Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
My brother is in a care facility and is in need of a root canal. He has SS, Medicaid, and Medicare. How or can he get help with the cost?
If he lives near a dental school, he can get care at a reduced cost. The waiting list is often long, though.
Noah is a 21 year old with high functioning autism, anxieties, depression, and developmental delays among other diagnoses. He desperately needs his teeth cleaned and one is broken.
He will need sedation to perform dental work on him. Where can he find help?Dental Care
Step 1
Local dental association can give referrals
Step 2
Mission of Mercy
Step 3
Local department of health
Step 4
Donated Dental Services
You don't mention where you are, but in Pittsburgh there are many, many dentists who specialize in special needs dental patients, like Noah. You just have to ask his current dentist or his primary care doctor.
Be sure to find one in his dental network and make sure you don't need sedation to be prior authorized. If he is on Medical Assistance, it may need to be approved first (prior authorized).
If he doesn't have a regular dentist, find his medical insurance card and call their member services team and 1. verify he has dental insurance 2. that the insurance will pay for sedation 3. Ask them to help you make an appointment with the closest dentist who can do this service.
He will need someone to take him home after the procedure as he will be woozy!
Prayers for a good fix and smooth procedures for Noah!! I feel his pain with this one!!
You do not say what your relationship is with Noah so I'm wondering if you are acting for someone else or if you have the authority to sign permission forms for Noah to be placed under sedation?
I have MS and I need a lot of dental work, but I can't afford it. Where can I find a free or inexpensive dentist?
Aspiring dentists usually do inexpensive or free sections. You can check with nearby Dental School Clinics.
If you live near a dental school, go there. The fees are more reasonable.
if you told us whereabout you live we could fiind you a specific place.
dental schools are a good tip and this is a site that tells you where they can be found in the US www.asdanet.org/
you can inquire there
There are several good sources to check if you are in the USA.
I have some pretty serious teeth, mouth, and gum issues with no dental insurance. It's affecting my life in numerous ways. Any advice is more than welcome and will be taken in and processed.
Thank you everyone and Happy New Year may your goals dreams come true.
I am here on a business and tourism trip. I'm not holding dental insurance. I have been suffering from a toothache and gum bleeding.
But I don't know where to approach. Also I cannot afford expensive treatment. Please help me.You don't say where "here" is, Jaffer. And I'm sorry to hear you're in pain. Please check for a dental college in your area?
Place a piece of BREAD ON OR IN THE THROBBING TOOTH ACHE IT WILL STOP INSTENTLY!!!
Rinse and brush with tooth paste and peroxide fill with Temparin or Denttemp. At most drug stores and some Walmarts
I was recently permanently disabled and now on Medicare (Blue Cross and Blue Shield). I need extensive dental work done, but BCBS doesn't cover it. What can I do if I can't afford to pay for work I need done? Does Medicare have any other options offered to them?
My husband is on Social Security Disability and has no insurance because SSD said they were 2 years behind when he went to sign up for his insurance. Now he has nothing and was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. He takes meds everyday to try to somewhat control his symptoms! How can this be it? Seems so unfair that we payed into this while we could work, now he has no insurance until who know's when? And I can't get my dental work done. If anyone has any solution that they know of, let me know.
Thank You
By KK from Lockport, NY
Some areas have dental clinics where you pay on a sliding fee scale depending on your household income. I'd suggest you call the Department of Human Services or you local health department to see if there is one near you.
If you are near a university that has a dental program you may qualify for some work through them.
The truth is that many people need dental work that cannot afford it and have to find a dentist that will accept payments.
Medicare (or usually Medicaid for adults) does not cover dental work or hearing aids. Some states are different.
Most dental insurance plans cover very little over routine care.
A dental clinic is your best bet but they will not do it for free or not that I have ever known.
Hi KK, your husband isn't on any government medical coverage? I am also disabled and i have medicaid and an HMO. Though when it comes to dental they only cover basics. Depending on his age you might also be able to sign him up for a discount prescription plan, I would also keep checking online (google) for any help on his medical which he should be able to apply for. With only the both of you having disability that is LOW income.
Now when it comes to dental, you have a few options, which a couple have already mentioned.
1 - looking for a dental school which will not charge you as much for the work (these will be students)
2 - Contacting local dentists to see if they have a payment plan
3 - Joining an additional coverage plan just for dental (they do have them)
Or since we are now in a world of bartering, maybe you have something you can barter to a dentist for the work or sell it for the cash.
I need a tooth pulled and have no insurance.
By Carol
You can call dentists in your area for possible low fees, however, dentists must pay their bills too so there are very few low cost dentists. If there is a dental school in your area, you can check for treatment-all work is done by students and the instructors oversee.
Dental school in my area is a good choice but difficult to get/receive care as they have certain days and the person has to be at the college very early (first come first serve) and then return the following day for work to be done. Upfront fee right now is 90.00 for X-ray and simple extraction. Any other work has to scheduled at their "convenience" and may be a long wait period plus extra cost.
