Hi Everyone. I have not been to the dentist in a few years for a couple of reasons. One is for fear and the other is for the cost as I do not have any type of insurance. I am now at the point that I have to go before my teeth all fall out! But the cost of going and all the procedures that i will probably need is really making me very anxious. I was curious what people have done who do not have any insurance, how have they paid for the services? HAs anyone ever heard of any programs that help out with any dental services? Thank you for any responses-
Kerri- NH

yes, our county health dept. has a dental dept. and between my husband and I we make $50,000/yr. and we were still eligible for their services. I got the top of the line dentures (not porcelain) for $700.00 for both top and bottom. I have already seen them and they look great. They've tried in my uppers because I already had an upper plate and it looked just like my real teeth. On go Tues. to get my bottoms extracted and my bottom plate put in. Call your county health dept. in your area and I'm sure they have the same services. They only charged $40.00 extraction for each tooth and I only have nine left.

In the area i am in we have a community health clinic that has a dental office. There services are usually cheaper than a regalur practice. They are set up for helping with people who can not afford it. We also have goverment help with medicade. If those are not something that you are eligable for sometimes some office offer a credit care. You apply for them at the dental office one is called care credit and one is dental fee plan. You can get online even and appy for this yourself (i think) and then use them at the office. Bascially it's a credit card for your dental work. The credit care company pays your bill off and you make monthly payments to the credit card company. Again they are called Care Credit and the other one is Dental Fee Plan. If that is something that intrest you i would look them up online. I believe that have applications to fill out online. I would wait until you know how much the work is going to cost that you need done. Those are options. My office offers that so i don't know how it works if your office doesn't. I don't know if you can still use it or not. I would check that out too. I would also say that once you get the work and stuff done that you need. I would start a regular dental visits. If you go regaularly to the dentist and have good homecare this is going to lower the cost to. When you wait years to go back that is when it really starts to get costly. I don't know how long it's been. Lets just say 3 years. Well at 3 years and 2 cleanings a year that is that is six times you have missed getting your teeth cleaned at the dentist. Which is important, because they can get of the plaque and tarter that can build up on them over time.Six cleanings that can be alot of build up. Plus they can check for early decay. Get it early before you need crn, rct,perio treatment(poss), and lossing teeth. I would really recommend that you start reg. visit not only for cost, but for your health. Good luck

I know my case is out of the norm but i thought I would let you know about it. I finally had enough with my awful teeth. I am a 33 yr old stay at home mom of 4, my children are covered under a state insurance plan but me and hubby have no health or dental insurance. We only average around 35,000 a year. I decided I was going on a mission to find a dentist that would help me. I went online I emailed every social service agency, every dentist, everybody that had an email addy within my area for dental services recieved an email from me. I finally got a response from a wonderful caring dentist that agreed to work with me on a payment plan of 225 down and 75 a month. This was not any sort of credit check type of thing just from him and his staff. Its worth a shot to see if it would work for you. If you decide to try this yourself. Just make sure your email is sincere, thorough, and honest. Hope you find some help in recieving dental care.Sincerely Dena

Hi Everyone. thank you for your responses. There is a dental school (Tufts) about and hour from my house. JUst curious if anyone has been to a dental school etc..

I have never been to a dental school myself. I know a few people who have. The school that they went too deffiently cheaper. It's great for people who are really comfortable with going to the dentist and need cheaper fees. I know that my friends had to wait some time to get in and sometimes didn't see the same dentist. I have only had one person say they didn't like the experience. It is a great oppurtinty. I hope that you find something that will work for you. Good luck.

HI Kerri, I have never been to a dental school but I have heard they are very very good at what they do. They are constantly supervised by instructers etc. I have heard from several people thru email that have went to dental schools that say that they are better than a lot dentists. They are learning the most recent ways of doing dental work etc. Would be well worth a trip for a consult and see how they operate and if you are comfortable with them. Good luck and keep us posted. Sincerely Dena

I have not been to one but my father in law used to go often to a dental school in Gainesville, FL. and he never had any complaints and they are also cheaper.