things Nobody Tells You About Being Poor — for Good Reason
  7. 7. 4 Good Reasons Why Some Quarters Are Painted Red
  8. 8. 3 Great Hobbies That Are Investments Too
  9. 9. 10 Red Flags That May Signal You’re In Serious Financial Trouble
  10. 10. Are Gas Clothes Dryers Worth the Extra Money?

All-Time Most Popular:

  1. 1. 19 Things Your Suburban Millionaire Neighbor Won’t Tell You
  2. 2. Dear Friend: Here Are 41 Reasons Why I’m NOT Lending You the Money
  3. 3. Why Your Expensive Luxury Car Doesn’t Impress Smart People
  4. 4. If You Can’t Live on $40,000 Annually It’s Your Own Fault
  5. 5. 21 Reasons Why Corner Lots Are for Suckers
  6. 6. 4 Smart Reasons Why College Isn’t for Everyone
  7. 7. 18 Fast Facts About Social Security Numbers
  8. 8. My Ketchup Taste Test: Upset! Guess Which Brand Topped Heinz
  9. 9. Why I Prefer a Spreadsheet to Track Expenses and Manage My Finances
  10. 10. Here’s a Simple Trick for Getting Credit Card Interest Charges Waived

Copyright © 2021 Len Penzo dot Com · All Rights Reserved · Designed by Nuts and Bolts Media

Copyright © 2021 · Penzo on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in