Fewer than 3 American adults lack dental insurance. Because some plan and services are not covered with insurance. Although you may benefit from certain dental plan but not all. But skipping on dental care because you can’t afford the plan you need may cost you more money and may cause dental problem and pain in the long run. Good oral health is important for your overall health.
If you know you need dental treatment then don't try to avoid it because of the costs involved. Without your dental insurance then you may find the whole cost of the treatment that you need is completely unaffordable.
So you have to choose wisely before you plan your dental care. Here are some sensible ways to cut your costs for free or for a reasonable price.
Space It Out
Dental checkup twice a year is not compulsory. Because there’s no strong evidence that supports such claim that everyone needs to go that often. If you are nonsmokers and have good oral health, one visit we help you prevent tooth loss just as well as a checkup every 6 months.
An individual who smoke, have diabetes, or are prone to gum disease may need to see their dentists more than two times in a year. The same thing applicable to does that is prone to plaque buildup and tartar fast.
Avoid unnecessary services
Before your oral diagnosis, ask about the plans for your exam and the fees. See if you can avoid a particular service. For example, many individuals who have a family dentist may not pay for a checkup and can skip x-ray.
According to the Nigeria dental association says teens and adults can wait up to 3 years between X-rays if they take good care of their teeth and don’t have any oral problems. But if you have tooth decay or are likely to get cavities, you may need X-rays as often as every 6 months. If you avoid them, they could cost you a tooth or require an expensive root canal or a crown.
Community Dental Clinics
Community dental clinics can provide a range of free treatments or at a low cost but you will need to locate clinics that are very close to you. Even if the treatment you require is one that you have to pay for then they may offer this at a low rate if you are on a low income.
Clinics At Dental Schools
Some people don't know that dental schools offer dental services. They can include cleaning, filling cavities, extracting teeth, root canals, crowns, and even emergency care.
However, there is a good chance if you are close to a dental school that is nearby your area. Students at a dental school need practical experience and therefore the schools will offer treatments at low cost which will be carried out by a trained student. All students will be supervised by a qualified dentist during all treatments which can be more reassuring for patients.
Of all the options that have been discussed above, taking out a dental plan is likely to be the option that is going to get you seen by a dentist quickly. Although the treatment you receive will not be free, it will be affordable as the dentist may be able to offer a range of plans that will suit any budget.
If you think you have a toothache or you think you have an infection then you could visit the emergency room at a local hospital. They should be able to take care of you and give you antibiotics for the infection and painkillers that can help you deal with the tooth pain. In some cases, they may even be able to remove the tooth that is causing problems.
However, there are a lot of dental problems that the local hospital cannot handle. In some cases, you may have no choice but to see a dentist. You may also have to pay for the treatment you receive in the ER if it is not covered by your health insurance.
Dental Plans
Dental plans allow you to get the dental treatment that you need now and later to reduce the cost of the treatment. There are many dentists all over the country that offer this service and you can click here to find if there is one near you. You can choose which dentist you want to use. When the treatment has been paid for you have the option to keep paying into the plan so that there is money available for the next time you need any dental treatment.
Think twice about your Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth are a common issue in dentistry. These teeth are called molars and its located at the extreme end of your mouth usually comes in during your late teens or early 20s. Some people will not have it, or they have them with no issues. But wisdom teeth often can get impacted when they don’t have space to come out from the gum.
Many dentists recommend taking them out as a way to avoid any future problems that we cost you a lot in the long run. But if you have a wisdom tooth that is healthy, removing it or extracting it is not a good idea.
Also, to be sure you have a healthy wisdom tooth Ask your dentist if it comes out right or you need to remove it or wait a few years or even months, the second option. Ignoring a tooth that is due for extraction could make it worse and very expensive in the end.
Think carefully and Wise up about Braces
Straightening and aligning teeth is not a joke, and is very costly these days and also require every time trips to your dentist or orthodontist to make an adjustment, check your appliance and your progress. In recent time, individual get braces for cosmetic and not medical reasons.
Sometimes, a poor bite can make you or your child’s teeth to have jaw pain and from working without pain. Braces can correct that. Other times, you may want to get braces simply because of your look and to feel better. Either way, check if you can pay in installments and if you can skip any services to reduce the costs. Be upfront about your money situation, and ask what’s best for you.
Do Your Part; expect less decay and Healthier Gums
Everybody use to say it: Prevention is better than cure and the cheapest medicine so far. As you all know Brush and floss every time of the day to keep your mouth healthy. Flossing will prevent you from having plaque and the cavities that follow it.
Know the signs when something minor turns serious. Call your dentist if you notice:
American Association of Orthodontists: “Medically Necessary Orthodontic Care: AAO Initiative Advances.”
Tooth Wisdom: “Find Affordable Dental Care.”
Clayton State University: “Dental Hygiene Clinic.”
Georgia Department of Public Health: “Programs and Services.”
Nigerian Dental Association.
College of Medicine University of Ibadan and others.
WebMD: " Oral health, Save money in Dentist office"
Angie's Angel Help Network: "Inexpensive Dental Services you can Find Online."
Am Isreal olabanji a dental assistant and public health professionals and has years of experience in assisting the dentist with all sorts of dental issues.
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Avoid unnecessary services 
Avoid unnecessary services 
