How can I afford to have dental treatment if I don't have dental insurance to help me?

Neglect is expensive - not dentistry.  Consider this:

Prevention, Prevention, Prevention
One of the best values in dentistry is the regular check up.  This is especially true for children age 3 and up.  Preventive maintenance can keep your mouth healthy for less than the premium costs of a decent dental insurance plan.  Regular hygiene visits (typically 2 per year) combined with fluoride toothpaste and good oral hygiene at home are the best  known way to prevent tooth decay and gum disease.  By letting the dentist check for cavities regularly, problems can be found while they are small and relatively inexpensive to cure.  The worst thing you can do is try to save money by avoiding preventive care.  If a tooth abscesses because decay was not diagnosed early enough, the cost to fix it can easily be more than it would cost for 3 to 5 years worth of preventive maintenance (not to speak of the discomfort involved).  Preventive maintenance is the best insurance you can buy.

What if my teeth are already in bad shape?
Many people have existing problems which have taken months or years to accumulate.  It will take time and will cost money to bring their mouths back into good oral health.  Fortunately some treatments are "more necessary" than others so it doesn't have to happen "overnight".  You can work with your dentist to organize the treatment you need in order of necessity.  There are usually many ways to restore your mouth to better health - each with its own unique cost and time frame.  By custom designing a course of treatment for you, the dentist can usually meet your dental and financial requirements.

Do I have to pay all at once?  What payment arrangements are available?
There are several payment options available.
Some people prefer to space treatment out and pay as they go.
Some people can pay the entire expected cost at the first visit - in which case they can qualify for a discount.
Some people prefer to put the cost on their credit cards and pay them off over time.
Some people apply for our interest free loan program and, if qualified, can pay the treatment off over 12 months with no interest.

I do not have a dental plan and need some major dental work. Where can I buy individual dental insurance?

Dental plan coverage for individuals is not commonly offered or is greatly restricted because dental needs are highly predictable. You would not buy  individual dental coverage if you knew the premiums were more expensive than the cost of the dental treatment you need. Without severe restrictions (like no benefits for the first year or two years) insurance companies would lose money (spend more on benefits than they receive in premiums) on every individual dental plan they write.  Insurance Companies NEVER  do anything which will lose them money.

There are, however, a few companies that offer a form of dental benefits for individuals. Most of these plans are "referral plans" or "buyers' clubs." Under these types of plans, an individual pays a monthly fee to a third party in return for access to a list of dentists who have agreed to work for a reduced fee schedule. Payment for treatment is made from the patient directly to the dentist. The "plan" acts only in the capacity of matching the individual to the dentist. The dentist receives nothing from the "plan" other than referral of patients.  The money he loses on the price is supposed to be made up by the increased number of patients he seed because of the referrals.

As with any discount service you need to be careful that you are not  getting substandard service, or unnecessary treatment in return for your cheaper payment.  Beware of bargains in brain surgery, parachutes and dentistry.

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I would like to ask my employer to provide a dental benefit plan through the company. How should I go about doing this?

Traditional dental insurance is an expensive benefit to provide.  One of the most cost effective ways to do it is through  Direct Reimbursement .  The American Dental Association provides free information about setting up new dental plans.  You or your employer may contact the Association for more detailed information about how employers of all sizes can provide a cost-effective, high-quality dental benefit plan for their employees.

Last modified: 05/03/04