When I was younger, I used to drive an hour to see the least expensive dentist I could find. He gave me a reduced rate for getting fillings without any anesthesia — either because it lowered his expenses or maybe because he enjoyed making patients uncomfortable.
Luckily, there are smarter ways to save hundreds on dental expenses — which, given how pricey dental care has become, can significantly help preserve your nest egg. Below are some of the best strategies…
Get Treated at Dental Schools
Dentists must train somewhere, and many dental schools offer very affordable or even complimentary dental services because students need hands-on experience. For instance, the College of Dentistry at Ohio State University in Columbus frequently provides low-cost care and occasionally hosts events with free dental procedures. Call the dental school closest to you to learn what they provide. This directory of dental schools is a good place to begin.
It’s even more common to locate free services in dental hygienist and dental assistant programs. For example, I once visited a nearby community college to receive free x-rays, which I was allowed to take with me. That saved me the fee I would have paid at a private office. Cleanings are often free or very cheap through these programs as well. To find programs in your area, visit the American Dental Association site and use the ADA search tool to locate dental assisting, hygiene, and lab technology programs in your state. Call the nearest ones to see what services they offer.
Is it safe to have students treat you? The tech who took my x-rays did have to retake one side once, but I’ve had similar experiences at regular dental offices. In any event, an instructor supervised the entire process to prevent major errors. I might not want a student performing an extraction, but for exams, cleanings, and x-rays I’m comfortable that training and oversight are adequate.
Volunteer-Based Free Dental Clinics
If you truly can’t afford a dental visit (not merely trying to save money), there are opportunities to receive free dental care. A hygienist friend of mine volunteers at an annual event in Tampa, Florida, where hundreds of people receive extractions, fillings, or cleanings at no charge. The event is run by “Dentistry From the Heart,” and they organize similar clinics in many cities nationwide each year. Check their upcoming events to see if one is scheduled near you.
You can also find community dental clinics around the U.S. that offer reduced-cost or free care for low-income patients. The site FreeDentalCare.us lists many such resources by state. Additionally, donation-based medical clinics sometimes refer patients to dentists willing to provide free or sliding-scale services.
Take Advantage of Coupons
In my area of Naples, Florida, dentists often distribute generous coupons during the slow season, typically from May through October. For example, a recent deal included an exam, x-rays, and cleaning — services that would usually cost nearly $300 — for just $29. These promotions are generally for new patients only, though there are so many dentists and coupon offers here that I’ve considered switching providers each year.
These deals appear in mailers and local papers, but the easiest way to find them is to visit Valpak.com and enter your ZIP code to see local coupons for dental services. Check back periodically if you don’t find anything right away, as new offers are added frequently. You can print coupon copies from the site.
Use Online Ratings to Compare Practices
Nearly every business is reviewed online now, including dental offices. Enter your ZIP code on the Healthgrades.com directory to read what others say about dentists in your area.
Make a shortlist of those with solid ratings, then call them one at a time and ask about prices for an annual exam and cleaning. That gives you a benchmark for comparison. As long as you avoid highly rated poorly reviewed practitioners, you can fairly safely pick the least expensive dentist from your list.
Ask About Other Options
Dentists don’t always propose lower-cost options unless prompted, but they’ll often mention alternatives if you ask. For example, I was once told I needed a root canal for a wisdom tooth; when I questioned it, the dentist admitted that extraction would be much cheaper and wouldn’t cause future issues (25 years later, it hasn’t). I’ve also read claims that root canals can be risky in some respects (who would have thought a dead tooth left behind might lead to trouble?).
More recently I was quoted $6,000 for dental work (maybe that’s why the $69 coupon existed). I sought a second opinion and found the real solution was simply improving my flossing routine. Maybe I’ll require a $600 procedure later if I slack off, but that’s still a 90% savings compared to the first estimate.
There’s frequently more than one way to address dental problems, and an alternative solution can be both better and less expensive — so always ask about options.
Also, if you’re looking for ways to manage dental costs more broadly, check out resources on dental care without insurance for additional tips.
Your Turn: Have you tried any of these approaches to lower your dental bills? Share your tips below to help other Savinly Readers…
