Most people would rather avoid going to the dentist because of the high cost and lack of insurance. Besides, the latest high-tech dental procedures tend to be so expensive that they are unreachable to the average person.
But can you go to the dentist without insurance? Yes, there are several ways you can circumvent the requirements for insurance and get to see a “cheap dentist near me”?
This article aims to educate you to be street-smart when it comes to accessing an affordable dentist.
Dental Costs With and Without Insurance
Like any other medical procedure, it is always good to be prepared to visit the dentist. With insurance, you can avoid paying excessively high costs for visiting the dentist. Taking care of dental emergencies without insurance costs can be overwhelming.
Moreover, dental costs without insurance are often too high that it might prevent one from getting quality care. So, how much does it cost to go to the dentist without insurance? What difference would it make if you had insurance coverage?
In a nutshell, the cost of dental services are pretty high without insurance. The approximate cost of the most popular dental services are listed below.
However, with insurance, you can significantly reduce your overall cost. To know exactly by how much, it would be prudent to inquire from your insurance provider. Moreover, it all depends on other factors such as your age, coverage plan, location, medical history, etc.
Cost of a Dentist Without Insurance
Without insurance, you might have to pay a dentist an astronomical amount out of your pocket. Even if you’re searching online for a “low-cost dentist near me” you may notice that the prices are still quite high to be paid out of pocket. Private dentists usually require payment in cash for all clients without insurance. However, with insurance, all your costs are fully covered.
So, how much is a dentist visit without insurance? The cost of dental care without insurance varies depending on the kind of procedure you require the dentist to perform on you. Here is a breakdown of the cost of dental care without insurance, according to the procedure:
Average Dental Costs by Service
Dentist Cleaning
Dentists recommend professional teeth cleaning at least twice a year. The purpose of the procedure is to keep your teeth and gums clean and healthy. However, cleaning your teeth professionally may cost between $75 and $1,000. If you want to get a more pocket-friendly option, you’d rather use methods, such as searching online phrases like ‘cheapest dentist care near me’ to get such dental services at a more affordable price.
Dentist Filling
Tooth filling costs depend on various factors, including the size of the filling and the material used. Even so, when searching online for phrases like ‘cheapest dental care near me,’ you’ll notice that when comparing their prices, they’ll all vary. For example, an amalgam filling may cost anything between $50 and $150 per tooth. A tooth-colored amalgam filling may cost $90 to $250 per tooth, while a gold or porcelain can be $250 to $4,000 per tooth. So, on average, you should expect to pay $125 to $175 per tooth for fillings.
Tooth Extraction
Different tooth extractions require various tools and procedures. This variation affects the cost of tooth extraction overall. For example, you can expect to pay $125 to $175 for basic tooth extraction, while surgical extraction costs $180 to $550. If you intend to have your wisdom teeth extracted, you should expect to pay $120 to $880.
Dental Crown
The cost of a dental crown depends on the material used and the size of the crown. If you intend to have a basic metal crown, you should expect to pay $500 to $1,000. Without insurance, dentists charge $600 to $1,800 per tooth for porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) and $800 to $2,000 per tooth for ceramic crown.
Root Canal
The cost of a root canal depends on the type of tooth affected and the severity of the infection. You can pay $500 to $1,000 per tooth for a molar root canal and $800 to $1,500 per month for an incisor. Each dentist determines how much they charge for this procedure.
| Procedure | Cost |
|---|---|
| Dentist cleaning | $75-$1,000 |
| Dentist filling | $125-$175 |
| Tooth extraction | $125-$880 |
| Dentist crown | $500-$2,000 |
| Root canal | $500-$1,500 |
Affordable Dental Care Without Insurance
Are you looking for a “dentist without insurance near me?” With so many people lacking dental insurance, it is essential to know exactly where you can go to get help. You can use resources, such as our website to get more information on affordable dental services, such as this one you can use to find Ohio urgent dental care.
While you might not get a completely free dental clinic, here are some options you could try:
Dental Colleges and Schools
You can get affordable dental care near me by visiting a dental school close to you. On average, dental schools are cheaper than private clinics, where dentists tend to charge a premium. They have clinics where clinical students can attend to you under the supervision of a licensed dentist.
You can use different methods to get more affordable dental care, but it all depends on the available The experienced dentist closely follows the students’ work to ensure high-quality treatment. Only that the local dental college or school may require you to visit more regularly. Unlike private clinics, where the services are fast, you may have to take a longer time on the dentist’s chair.
