How to Find Help With Dental Costs

Are you delaying or avoiding dental care because it's too expensive? If so, not only are you potentially putting your oral health at risk, but also you could cause serious harm to your overall health. Dental problems can lead to serious infections that may affect your heart and other organs. You should contact state and local agencies, insurance companies and dentists to help you pay for dental care. Charitable organizations and dental schools also provide help with dental costs.

Instructions

• 1

  Request a payment plan from your dentist. Many dentists offer financing for their patients. In-office dental care financing is usually provided on a case-by-case basis. Factors that a dentist's office may take into account when determining whether to offer financing include length of time you have been a patient, the cost of the treatment, the payment amount you can afford and the amount you can afford as a down payment for the treatment.

• 2

  Apply for a treatment finance plan. Most finance plans that provide payment options usually do not consider credit history when determining eligibility for the plan. Some dental offices provide the applications, which you can fill out at the dental office, or applications are available online. Dental care finance companies include CareCredit.com and AllCareFinance.com. Approval usually takes a few minutes to several days. Dental finance credit programs pay your dentist and then allow you to make monthly payments on the total balance due.

• 3

  Sign up for a discount dental plan. Discount dental plans are available for individuals and families. These plans are dental insurance alternatives, not dental insurance. The discount plan consists of a network of participating dentists who provide care to plan members at lower costs than non-plan members. The discounts range from 10 percent to as much as 60 percent off the regular price of selected dental procedures. DentalPlans.com is one of the largest networks in the United States.

• 4

  Seek treatment at a dental school. Dental schools are medical schools where dental students learn procedures under the supervision of professors who are licensed dentists. During procedures, the student performs the work while a dental school professor supervises all work. Quality dental care is available at dental schools for low costs and in some cases for free.

• 5

  Apply for assistance to pay your dental bills at local churches, the United Way and the Salvation Army. You may also qualify for state-funded Medicaid to help pay dental costs. Apply for Medicaid at your local social services agency.