Ask the Readers | What can you do without dental insurance?
Hi Kristen! I'm Marie, also a mom of four kids (13, 10, 4, and 2). We're homeschoolers too and my husband is self employed so money is TIGHT.
I just recently had a root canal done and it has cost us $2500! We're also behind on preventative visits for all of us because other financial things keep coming up.
We're members of Samaritan's Ministries which covers medical, not dental. We've had a horrible time with medical insurance in the past which is why we switched over but now I don't know what to do about dental.
We've been paying cash for all of the visits, but finally had to turn to credit because we didn't have the money for my root canal.
Do you have any knowledge or suggestions about dental coverage, plans, insurance? Thank you for your time!
Marie
I'm pretty experienced at dealing with insurance companies, but I am NOT experienced at living without insurance.
My only idea was to see if your county or state has a dental insurance program for people with lower incomes; perhaps you could get approved for that, at least for your kids.
Aside from that, I've got no ideas, so I'm going to turn this question over to my readers.
We never had dental insurance because we are also self employed. We have had large dental bills in the past and our dentist graciously allows us to make monthly payments with no interest charge. An option might be to have dental care in conjunction with a dental school at an university. You might have to drive a distance but if the whole family could have their dental work done all in one day at one place, it would be worth it.
Hello Marie,
There is a dental discount program you may want to consider called 1Dental.com.
Excellent suggestion! Larger universities may have more comprehensive, low or no cost dental care, but don't overlook smaller schools or community colleges. They may have hygienist programs that might get you at least basic cleanings or exams.
Ditto Mindy’s comment! Our local community college has an excellent dental hygiene program. They serve the community with low and no cost cleanings and exams. Hope you ca find something similar in your area.
We have done this in the past. Local community college has a dental hygienist clinic where they do low cost cleanings, xrays, sealants and exams. (Like $15 cleaning and X-ray). They did NOT do fillings or dental work so you would need to take their recommendations from the dentist at the clinic who oversees the xrays to a dental office to have any dental work done. But saved us a lot of money when we didn’t have insurance and weren’t low income for Medicaid.
Really! So you want a student drilling your teeth? Thanks
In my experience at a university dental clinic, the student-clinician checks with the professor before and after every single step. I was very happy with my experience.
I'm not sure if this is available in your area (I live in MI) but the mobile dentist comes to the public schools here each year and will clean and check kids teeth for free. Maybe if they come to your local district, you can ask if your homeschoolers can be checked as well? We have insurance so my kids have always declined but I was volunteering at the school when they came and it seemed like a thorough operation.
If you are self employed and lower income I would bet you can qualify for the state medical coverage for the children... my assumption though( since you are with Samaritan) is that you do not want "Government" involvement. You can use state assistance for the preventative care and maintenance and deal with the inconvenience, you can find a local dental school that offers low cost/free cleanings( which from my knowledge run much longer than normal- decide if that works with 4 kids., Or you need to locate a dentistry that offers cash discount and maybe you could talk barter of services?
In Maryland our children are covered through the state program (mchip) for $52 a month because my husband makes under their income limit (I think the cap for four kids in $80 or 90k). It covers both dental and doctor's visits.
The way I see it, 1. my tax dollars go to pay for program so why no take advantage of it? 2. I can give more to my church, missions, and charities by saving on my kids Insurance.
My husband didn't have insurance through his last job and we found a doctor office in town that offered a discount to people that were uninsured. I think it was only 15% off work and 33% cleanings. But every bit helped.
Also has another read the article in the Atlantic about dentists taking advantage of customers and charging them for all sorts of unnecessary procedures? It was crazy.
Most of us take advantage of roads built and maintained with our tax dollars. And our health is equally as important, no? If not more so!
- Go to a dental school or dental hygienist school for free or low cost care.
- Call dentists in small towns, rural areas, and economically depressed areas (within driving distance of you) to compare prices. My friend is a dentist in small-town Pennsylvania and she charges $650 for a capped tooth - meanwhile, in my big city, I paid $2500 for a cap.
