8 Cheap Ways to Pay for Dental Work With No Money
It’s hard to keep your teeth healthy without money or insurance. But it’s not impossible. You just need to know where to look. Find out how you can pay for dental work with no money in 8 easy and cheap ways.
Most People in the US Don’t Have Dental Coverage
If you don’t have dental insurance, you’re not alone. Over 100 million US citizens don’t have dental coverage. With the median household salary in the United States at $68,703 per year in 2019, that leaves little room to pay for dental work out of pocket.
And the fact that Medicare doesn’t cover dental doesn’t make things better either.
How to Pay for Dental Work Without Money
You could always take on a side hustle to bring in extra money for your dental treatments. But, if you can’t, that’s not your only option.
There are a few ways that you can find affordable dental care without insurance, or pay for dental work with little or no money. Here are a few options that you can consider.
1. Find a Free or Low-Cost Dental Provider
There are some dental practices that provide services to low-income and uninsured individuals, often using a sliding scale for payment. If you contact your local United Way branch, you may be able to find out about a dental clinic near you that offers reduced-cost services.
If you can’t afford a dentist with a sliding scale, you may be eligible to receive service for free from a free medical clinic. Eligibility for this is based on your income level.
2. Go Through a Nonprofit Organization
If your income is very low, there are nonprofit organizations that may be able to help you get the dental care you need. Dentistry from the Heart is a good example.
Dentists donate their time and equipment to the organization, providing dental treatment to patients who otherwise couldn’t afford it.
3. Look Online for Coupons & Discounts
Many “daily deals” websites will occasionally have discounts or coupons for dental care services like teeth whitening, braces, and invisible alligners. This can save you a significant amount of money if you’re uninsured.
4. Get Cheap Dental Work from Dental Students
Before they can graduate and become licensed, dental students need experience. At many dental schools, you can sign up to receive treatment from students, under supervision from a licensed dentist, at a significantly reduced cost.
5. Participate in Medical Studies
There are many universities and other research organizations that conduct testing for new dental treatment methods for various conditions. When testing for a new pharmaceutical or procedure reaches the stage where human trials can begin, researchers need volunteers.
In many cases, if you fit a particular study’s criteria, you can become a test subject and get paid for doing so. This could provide you with a treatment option for a dental condition for which you can’t afford to see a dentist.
The National Institute of Dental and Cranial Research maintains a database of active clinical trials.
6. Use Government Resources
There are government organizations that provide assistance with medical expenses for low-income and uninsured people. The Health Resources and Services Administration helps uninsured citizens who are at high risk of developing medical problems to receive treatment.
They provide listings of low-cost dental providers in various geographical areas, and you may be eligible for a provider near you. If you’re a parent, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP Medicaid) will cover medical and dental costs for your children.
7. Save Up to Pay Upfront
Many dentists will offer a discount for people who pay upfront for their services. By saving up enough for the dental service you need, you can end up paying less overall.
8. Enroll in a Dental Discount Plan
By joining a dental discount membership, you can access significant discounts on dental care. All you need to do is sign up and pay a monthly fee to receive discounts at participating dental providers.
Unlike dental insurance, you do not have to wait to use a dental discount plan. You can pay less for dental care as soon as you activate your membership.
Another advantage of dental discount plans is that you aren’t limited by a minimum or a cap.
This means that if you need serious dental work and several expensive procedures, you save a lot more money.
Where exactly can you find such a dental discount plan? The best deal in dental is undoubtedly Carefree Dental.
The Carefree Dental Card Can Help You Pay for Dental Work
Just because money’s tight doesn’t mean that you should abandon your dental care. Skipping regular checkups and necessary procedures will lead to much more pain and hardship down the road.
The Carefree Dental Card can give you significant savings from your dental bills. For $15.95/month for individuals and $19.95/month for families, you can get 15-50%* off your dental bill per visit in most instances at participating dentists.
Get the dental care you need at a lower cost by signing up for Carefree Dental.
The Carefree Dental blog is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The text and pictures within the content are intended for information purposes only. Readers should consult with a licensed dentist or healthcare professional before seeking treatment.
The Carefree Dental Card is not insurance and Carefree Dental is not an insurance provider.