Popular dental schools in the United States include:
- The University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Harvard University
- The University of California, San Francisco
- The University of California, Los Angeles
- The University of Washington
- The University of Pennsylvania
- The University of Buffalo, the State University of New York
- New York University
- Columbia University
Apart from these ten dental schools and universities; there is at least one dental school in 50 states.
Therefore, you don’t have to travel out of your state to get to a dental school where you can have your issues addressed. Alternatively, you should select the best orthodontic insurance company to get covered, as discussed below.
Medicaid Coverage
The government provides several programs to cover dental care for low-income families. Since they are government-initiated, you may not have to pay premiums on these plans. If you can’t find “dental care for adults without insurance near me,” these can be extremely useful. The following are some of the programs under Medicaid coverage:
- Medicare: Medicare can be of great help for emergency dental treatment procedures. With Medicare Part A, you can have some of the dental services, including medical stay when you have complicated dental care or emergencies covered.
However, Medicare doesn’t cover regular dental procedures like tooth extraction, fillings, cleanings, dentures, dental plates, etc.
- CHIP: If your state government covers your under-19 under a Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), you can get affordable dental treatment. CHIP offers different benefits in each state, depending on the government and existing regulations.
Under the program, children can have broken or decayed teeth replaced, relieved against dental infections and pain, and procedures towards maintaining a child’s oral health.
Local Health Departments
If you don’t know how to save money at the dentist, you should try your local health department. They work through the Health Resources and Services Administration (1-888-Ask-HRSA), which operates the Bureau of Primary Health Care in each state. Apart from regular health services, you can get free or cheap dental care near you.
Nonprofit Organizations
Some nonprofit organizations operate dental clinics targeting people from low-income families, those without insurance, or anyone who cannot afford care. While the nonprofits might not be everywhere, they can save you money whenever you need dental services.
Here are some of the most notable nonprofit organizations acting as the “cheapest dentist near me”:
Dental Lifeline Network
The Dental Lifeline Program operates nationally, targeting people living with disability and senior citizens with affordable dental services. Its membership consists of volunteer dental suppliers, labs, and dentists working free. So if you have no way of getting a cheap “dentist near me,” the Dental Lifeline Network is the best option.
Eligible beneficiaries need to apply online, providing dental, medical, household expenses, and financial information (financial assistance). Once approved, program coordinators connect elderly or disabled patients with available dentists. Looking for this program is one of the best ways to get a “dentist near me with no insurance.”
America’s Dentists Care Foundation
America’s Dentist Care Foundation (ADCF) was founded in 2008 to provide dental equipment to charitable organizations like the Mission of Mercy across the U.S. The clinics it supports have volunteer dentists dedicated to providing reliable and affordable dental care to the needy and underserved. It sources the dental equipment from volunteer distributors and manufacturers who give aid either financially or in kind. So, if you want to see a dentist without insurance, be sure to visit the clinics supported by this particular network.
Special Care Dentistry Association
The Special Care Dentistry Association (SCDA) aims to provide geriatric dentistry, dentistry for people living with disabilities, and hospital dentistry. It brings together oral health professionals who wish to provide dental care to people with special needs. It goes beyond dental care, offering lifestyle and healthcare for those needing dental treatment. The targeted groups include chronic disease, vision or hearing impairment, people with intellectual disabilities, and the elderly.
National Children’s Oral Health Foundation
The National Children’s Oral Health Foundation (NCOHF) aims to fight oral disease and promote oral health for children from low-income families. It has over 500 centers nationally, whose purpose is to reach at least 5 million children. The foundation brings together willing nonprofit agencies, philanthropic individuals, industry leaders, and dental professionals to provide affordable dental care to children across the U.S. It works by doing the following:
- Funding dental centers for children
- Supporting innovative pediatric education and dental treatment programs
- Sharing of information through a virtual learning institute
- Monitoring the progress made by its affiliate programs
- Oral health education to affiliate organizations
Give Kids a Smile (GKAS)
Give Kids a Smile was established in 2003 by the American Dental Association (ADA) to provide free oral health services to millions of underserved children across the U.S. The one-day annual event occurs nationally in designated dental clinics, providing disadvantaged kids with oral health services. Instead of attending to the kids once, the program aims to provide continuity of care.
Give Back a Smile
Give Back a Smile targets to connect domestic and sexual violence survivors with cosmetic dentists. The organization is the brainchild of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, aiming to restore the smiles of men and women across the U.S. It provides free smile reconstruction services to adults with dental injury due to abuse by a family member, former spouse, former intimate partner, or owing to sexual assault. In the process, it helps restore self-confidence, helping the beneficiaries to overcome the victim mentality.
Clinical Trials
Do you wish to volunteer in a dental clinical trial? Through the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), you can participate in the program if you have certain craniofacial, oral, and dental conditions. You can be part of some of the available clinical trials or research studies.