- Get a dental discount card. Companies sell them for a small one-time fee, and then you get steep discounts at dentists.
- Some cities have free dental clinics. Check google.
- Vote for Democrats who are in favor of healthcare for all so that you no longer have to deal with this dilemma. Healthcare shouldn't be only for those who can pay massive fees. And dealing with awful health insurance companies and the crazy pricing of drugs should convince people that healthcare doesn't belong left up to capitalist forces.
Mm. Thank you. Voting matters!!
Absolutely agree! Your elected ( local, state, federal) representatives need to know about this kind of situation. They might know of some resources, but more importantly, they need to research and vote for improved health care for their citizens! We are self-employed and have no dental insurance. My wonderful dentist does what’s necessary and gives a 10% discount because he doesn’t have to go through the hassle of paperwork and waiting for insurance payments. He’s also been willing to wait a few weeks for payment on occasion. My Illinois county has a dental clinic for those who qualify (lower income, large families, disabilities) which has a sliding scale based on income, but I’ve heard it has a waiting list, and sometimes dental stuff can’t wait. My Mom let her teeth rot while paying for us kids’ dental care. That was sad (and embarrassing) due to “pride”, but dental health greatly affects cardiac health, immune system, and pregnancy, so not good to neglect ourselves! I hope you’ll let us know how it works out for you.
Yes to all! I hadn’t thought of the small town idea. Healthcare is a right.
Ask England how that's working for them.
My friends in Leeds say it is working quite well. In fact, when he was offered a work visa for the US from his job, he looked at the available health insurance at the US office and turned the transfer down immediately because he wasn't willing to put his family's financial future in jeopardy from medical expenses not covered by insurance unlike the UK.
It works really Well for us. Medical is Totally free, dental is free for under 16s, low incomes and pregnant ladies. For everyone else you pay a charge for dental but it is massively subsidised.
We Love our National Health Service!
It can be hard to get a place with an NHS dentist if you move house and in some districts, and if you work you pay a fee (subsidised, with a very resonable maximum cap so a complex job can effectively be subsidised 80 or 90%), but emergency care is available to all, dentistry is free for under 16s/under 19s in education, pregnant and new mothers, the elderly, the unemployed or too ill/disabled to work, and those in receipt of low income benefits (which are given to people who work but at low waged jobs). And there's ongoing work to try and address dentist shortages (even if Brexit and the Hostile Environment are causing problems).
That's how society should work in my opinion - now, what DOESN'T work is the Tory party and Austerity. And this Brexit nonsense. We love our NHS - but many of us feel very differently about the policies of a government and of multiple politicians who see current US health care as a model to be desired (or at least as an option for the few to make large profits)
I have a dental discount card, it is NOT a one time fee, it is a fee per year. That said, I pay approx$120 for the right to be charged as an inplan Cigna patient, so fees are reduced, including fees for dental work beyond the preventative cleaning and 6 month exam, as well as X rays. In the end, it offers me some protection against high costs, but it is still cheaper than the $900 dental insurance rider that was offered with my medical insurance. Made more financial sense to not have dental ins, get the card, keep fingers crossed.
We are also self-employed and never had dental insurance. Look into discounted fee for services programs in your area which discount charged prices 20-40% within a network of providers. We pay $99/year for our family to participate and everyone goes once a year for a cleaning. The savings more than pay the annual fee.
Also - get a couple of opinions and compare costs for things such as braces, wisdom teeth removal, implants, etc. as there can be a wide range of prices. We have also been successful at negotiating cash discounts for services.
Medicaid covers dental. You may not qualify if you’re not in an expansion state though.
Most employer dental insurance isn’t very good—we’ve opted out of ours because it doesn’t actually cover high expenses and our preferred dentist is out of network,
If you live in a state with Medicaid Expansion, your whole family might qualify if your income is low.
Even if you don't, there is a good chance the children might qualify for Medicaid, though the adults will not.
