For many Americans, visiting the dentist isn’t just an annual event or something that happens when you have tooth pain; it’s something you avoid because the expense of going to the dentist can be high, especially if you don’t have dental insurance to help cover costs. If you want to save some money and be able to go to the dentist regularly, it’s important to find out where the dentist cheap near me is and make an appointment with them as soon as possible!
Dental Insurance
If you’re paying for dental care out of pocket, you have a lot of control over how much your procedures cost. Deductibles and copays can make a big difference on your final bill. The average individual deductible was around $160 last year, according to a survey by Delta Dental Plans Association. If you pay that amount when you visit the dentist, each procedure (if there are no other fees) will be about $60 cheaper than it would be with no out-of-pocket expenses. Be careful about what dental services you receive after hitting your deductible, though—you don’t want to spend that money on anything but necessary procedures. As an alternative, consider using a flexible spending account or health savings account to save up for major dental work. You’ll get an upfront tax break, plus you won’t have to worry about reaching your deductible first. For example, if you put $1,000 into one of these accounts every year and earn 5% interest on it, you’ll end up with more than $3,000 at the end of five years. That’s enough to cover many common procedures like crowns or root canals.
Dental Treatments at Home
In-home dental treatments, such as root canals and crowns, can cost less than their office-based counterparts. You can find a dentist who offers these types of treatments by conducting an online search for dentists near me. You should also call dental practices in your area to see if they have any specials or coupons for new patients. An added bonus: you won’t have to wait for an appointment—you can just stop by and get started right away. Dental care at home may be pricier upfront, but it’s often cheaper over time because you don’t have to travel as much or deal with scheduling issues.
Dental Implants
If you need dentures or have had a tooth knocked out, dental implants are your best bet for replacing missing teeth. Dental implants involve surgically embedding artificial roots into your jawbone that can last for decades. They’re highly effective, but also expensive—running anywhere from $4,000 to $20,000 per implant. For example, full lower-arch dental implants cost around $10K whereas upper ones average about $5K.
Affordable Dentures
Dentures can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to more than $1,000—and that’s if you can even find a dentist willing to make them. If you want dentures badly enough, you may consider doing it yourself and get denture molds. If, however, you want affordable dentures or affordable dental implants, there are several options available to you. You can go with a discount provider or DIY (do-it-yourself) molds or have your dentist make new ones for less by opting for lower quality materials. Although your initial investment will be higher for these options, it will probably save you money in long run because of decreased need for future dental work and overall costs of care.
Cosmetic Dentistry
Although cosmetic dentistry isn’t exactly cheap, it is possible to find a dentist in your area that provides more affordable services. The American Dental Association has a database you can use to find local providers by searching for dentists that belong to your state dental association. As you search, keep an eye out for general and family dentists as well as specialists; both tend to offer lower-cost services. Or, instead of going through a referral service or manual search, try asking other members of your community.