Through clinical trials, patients can get low-cost or free dental treatment for the conditions under study. You can find out the availability of NIDCR clinical trials by gaining information from the government’s website dedicated to clinical trials. Depending on your location, you may need to call the state office to get recruited into an available clinical trial.
Coupons & Dimensions
Do you want to know how to save money at the dentist? Then, take advantage of the periodically available special coupons and dimensions.
Some of the coupons reduce the price of dental care for patients requiring checkups at the participating dental clinics. Since the coupons and discounts are available for a short time and keep changing with time, it is good to always be on the lookout for them.
Low-Cost Dental Provider
If you intend to visit a “dentist without insurance near me,” be sure to check some of the available low-cost dental providers. There are several low-cost dental providers, including those by nonprofit organizations or donated services. Some private dentists may also provide free dental services once a year to people in need of oral treatment but who cannot afford it for some reason.
One of the best examples is United Way, which provides free dental and eye treatment to people without insurance or who cannot afford conventional dental services. In addition, it works with other nonprofit organizations to provide free dental services to its customers.
Dental Tourism
With a dental tourism package, you can save money or get outright free dental services without insurance. While on vacation, you can schedule any dental procedures you’ve been putting on hold for a long time. Some popular destinations for dental tourists include Thailand, the Czech Republic, Mexico, and Costa Rica, where the services are cheaper.
Dental Savings Plans
Don’t get confused! Dental savings plans are way different from dental insurance. Unlike dental insurance, which may pay for up to 100% of dental costs, dental savings plans cover 10% to 60% of the price. The program may require you to pay up to $150 annually in fees for the plan. Once you sign up for a dental savings plan, you can immediately start using the service.
What is a Dental Savings Plan?
A Dental Savings Plan is a program offering a discount to people seeking dental services. The plan is suitable for people with dental insurance who cannot afford the services.
Examples include older people not covered under Medicare or younger individuals with traditional insurance but who cannot get a discount on teeth whitening and similar procedures.
How to Find Dental Savings Plans?
Dental savings plans are available to individuals or as part of an employee benefits package. Alternatively, you can join the plan as part of a group or association. They are usually available through insurance companies, so you have to ask around to know the ones offering these programs.
Dental Emergencies Without Insurance
Dental emergencies such as lacerated and bleeding teeth, fractured or dislodged teeth, or the need for urgent medical attention can happen. If you have no medical insurance, the resources required to treat these conditions can be excessive.
Luckily, there are several ways to see an emergency dentist without insurance, including a dental savings plan, dental payment plans, government assistance, emergency room visits, or any of the charities offering accessible or affordable dental services.
Other Ways to Save Money at the Dentist
If you cannot get affordable or accessible dental services in any of the above ways, you may go for the other available methods. Here are some things you can do:
- Spacing it Out: You should go for a dental checkup at least twice a year. However, you can save money by spacing it out.
- Skip Procedures You Do Not Need: Is there a dental service you can do without? Skip it! A good example is an X-ray exam, which you can skip when not in need of it.
- Removing Wisdom Teeth: Wisdom teeth are found at the back of the mouth. They usually have several issues and may need removing.
- Steering Clear of Braces: If you need braces for cosmetic rather than medical reasons, avoid them. Only use them if they are required for medical purposes.
FAQ
You can find low-income dental care near you by checking out the government-supported or nonprofit organization programs. These programs aim to provide affordable dental services to low-income families.
Not anyone can apply to get dental assistance through nonprofit organizations. Most of these organizations target the elderly, people living with disabilities, low-income families, or those without dental insurance.
You can qualify for Medicaid in the U.S. if you come from a low-income family. However, the size of the family also matters, even though the rules vary depending on your location.
Yes, dental clinical trials are safe because, by the time scientists are trialing procedures or equipment, they have gone through stringent approval requirements.
Veterans can get free dental care through the V.A. Dental Insurance Program (VADIP), which is available only to former army members.
With CareCredit, patients can pay out-of-pocket expenses for dental procedures and other medical treatments. In addition, a patient uses the card to pay for dental services now, even when they have no cash.
Sources
- Where can I find low-cost dental care? (2017). Retrieved 3 June 2022, from https://www.hhs.gov/answers/health-insurance-reform/where-can-i-find-low-cost-dental-care/index.html
- Dental services. (2022). Retrieved 3 June 2022, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/dental-services
- National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR). (2022). Retrieved 3 June 2022, from https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/
- Oral Health in America Editors Call for Action. (2022). Retrieved 3 June 2022, fromhttps://www.nidcr.nih.gov/