If your income is too high for Medicaid, your children might qualify for low cost medical and dental insurance through CHP program. If so your children will have comprehensive insurance at a low monthly cost.
If none of the above is applicable, see if you can obtain discounted dental care at a dental school. Even if this involves travel, it might still be worthwhile.
You can also google community health and see if your area has any low cost dental clinics.
A last, and much more costly resort, is medical tourism. That means traveling to another country for your dental care. While airfare and accommodation will be high, the savings on costly dental procedures might be worth it.
Medicaid coverage varies by state and not all states offer dental to adults. I worked with many adults on Medicaid and my state chose to stop covering dental. All they now pay for is removal of a problem tooth. They cover no other dental services.
My son was able to purchase dental insurance through HealthCare.gov - the health insurance marketplace. Many dental insurance companies allow you to purchase coverage as an individual. Sadly, dental work can be expensive even with insurance.
Dental bills have gotten out of control since insurance got involved. I just saw in our city a place to go for free or I think very reduced costs that someone posted on Facebook. Not sure where she's located but in larger cities I think this is common. Other than that I guess limit sweets and brush and floss multiple times a day. Dental work was affordable when we were growing up and parents easily paid out of pocket. It's gotten crazy out of control. I know a few dentists and they make more than my doctor friends. Nuts!
I would definitely look into your local technical college for cleaning. It might take longer but it would definitely be thorough. While I had never considered this before, Money saving mom recently had a post on how to clean your own teeth if that’s something you might be interested in.
She can contact her county health dept and see if they have a place that people can go. Also, if she has a large college nearby that has a dental school, the students work on patients and that is a super cheap alternative.
Our county health department has dentistry available, but I don't know if there are any limitations on income. I'm covered by dental insurance through work, but as others have pointed out, dental bills are still high. At my previous job, dental insurance for the two of us was $20 per week ($1040 per year) and they would not cover more than $2000 for the two of us combined. If all one needed was twice yearly cleanings and an annual x-rays, one was actually paying more in premiums than one would have paid the dentist in this area, at least. Some people elected to just skip it.
Do call around for pricing. A girl I worked with was quoted over $2000 for work on her child's teeth, which required general anesthesia (she had neglected to take her child to the dentist for a few years, and her child had a number of very bad teeth). She drove four hours each way, but she got it done at another dentist's office for $1100. She checked the dentist out thoroughly before using him; he was legit and had a good reputation, and she was happy with his work.
The only time in my life I had dental insurance for 5 years when I had a job that provided it. Since we never had dental insurance growing up, I felt like I had won the lottery! I've never had dental insurance since. We could buy insurance, but it would cost more than our usual cleanings and check-ups each year. Instead, I'd suggest banking the difference in a separate line-item.
My suggestions to save costs are:
(1) Seek out cheaper dentists. The prices vary widely and it doesn't necessarily correspond with how good the dentists are. For example, certain parts of the metropolitan areas have cheaper rent the dentist must pay. We have found solo dentists are cheaper than groups, and as we develop a relationship, the solo can give us substantial discounts since they don't have to answer to a group.
(2) Ask up front what the discount is for paying cash ("Paying cash" means anyone not paying with insurance, it doesn't have to literally mean cash). Our dentist discounts everything 20% for non-insured. It saves their staff a lot of time to not have to deal with insurance companies. We are longtime patients and our dentist sometimes provides services that have no physical cost to him -- like x-rays -- for free.
(3) If something like a root canal, ask before the procedure about a payment plan. For example, $200/month. We have never been charged interest. For a solo/small dentist, perhaps they like knowing some money will be coming in each month.
(4) Ask about any other discounts. For example, our dentist offers a "last-minute fill-in" discount of an extra 15% (on top of the 20% for paying cash) for this. When someone cancels on them last-minute, they call patients who have agreed to be on the last-minute call list. This could work well for cleanings for you and the kids if you are home during the day. It also works great for seniors who are home during the day. It fills a spot for the dentist that would otherwise go unfilled, and you get a discount.
