Let’s face it, not everyone can afford dental care. Even with the help of a money-saving discount dental plan, dental care can still be too expensive for some folks. In fact, the numbers are staggering. An estimated 45 million Americans are currently living without some form of dental care coverage.
Admittedly, some people don’t have coverage, but could if they wanted to. This number, however, pales in comparison to that of those who simply can’t afford to be covered. I’m willing to bet that everyone reading this post know of at least one person that does not currently have dental care coverage. If that’s the case, do them a favor and point them to this post – they’ll thank you for it.
So, how can low income folks receive low cost, or in some cases free dental care?
1. Dental Schools – Just like many other skilled trades, you can receive closely-monitored treatment at a reduced rate by having the work done by a soon-to-be professional rather than an established professional. Every state has at least one dental school – so there’s one near you.
2. Clinical Trials – A number of industry groups and independent research firms conduct clinical trials for patients living with specific conditions. If you happen to qualify, the dental work performed as part of the trial is often free.
3. United Way – Many people don’t know this, but the United Way may be able to direct you to low cost dental care services in your community – check out their website to find a local chapter.
4. Free Dental Clinics – these have been popping up in communities across the country the last several years. Organizers will often recruit dentists and dental hygienists from around the community to offer free dental care for needy individuals. To find a free dental clinic coming to your area, check out the Free Medical Camps or Visit Freedentalcare.us.
5. Medicaid Services – Most states provide limited emergency dental services for people age 21 or over, while some offer comprehensive services. For most individuals under the age of 21, dental services are provided under Medicaid(nidcr.nih.gov). Visit the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid website for more information.
6. U.S Department of Health & Human Services(HRSA) – The HRSA may be able to help you find local federally-funded health centers that offer discounted dental care services. At these centers you pay what you can afford. To locate a local health center enter your details into the HRSA search engine.
Any Others?
These are just a handful of ways that you can find reduced-fee or free dental care services in your area. If you are in need of low cost dental care – I encourage you to exhaust the resources above. I think you’ll find that quality dental care is more accessible than you might think…Good luck!
Are there any other places you found low cost or free dental care services? Please let others know in a comment below.
