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Dental Work Done Without Insurance

I am just starting my first full-time job, so I do not have dental insurance and have not had for several years. I do have a discount plan, but I have some major dental work that I REALLY need done! I don't know if I should take a loan to get me started, or what. Does anyone have any ideas?

teedee from Crown Point

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RE: Dental Work Done Without Insurance

The closest dental school to me, the University of Pittsburgh, has an "assistance" plan of 10% off. That's right: the maximum that they'll deduct from any of their work is 10% off, AND you have to make less than $11,000 a year to get that.

Post by MTrane

RE: Dental Implants -Insurance Doesn't cover

I've emailed the largest University here in Houston and am awaiting word on implants. Any info as to other sources besides the private dentists?

Post By laura lynch (Guest Post)

RE: Dental Work Done Without Insurance

I don't have dental insurance either. What I have found out is that a lot of doctor and dentist offices charge you a different amount (less) when they know you dont have insurance. Find out the fees and then find out what payments they would accept and what interest rate if any. Try to avoid putting it on a credit card or taking out a loan because these interest rates would certainly be higher. If they don't accept partial payments, only get done what MUST be done there and look into a credit union for the loan. Any smaller things like cleanings can be done at a local dental school. Also, you can ask your dentist where the local hygienists get their training and call there. I know that they must do cleanings on a certain number of people before they get their license -many times they will do it for free. Your last option would be to research private dental insurance companies that you could pay to insure yourself with. Good luck and hope this helps!

Post by Cindy S.

RE: Dental Work Done Without Insurance

Also try clove oil on painful tooth pain - I had a bad tooth and it saved my life! You may have to look for it abit but it's worth it - also before you use it do the salt water and peroxide. Clove oil also helps prevent tooth decay. It taste alful but numbs the pain. put on Qtip and put on painful area.

Post By G Dorine (Guest Post)

RE: Dental Work Done Without Insurance

Do you have a Flexible spending Account through your work? You can have a certain amount deducted and dental work is one of the things covered by it. The thing to remember is don't have deducted any more than what you think you will need...get an estimate from your dentist and go from there. If you don't use the money within the year, you will lose it (it's unfair IMO but legal.) Once you get it set up I think you can use it and they will just deduct it as you go. But check it out first so there are no surprises.

Post by hildalove

RE: Dental Work Done Without Insurance

If your teeth hurt you can rinse with warm salt water. It taste really bad, but it will help get any infection out. I've had some bad toothache pain and it helped. My heart goes out to you because I would rank toothache pain up there with childbirth.

Post by southern crazy

RE: Dental Work Done Without Insurance

IN the meantime, while waiting for answers, remember that most decay is caused by bacteria, and that you can rinse twice a day with straight Hydrogen peroxide and gently flossing well three times a week, not every day as many suggest. Eliminate soda drinks, sugar at all costs, especially if you are having pain or tenderness in your teeth. if you begin to have either of these symptoms, immediately and gently brush, floss and rinse with the peroxide. Avoid sweet pastes, even brushing with paste only twice a week.

If it gets bad enough, take Tylenol every four hours.
If it begins to swell, really hurt badly, bleed, you have an abcess and need antibiotics so go to a charity clinic to try to get the right antibiotics. You're not the only one with this problem. I have it too and have been forced to just live with it until a miracle comes along.
God bless and help you. : )

Post By Lynda (Guest Post)

RE: Dental Work Done Without Insurance

Check with you dentist to see if the GE Money bank card is available. This card can only be used at Vets, dentists or any doctor.  You can not get it yourself.  Only the dentist or vet or doctor, can sign you up. If I didn't have this card I would be toothless today.  If your dentist is not a member go to the web site WWW.carecredit.com or call 1-866-893-7864 and they will tell you who in you area has this.  I wish I had money in this, boy would I be rich.  My Vet also has this and with 9 animals sometimes I don't have enough for a bill.    This is the best charge card I have.   Good luck.  Betty

Post by avonbear

RE: Dental Work Done Without Insurance

There is something called Care Credit that is sponsored by GE. You can apply for it as you would a credit card but you have to have an estimate on how much your dental work will cost. After that, if they approve you, you can pay it back over the course of 2 years without having to pay interest. Ask your dentist to give you information about it!

