How Can the Poor Get Dental Treatment?

Dental treatment is one of the scariest experiences for many people. Although, there are numerous simple ways to prevent dental problems in the first place, most of us find ourselves headed to the dentist’s office for one reason or another. What makes dental treatment particularly strenuous is that most health insurance plans do not offer coverage for dental care. What then, can one do if one does not have the resources for a full dental care?

Community Dental Treatment and Care Centers

Several community health care centers offer dental care at very affordable rates. Of course, this means long waiting lines that require you to wait even long after your scheduled appointment. Many charitable organizations also offer such services. The good part, though, is that community care dental clinics have some very good doctors who perform fillings, crown replacements, and root canals at very low rates. The medications are also available within the care center so you do not need to make a separate trip to the pharmacy. You can get other services such as X-rays and other tests done instantly. Find out if you have a community dental clinic in your area.

Affordable Clinics

Not all dental clinics are expensive. Some of them do charge standard rates for extensive treatments, but you can get some basic services at very affordable prices. Many dentists also agree to reduce rates on various procedures according to your income level. If any such dentist or clinic is not available in your area, you can find out about them from your local health directory or dental health association.

A bi-annual checkup may cost as low as $10 at some of these low-cost clinics. Therefore, these are a good source to get regular dental health checkups. For treatments that are more expensive, you can approach your local community care center.

Dental Colleges

If you are looking for low-cost basic dental care, then you must head to your nearest dental college. The students here are always looking for new patients to practice on and need to perform some community service. These services especially aim at people from low-income neighborhoods and you can expect some competent young students providing tooth extraction, filling and cleaning services. It is also a great place to look for free checkups.

Many times, dental universities with active research wings need subjects on whom they can test new dental treatment methods and techniques. You can enroll as a participant in such studies and get some free dental care in the process. In exchange for your participation in the program, you could be entitled to a free checkup, scaling, or tooth extraction.

Free Dental Camps

From time-to-time, different dental clinics and hospitals organize camps in communities around the country. These dental health camps offer many free services including fillings, tooth extractions, and polishing. You can expect to wait several hours for your turn, but if you want free dental care services, this is a very convenient option. In particular, if you are looking for a free checkup once a year, mark the date of the next free dental camp in your area.

Coupons

Thanks to a plethora of coupon deal websites, you can purchase coupons that offer heavy discounts on dental treatments from some good clinics in your community. Typical services covered by these discount coupons include fillings, tooth polishing, and whitening services. Keep visiting these websites regularly to spot the most current coupon deals instantly.

Dental Care Programs

Review the medical care policy of your local state or jurisdiction. While most health care plans do not include dental care coverage, there is a possibility that your policy might include some support for seeking dental health care services. The policies change from each year, so make sure that you look at the most current version of your medical support policy.

Conclusion

While these are some useful short-term dental health care tips, you also need to consider some practical steps to make dental care affordable and accessible in low-income communities. Of course, practicing good dental hygiene is the surest way to avoid having to visit the dentist in the first place. However, what do you do when a problem simply erupts?

You can raise awareness about these issues in the community and approach local dental clinics and colleges to organize dental camps more frequently in certain communities. You can also lobby with your political representatives to push for reforms that will make dental care coverage more accessible through state or federal medical care programs.