Question:
I'm kind of embarassed by this but I can't afford dental work I need
done. I'm not unemployed or broke. I just have so many bills that I
don't have money for a rainy day much less dental work. I have one
tooth which is broken (about half of it's gone, I'm guessing I'm
probably in for another root canal) and now I've had part of a filling
in one of my wisdom teeth come out and sharp point on it is rubbing
against the side of my mouth causing a sore. I'm sure I have all kinds
of other things wrong I don't know about (bad genes, both parents have
teeth problems). Anyway, my question is: What way is there for me to
get affordable dental care? I can't afford a large outlay of cash (or
even a small one really) so I was wondering if someone could give me
some ideas. I know some dentists offer payment plans and I've seen
these low cost dental plans from companies I've never heard of before.
A friend suggested a dental school, but I don't know what kind of
things they offer. Are these the only three options I have? What kind
of payment plans do dentists generally offer? Are these low cost
dental plans on the up-and-up? Would a dental school do the work I
need, if so about what would be the cost?
Answer:
I'm glad that you are finally considering undergoing dental care but
there are a few things you need to consider first. From your comments it
appears that you have placed oral health low on your totem pole of
needs...i.e. 6 years since last treatment, other bills come first, want
cheapest thing done etc. You first need to find a dentist who can
educate as well as treat..you need to understand that your mouth needs
regular cleanings more often than your car needs oil changes, that no
matter what treatment is rendered it will fail if you do not have
frequent visits, that dentistry is a service/not a product (we are not
all the same!!!), that you get what you pay for in life and the cheapest
dental work is the same, that most dental problems are not genetic and
are related primarly to your home care or poorly fitting teeth, and that
in life we must make priorities and you must place your health near the
top (w/ God and family) or your problems will worsen....I cant tell you
how many patients who cant afford dental work come up with $ immediately
if their transmission fails or who have huge car payments. You need a
doctor who will show you the value of excellent dental service
(educates,prevents,uses best materials,QUALITY!) so that you can restore
your mouth this one time and maintain it.This isn't meant to demean you
because I applaud you for your desire to commit to dental health, but I
want you to get the best care and not make money your chief criteria as
if your rehabilitation fails you will probably never value your dental
health again. Good luck to you and I hope you find a
cosmetic,healthy,comfotable,and functional smile in your future...it
does wonders for ones' confidence and self-esteem.
Don't be embarrassed about your expenses. The guy that told you to put
your dental health first must be in an ivory tower or something. Its
great in a perfect world to do that, but many, many people don't have
coverage, and they must feed their families first! Some people have
the coverage, but by the time they pay their larcenous health insurance
premium for the year, and that almighty deductible, they have to take
out a second mortgage to get any type of dental or other health care,
not just for themselves, but what happens when more than one person in
the family needs it? Hey...just remember, you are not alone, and
lots and lots of other people are really getting fed up. You can find
groups on the web. So far, I have been lucky enough to afford care,
but most of my friends and family cannot. It is an unequal and unjust
system. So keep looking, you may be able to find an nonarrogant
professional somewhere. Is this what they call improving the quality
of life ?
you can make payments on your dental work of just 4% of the monthly
balance. Doesn't that sound great and fair too??? Of course, you can do
that by simply charging your dental services on your credit card and making
the payments to the credit card company. That would work and would also be
affordable.
People charge things like that all the time.
The last thing one wants to do when they already have trouble making ends
meet is to ADD additional loan payments to their current (negative?)
cashflow.
This doesn't have much to do with dentistry per se, but unless you can see
your way to paying off the loan quickly (inheritance, stock options at work
etc.), don't go into debt.
If the required dental work is affecting your health (infection etc.), maybe
you can volunteer as a patient at a dental school.