Post by skbeal

RE: Dental Work Done Without Insurance

After discussing this costly matter with my dentist when my husband had alot of costly denture work done and a couple of crowns done on myself. We agreed to $100 a month (but no less then $100) without interest until the bill is paid for.

He (the dentist) said yes and that was back in 1995! We are still carrying a balance from other dental work that has been done to us and without interest being charge.

Talk to your dentist. IF you allow him in your mouth I would think that you would feel ok enough with him to talk about the cost of the procedures that he does. SO TALK ABOUT YOUR CONCERNS and ASK HIM. Good Luck!

Post By Paula Jo Carr Mebane, NC (Guest Post)

RE: Dental Work Done Without Insurance

If there is dental teaching university in your area, see if you can apply to be a volunteer patient, and pay a token amount. I got my teeth in shape once getting out on my own at a university's dental school.

Post by nanaverm

RE: Dental Work Done Without Insurance

Look to see if there is a Dental School near you. These are usually located in Universities where Dentists are educated. They often offer free or very inexpensive dental care as training for them. They are very well supervised by their professors. Take care, Hannah

Post By Hannah (Guest Post)

RE: Dental Work Done Without Insurance

Hi, Check to see if there is a dental school in your area. You can get work done there for less. I also have a friend that drives down to Mexico to have dental work done. There are a lot of places by the border that speak english and have a lot of USA customers. They are a lot cheaper. Loretta

Post By Loretta (Guest Post)

RE: Dental Work Done Without Insurance

Check out Dentalplans.com. They work with dentists in your area and dental work is cheaper. You pay a yearly fee of around $99. Also, I've NEVER had to pay for dental work before the work was done. That's the first I've ever heard that. Personally, I'd never pay before the work is done.

Post by TXBetty

RE: Dental Work Done Without Insurance

Dental offices do take payments, and you can divide the work to be done into phases and make the payments as low as you want. In the meantime take their advice on how to stop having dental problems, no kidding, you really can stop having them (except for getting hit in the mouth!) I'll pray for you, I know these things happen and it's hard to get back on the side of preventing cheaply instead of catching up. But little by little you will get caught up and you'll be glad you did. The smartest question you can ask is "are there alternatives to this?" - there always are several. Don't be afraid to ask repeatedly if necessary for a temporary fix to tide you over as you go along until it's all done. When they are explaining things to you, ask them to take it however slowly you need and take notes, then look up wierd words on dictionary.com. This one thing is key: keep the payment low enough so you can be reliable to make every payment on time. They will do more for you, extend you more credit, when they see that they can trust you. God bless you, Kim (dental hygienist) Some dentists like to take a charity case now and then and help someone for free.

Post by kimhis

RE: Dental Work Done Without Insurance

Contact the nearest university that has a dental school, and see if they offer any services to the public. Years ago when I couldn't afford it, I had my wisdom teeth pulled by a professor with five or six students looking on. The cost was a fraction of what I would have paid elsewhere, and I really didn't mind the "audience" a bit.

Post By Chloe (Guest Post)

RE: Dental Work Done Without Insurance

If you have to get major major stuff done (I personally got a full upper denture and a partial lower at 34 years old) look for places like "Affordable Dentures" or "Sexton Dental"...they normally do extractions fairly cheap, plus if you need to get a partial, they are the ones you want to do it...they do it day in and day out whereas your dentist may have one a year.

HTH - MtM

Post by Michael the Moe

RE: Dental Work Done Without Insurance

Are you anywhere near a university with a dental school? (Here in L.A. we have USC and UCLA)? If so, then check to see if they have a dental clinic. Dental students need patients to work on & the cost is much lower than on the outside. Sometimes, they even do free work for exams!

Post By pamphyila (Guest Post)

RE: Dental Work Done Without Insurance

Almost all dentist expect payment before dental work is done.They know exactly how much the cost will be. I had allot of dental work done a few years ago and I had insurance, but I had to pay up front what the insurance did not cover before the work was started. The amount I had to come up with was $400.00. I had to get a loan plus interest.

Post by dixie35481

RE: Dental Work Done Without Insurance

Ask the dentist if they have a credit card thru them.
I was offered this plan when i had lots of work done on my teeth.
Here is there site:
http://www.carecredit.com/?dtc=D069 ... c_id=GoogleSearchTextcarecreditcards

Post By GAIL (Guest Post)

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