Dental care can be expensive. In fact, many people put off dental treatment due to high costs.
Whether you’re holding back due to a lack of insurance or high copays and benefit caps with yourdental insurance plan, there are options for free, low cost, or sliding scaledental care.
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It’s important to note that the availability of these services will depend on where you live. While some options are open to everyone, others depend on your income level or eligibility for government programs.
This article outlines a few possible options for lower-cost or free dental work.
Dental Colleges and Hygiene Schools
Dental schools are a popular option for many people. Student dentists perform work at a reduced cost and sometimes offer care for free. This option is usually open to everyone, regardless of income.
Dental students work under the guidance of their professors, who oversee procedures to make sure they are performed properly. When you receive dental care at a dental school, trainee dentists get the opportunity to learn a procedure while you get dental work at a fraction of the cost.
The American Dental Association maintains a full list of dental schools that you can search to see if there is one near you.
There are potential downsides to being treated at a dental college. Most dental schools are located in major cities. If you live far from a dental school, the travel time may be prohibitive. Some schools may also have long waiting times to get assigned to a provider team and get care, so it may not be an option if you need emergency treatment.
Popular Dental Schools in the United States
Some well-known and top-ranked dental schools in the United States include:
Government Programs
Government programs include some level of dental care. These programs include:
Veterans who are eligible for care through the Veterans Administration (VA) may be able to receive dental care as part of their VA benefits.The VA runs more than 200 dental clinics around the country to serve veterans.
If you qualify for any of these programs, ask about which dental options may be available to you.
Community Health Centers
The federal government’s Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) runs federally funded community health centers (CHC) across the country that provide free or reduced-cost health services, including dental care.
Discount Passes
Some insurance companies offer discount passes to members who have limited (or no) dental coverage or those have used up their yearly benefits. These are typically offered through a third-party group. Most discount passes are inexpensive (as low as $20). They can save you anywhere from 20% to 50% in costs, depending on the work you have done.
After purchasing a dental discount pass, you typically have a certain amount of time (such as 30 days) to use it, and you’ll need to see a provider in that company’s network to realize the savings.
Some restrictions may apply with discount passes. For instance, you can’t normally use a discount pass when you’re using your insurance benefits. It’s important to note that your dental provider may not be enrolled in the company’s provider network, so check before you buy the pass if you aren’t willing to go to another provider to have a procedure performed.
Clinical Trials
Clinical trialsmay offer additional options, especially if you have an underlying condition that is causing dental or oral health issues. These trials are free, but in return, you’re assisting in the research process.
As a participant in a clinical trial, you may be at risk of side effects, and these will be explained to you during theinformed consentprocess.
The Clinicaltrials.gov website provides information about all clinical trials in progress, along with information about who qualifies for which trial and what is required of patients who are enrolled.
Summary
If you are in need of dental care and worried about how you’ll pay for it, you’re not alone. Fortunately, dental schools, community health centers, and even clinical trials can help you make oral health affordable. Programs like Medicare and Medicaid may also provide dental benefits if you’re eligible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn MoreDental Hygienist: Expertise, Specialties, and Training
The easiest way to find out if dental schools are accepting patients is to call them. You’ll be able to ask questions about what services are available, what the costs are, and whether they take insurance (if you have it).
Some free dental clinics offer preventive services (like cleanings) and others also perform advanced procedures, such as implants. The best way to determine whether a clinic near you performs free implant surgery is to contact them.
Alternatives to tooth implants include dental bridges, partial dentures, and full dentures. Though implants are the most expensive option to replace lost teeth, dentures and bridges also have costs attached. You may be able to have these created for you at a dental school clinic.
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Vujicic M, Buchmueller T, Klein R.Dental care presents the highest level of financial barriers, compared to other types of health care services.Health Affairs. 2016;35(12):2176-2182. doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2016.0800
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.Where can I find low-cost dental care?
Commission on Dental Accreditation.Search for dental programs.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.Medicare dental coverage.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.What is Medicare Part C?
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.Dental Care.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.Benefits.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.VA Dental Care.
Health Resources & Services Administration.Title V Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Block Grant.
Health Resources and Services Administration.Find a health center.
National Institutes of Health. U.S. National Library of Medicine.Clinicaltrials.gov.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Where can I find low-cost dental care?
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