There may be a dentist in your area that works on an income sliding scale but there may/will still be a 75.00 (or more) upfront fee. Try looking at this site for help:
www.ncoa.org/
How does that work? I don't have the money right now. I need my teeth fixed. I need cleaning, filling, Xray, and an exam now.
By RJ from Raleigh
If you do not have dental insurance, you will pay full price for services. If you pay for dental insurance, they may or may not provide coverage for preexisting problems. If there is a dental training school in your area, they need patients for student training. All work is overseen by the instructors.
You can Google your question with your state name and you may find some answers.
It is very rare that dental work is free to anyone other than children covered by Medicaid.
Here is one site you can try:
www.ncoa.org/
I broke my tooth in the front and it hurts so bad. I don't get money til November first and I went to Excel dental and did a exam and consultation. They said I need a root canal and crown, but won't do anything til I pay 1000 $, but I'm in so much pain. I can't eat, drink, or sleep. What can I do?
By Brianna
You could check dental schools in your area where students will perform work on patients as part of their studies, or try to see if something on this website works for you in your area. Good luck!
www.nidcr.nih.gov/
Roots canals have become big money makers for dentists. Everyone it seems needs root canals. I broke a tooth and the dentist prepared it as for a regular filling and it actually looked nicer than the original, for the cost of a filling. No root canal bs.
I am 45 and I have periodontal disease. I have lost one inplant that I had on the top and now my front teeth are loose. I have a job, but don't make enough for dental insurance. If there is any program or anything that you could tell me about, please I need the help.
By Regina S. from Ripley, WV
Two things you might try: If there is a dental school near where you live, you could get treatment for very reasonable cost there. The work would be done by dental medicine students under the supervision of instructors. A second thing to try is your church or worship center. You could make your need known to the leadership. There may be a dentist there who would be willing to work with you. Hope these help and best wishes to you.
Well if you had an implant (don't these cost lots of money?) maybe you could ask the dentist who did this work to help with letting you make a monthly payment..
I have not heard of any "free" dental clinics in this country. Some of our dentists donate time each year to work in third world countries but it would seem that Americans should be able to find a way to have their work done when necessary. I usually agree and applaud these doctors but it would be nice if there were at least some "reasonable" clinics available.
I live near a university and we do have a dental school but even their prices are very high (but about 1/3 to 1/2 of the cost at a "regular dentist office). The problem with this is you have to qualify for whatever type of procedures they are working on at the time. Otherwise you are scheduled in their clinic where work is done by interns and the cost is higher. Emergencies are usually done by qualified dentists with students observing.
I believe I would try what the previous responder suggested and talk to someone at your church. They may know a dentist that will let you pay on time but probably not anything for "free".
If no help there then maybe try calling dentists and ask if they have a payment plan. I have heard that some will let you pay on time but require at least 1/2 be paid in before the procedure will be done.
I am a disabled senior citizen and am low income. I am in bad need of a dental/denture program for low income senior citizens.
By Jacquelyn
If you have a dental hygiene college close to where you live, they often do free cleanings, xrays, etc. Some services are offered based on your income, too.
Does anyone know where I can find affordable dental treatment in San Jose Costa Rica? Some websites?
I would call the closest dental school near you. The students need patients to practice on and they are supervised closely. The cost is very reasonable.
I'm in bad need of help. I live in California around San Bernardino. I have an insanely bad toothache where I had broken a tooth around a year ago. I have no insurance and make barely enough to pay rent, bills, and food.
Is there anywhere near me where i can get this fixed? I've read in several places that this is very bad and could even kill due to infection.Loma Linda University has an urgent care clinic staffed by dental students with oversight by dental instructors. Call 909.558.4666.
At Christmas time near San Jose I bit into an olive with a pit that broke, shattered, my front tooth on my dentures. How do I get it fixed with Medicare as my insurance? I am on federal disability. Where can I get help?
By Gregory
Medicare does not provide any dental care so you need a separate dental insurance policy to cover dental problems. If you do not have a dental policy, check for possible dental schools in your area for low cost dental needs.
I'm a single grandparent, raising my grandchildren. I'm om state benefits, but the problem is that I need some dental work done on my mouth. I'm unemployed and have no insurance at all. Can someone help me to find a dentist or a dental school that can help? I live in Houston, Texas.
By Robin
Do a yellow pages search or a 'net search to find a dental college in Houston. The fee is very low or they may work with your income bracket, etc.
We need emergency dental periodontal work with no money and no insurance in Seattle, Washington. Any suggestions?
By Patricia from Seattle
There are a few medical needs that Medicare does not cover. Dental is one of those, with most procedures not covered. This is a page about, "Does Medicare have dental coverage?".
Dental work is often very expensive. Finding a dentist that takes payments is a good way to get the dental care you need now and finish paying for it later.
ThriftyFun is one of the longest running frugal living communities on the Internet. These are archives of older discussions.
I am just starting my first full-time job, so I do not have dental insurance and have not had for several years. Does anyone have any ideas?