(5) Ask for volume discounts. A family group coming in is efficient for the dentist and they may pass the saving on to you if you ask.
(6) As others have suggested, go to dental schools. Also, if you hear of anyone studying to be a dentist or dental assistant, approach them and ask if they need patients. They usually need to procure their own patients for their tests for school and so will do the work for free. They are glad to have patients!
We are a homeschooling family, husband is self employed as well. Our dentist offers an in house insurance policy that is better cost wise than an actual dental plan would be. So ask around for in house policies.
Also, our pediatric dentist does free cleaning days for kids without insurance, or people who cannot afford it.
My dentist offered a one-time purchase discount card. I paid $99 up front and now I save 20% on services as long as I’m a customer. I only need routine care for myself but it still paid for itself quickly.
With children, they are often eligible for free dental insurance through the Marketplace and you can purchase dental insurance through them for yourself, too.
Another thought: many dentists offer steep first-time customer discounts for cleaning and exams. (I’ve seen deals around here that are between $65-$99 for the bundle.) Perhaps try that with your children?
I do commend you for making your dental health a priority-even when it’s difficult financially! Praying you find a solution soon.
No advice for the insurance issue, but for preventative care, I recommend the Act Total Care mouth rinse (or generic brand). My daughter was born with very weak enamel (runs in our family). She would have multiple cavities each check-up, despite excellent brushing and flossing. Once we started using the mouth rinse she went to only having one or two cavities every three to four years. BIG savings!! God's Blessings to you, and the hope that you find an affordable option for your family.
Call 211 and ask if there are any free clinics in the area. In my town they have them twice a year and its first come first serve so people get in line super early, but can get whatever service they need.
There is also a pediatric dentist that devotes a couple of days a year to servicing low-income children at no cost. So it pays to ask around.
My dentist offers an in-house plan for the uninsured where you pay a certain amount each month and that includes your dental exams and xrays and then everything else is discounted. Sounds like that may not be in your budget right now, but may be an option if a dentist in your area offers a similar program at the right price.
Good luck! I have mediocre insurance (It only pays $1500 a year and copays are 20%-50% depending on the service) but it sure beats no insurance at all.
In Wyoming, we have a local place called HealthWorks. Sort of a clinic-like atmosphere (https://www.wyhealthworks.org/) . They do everything from health, to dental, to shots, etc. It's income-based. When my fiance was out of the military, putting himself through school, and bartending at night, he qualified for the program--only way he was able to get his dental bridge! Donations are typically made by wealthier families, or through grants/organizations in town. Once he graduated from school and got a job, he left this clinic. I'm entirely grateful for it since he was missing teeth and badly needed the additional support!
Depending on where they live, calling the college or university dental program and seeing what they can offer. I know where I am, they tend to have preventative care clinics 3-4 times a year.
Some great ideas in the comments! I feel like anything I add has already been said, but we don't have dental insurance (with 3 kids) and here are some things we do to keep dental bills in check:
1. Eat whole foods. Limit any processed foods, white flour, and sugar for special occasions/treats. Consider brushing with a mineral toothpaste. (I make my own)
2. Annual cleanings and check-ups instead of bi-annual. My hygienist told me that the difference between a 1yr vs a 6month check-up is minimal. (The cleaning may take longer and be slightly more expensive, but the one visit will be less expensive than the cost of 2 shorter ones)
3. Our community healthcare unit has free checkups for young children. I believe they have low-cost dental cleanings for people with low incomes as well. (if you phone around or ask in a local Facebook community group, those people would have more ideas about what's available in your area!)
4. Compare prices of dentists. It may be time to switch. I switched our family to a different dentist last year when our dentist's prices got too expensive.
5. Have a separate account for dentists that you add to every month. That way you'll always have some money designated for those costs. I use Tangerine for this (formerly ING direct) I believe Tangerine is for Canada only, but perhaps Kristen or other readers have a good suggestion of a no-fee bank account that easily allows for multiple accounts?
