How to Save on Dental Costs

Many Americans don't have dental insurance, and even those who do are often shocked by their out-of-pocket costs for dental services such as crowns, implants or root canals. However, there are ways to save on dental care costs. Here are 10 tips for managing dental costs.

1. Be Diligent about Daily Dental Care. Make caring for your teeth part of your daily hygiene routine. Floss every day and be sure that you are doing it right. Ask your dentist or dental hygienist to review the proper flossing technique with you. Among other things, flossing the right way can help to avert cavities and to maintain gum health.

2. Don't Skip Regular Visits. See you dentist at least once a year and, ideally, twice a year. Regular visits to your dentist are important for three reasons. First, at regular checkups and cleanings, which are often covered by dental insurance, many dental problems can be detected early enough to be dealt with at relatively modest expense. Second, your dentist will check for oral cancer, which strikes 35,000 Americans a year, according to American Cancer Society. And, third, gum disease and gum infections, such as gingivitis and periodontitis, which your dentist can diagnose when examining your teeth, are major causes of tooth loss and other severe dental problems. In addition, gum disease can increase the risk of severe health problems, including some cancers and heart disease.

3. Ask about Payment Plans. If you need expensive dental work, talk to your dentist up front about how and when you will pay. You may be able to get a discount for paying up front and/or paying cash. Also, if you don't have the money for the total bill, you may be able to negotiate a payment plan so that you can pay for the work over time.

4. Ask about Alternative Treatment Options. Ask if there are any less expensive alternatives to the treatment option your dentist is recommending. If not, ask if there is any way to delay treatment temporarily. For example, while you may not be able to avoid that expensive crown, your dentist may be able to put in a temporary filling that will give you time to save for its cost.

5. Get a Second Opinion. If your dentist recommends an expensive procedure, don't hesitate to get a second opinion.

6. Go to a Dental School or Dental Hygiene. Find out if local dental schools or dental hygiene schools offer services to the public. You may be able to receive dental care from students at deeply discounted prices.

7. Investigate Discount Dental Plans. These plans generally offer savings on dental services if you go to participating dentists. However, do your homework before signing up. Find out which dentists in your market participate and, if possible, talk to others who have used the plan about their experience.

Sources:

Jennifer Warner, www.webmd.com, Advanced Gum Disease May Raise Cancer Risk

blogs.moneycentral.msn.com, Save money on dental care - Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money

Walecia Konrad, www.nytimes.com, Patient Money - How to Manage Dental Costs, With or Without Insurance - NYTimes

www.ada.org, ADA.org: A-Z Topics: Oral Cancer