I have dental insurance, but in my area Groupon often offers low-cost certificates for dental care. If you bundle this with ebates (rakuten.com now) for the groupon, you will potentially save a whole lot.
You could try a nationwide provider like Delta Dental. They have a low monthly cost for the Delta USA plan and cover preventative services. Your root canal would still be costly but that is true of all dental plans. For instance, I recently needed a new crown and my cost was 50% of the total. I chose to pay for an individual plan instead of selecting a new dentist through Anthem Blue Cross so I could stay with my current dentist.
Here is the link: https://www.deltadentalins.com
Good luck!
My husband is a dentist and we frequently see patients who have no dental insurance. I echo what everyone is saying about visiting a dental school, but be advised that those appointments take hours for something as simple as a cleaning. You would probably need to block off a whole day to see your whole family. Also investigate state medical programs, but in our experience there are limited offices that accept this insurance. (Example, our office accepts government programs for children but not adults because of reimbursement rates and cancellation issues.) We also use Samaritan Ministries for our family and I know they allow you to submit Special Prayer Needs for medical expenses not covered. Also, see if your dental office has any sort of discount program. We allow patients to buy "In-House Insurance" which is a plan we offer that includes the two annual cleanings, x-rays, and discounted services for an annual fee, which is even more discounted if you sign up additional family members. I would also love to encourage not to let the cost of the semi-annual exams deter you from treatment if possible -- it's so so worth it to prevent rather than to deal with expensive procedures after not visiting a dentist for six years. (Although I know from experience that you can do everything right and still have trouble with your teeth - I've lost count of how many fillings I've had!) It seems like the easiest thing to let slide but in the long run the cost just isn't worth it. And a final note - be aware of large dental chains that advertise discounted cleanings/free x-rays. They are frequently some of the worst offenders of recommending unnecessary procedures. Find a small family practice that will love on you and take care of you! Will pray you can find some resolution and a great office to work with!!
I have 4 children without dental insurance as well. Years ago I paid for dental insurance through work (I was part time) and dropped it when I realized it was MORE expensive to pay for insurance plus co-pays for normal basic care. (I compared 2 cleanings, x-rays, and a filling per year with and without insurance, it was cheaper to not have insurance and that didn't account for discounts!). Our dentist offers 10% off to people who pay upfront without insurance. When money was tight I would stretch 6 month cleanings into 8 month cleanings and I would deny x-rays. They like to do them every year but I would let them do x-rays maybe every 3 years, or only if there was a problem with a tooth. Don't take everyone in at the same time, you can schedule a visit every couple of months, $100 every 2 months is way easier to swallow than $400 all at once. For big stuff definitely look into dental schools in your area.
When dropping insurance because a couple of your usual treatments cost less, I do hope you had a strategy for covering dental emergencies. Kids, as well as adults, have accidents and you can become thousands of dollars in debt (if you have no or an insufficient emergency fund) with just one emergency. I had a teen neighbor that was injured in a fall where all of his upper front teeth were broken in half. It was a huge bill just to get him to the point of relieving his pain and suffering and not counting all of the followup of rebuilding/replacing his teeth. Another child of a friend had to have massive dental work after a bicycle accident where he went head first into the pavement (had a helmet on thankfully so just dental injuries - now he wears a mouth guard too). All it takes is one fall, one bike accident, one car accident, one sports injury, etc to lead to possible debt for years.
My insurance dropped dental some time ago. Added dental coverage is $50/month. So I set up a savings account that I deposit $50/mo. in. I am single so what works for me might not work as well for family but so far I have been able to pay for ALL my dental work including an implant from that savings account.
Also don't forget preventive measures to avoid going to the dentist in the first place. Orawellness.com is a wonderful resource with lots of good articles on the subject.
We are also Samaritan Ministries members, and I wanted to let you know that you can submit your dental bill as a Special Prayer Need. I’m guessing that 1/3 of the Special Prayer Needs I see on our monthly share form are for dental work.
Don’t feel bad about calling SM and asking- dental is expensive and it sounded like it was necessary for you. As a SM member, I want to be able to help fellow members with burdens like this!
This is going to sound so dumb, but always floss your teeth. I always brushed my teeth like a maniac, but somehow flossing wasn't a regular thing. Fast forward to a mouth full of fillings. I have flossed daily (carefully, purposefully) and no more fillings. Even when I'm very sick, I floss. Also, I use ACT to strengthen the enamel of my teeth and reduce sensitivity. Listerine stained my teeth, for what it's worth.
I have never had dental insurance, and have paid absolutely insane amount of money to keep my teeth half way decent. (I just have bad teeth, I take obsessive care of them.) Most of my fillings etc are quite old and failing now, and my dentist noted I need some new caps. I am seriously considering traveling to Cancun, Mexico to have a ton of work done all at once at much lower prices. Dentists who trained in the US, board certified etc- just a much much much MUCH better price point. Something to look into if you know you need a lot done.
Others have given some very good advice. I will chime in since we don't have dental. First off, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, IMO. Cover the basics with your kids and make sure they are doing proper dental care. Mine get lax at times so we have to kinda stay on this topic. Every month or so, I stand at the bathroom door for the specific purpose of making sure they are properly cleaning their teeth. My husband and I put money back to cover dental expenses or dental emergencies. I volunteer at a free clinic that offers dental care. Mostly, we give antibiotics or pull teeth if needed. No preventative care is given. Also, the dental association recommends having two cleanings per year and we only have one per family member per year and I feel good about it. Also, I get a notepad and called all the local dentists to find the best rates on common procedures. Lots of dentists give free first visit, x-rays, and cleanings but then hook you in with over priced procedures. I had to drive to a neighboring town to get the best deal until I found a local dentist that agreed to price match. Also, if you have a skill or service you can provide, some dentists will barter. I got a root canal in exchange for my husband doing work on an endodontist boat. Never be afraid to ask. Also, always get a second opinion on something pricy, like a retainer. Some greedy dentists may offer a service you don't really need and lots will offer a free consult for things like this.
Costco offers dental insurance plans in some states. https://www.costco.com/dental-insurance-services.html
I also recommend try to get your 2500 bill submitted as a special prayer need through Samaritans- we have never had one ourselves but always send to them each month just another awesome way God can work through the ministry.
And for anyone who is looking for reasonable health care help- Samaritans is Awesome!! It is not exactly insurance but definitely allows God to work.
Our eighth child is due in June- cards with well wishes and prayers and personal stories are coming in every day so that we can pay for the expenses right after birth and get a 40% discount.
It is truly an awesome experience to be a part of and very inspiring!
And compared to other insurance options it seems like a great value.
We have 4 adult children. We have been a fortunate family in that we haven't needed many dental experiences. But when they were all school age, and since we've had good teeth, we asked for a yearly rotation instead of every 6 mos. Also you can save money by refusing x-rays, etc. A hygienist, once in your mouth, can see if you got any trouble in there, and then you can ok an x-ray if needed. Unless you've known your dentist a long time and/or can trust them, I would get 2nd opinions for the higher end work. When our daughter was in the 5th grade, it was recommended that she have thousands of dollars of work done on her teeth. We shopped around and saved thousands with her only having to have braces for a year.
On state insurance: We have an adult son that was in a serious accident when he was 20, and he picked up state insurance has his secondary. Sometimes you have to put your pride in your back pocket. State insurances often pay for preventative visits for children up to the age of 21.
In California, don't know if this applies to where your reader Marie lives, we have Delta Dental and anyone can get it for around $28 per month, no qualification. They cover basic checkups, cleanings, and a percentage of the more complex dental procedures are covered so at least it is a safety net.
Oh, another idea! I forgot-- If you live near Mexico? One of my friends went to Mexico for a bunch of procedures-- she got an implant, root canal and other things that she said would have cost $10,000 in the US but she paid a fraction of the cost. Maybe $800. She said the facility was clean and the dentist spoke English. She was really happy with the price and the results. There are websites which explain the process and list expert dentists, some of whom are Americans who moved to Mexico to practice. It's "a thing" apparently that people take dental vacations, combining a trip to the dentist with some relaxation and sight-seeing.
Here's what we do, I haven't seen it mentioned yet.
We get our dental work done in Mexico, MUCH cheaper! It works great for us, because my in-laws live in Mexico, so we combine it with trips to visit them.
But I know people here in Texas that drive right over the boarder to do their dental, I think their dentist even speaks English. This has saved us hundreds if not thousands of dollars.
We are also self-employed and here are some things we've done.
Dental Discount Card
Payment plans with dentist
Care type credit
Our community has free cleanings and evaluations on Valentines day - has to be booked in advance though.
Look for the dentist coupons in the mail they usually do a cleaning and xrays for $60 and let you know if you need anything and from that you can shop around. Be careful with those though sometimes they make things up...I fell in that trap.
It was the expense of a root canal that brought me back to regular dental check-ups and also made me seek out dental insurance. The insurance really does pay for itself just through regular check-ups.
If you can't find insurance you can afford, I would echo the others who suggest finding colleges that are seeking patients for future dentists and hygienists to practice on. The fees are usually nominal (or sometimes zero), and the service is good.
Most hospital systems have a dental clinic associated with them (where students can practice). Most hospital systems also offer financial aid (sometimes called charity care). This financial aid typically covers any office affiliated with the hospital, including dental clinics. The discount/aid is based on income. It also covers medical co-pays, so even better!
My husband and I are retired. We live in Arizona and it is a 3 hour drive to the border town of Algodones, where many USA citizens and Canadians go for dental care. My dentist, there, Dr. Maria Fonseca, is more personable by FAR than any dentist I have ever had in the states. I have had to have a lot of old crowns replaced, and some root canals. $300 for root canal. $300 for crowns. Last week, we drove down and had cleanings and check ups and xrays and my husband had chipped a front tooth and she fixed that. . all for $80. We sometimes have to stay at a hotel on the USA side if we need a crown made. That's $95 a night... vs. $1200 or more for a crown, $1200 for a root canal, in the USA. I don't know where you live, but MANY retirees and RV-ers go to Algodones and other Mexican border towns for excellent care. I also know friends who FLY IN from Washington state,because the cost of a flight plus a hotel and the dental work is THOUSANDS LESS.
Ditto the visiting hygienists at school for the kids. And check around for a community based sliding scale fee practice. If you can get there, the dentists in Nuevo Progresso, Mexico are good and much more reasonable than in the US
I've purchased a discount plan from dental plans dot com. What I saved more than covered what I paid and they list the prices of things and what their plan pays and how much it pays and your final cost.
Our church has a benevolence fund which the Deacons oversee. We regularly help with dental bills and medical bills for those without insurance or with large copays. Also our cousinship (our term for cousins) has been known to help out each other with those same types of bills. It is a huge blessing to send a check or convey cash anonymously (slip cash in a Bible or hide it in a coffee cup when visiting.
I agree with everything above and I would second those who say to look into Medicaid/Chips. We're foster parents and our foster children have Medicaid and most have them have needed lots of fillings and Medicaid covers it all. I know there's a stigma that comes with Medicaid but there shouldn't be. Sure, there are people who abuse it but the reason it exists is to help families make ends meet. There's no shame in that. We also have three children adopted from foster care who are on Medicaid (Adoption Insurance) and we don't feel bad about it at all. If you qualify for the benefit, there is nothing shameful about using it. Just do what's best for your family!
Also self employed with no dental coverage. We live in an old neighborhood in an affluent zip code (an island of 1500 square foot homes surrounded by an ocean of mansions), and all the dentists near here are outrageous for cash payers. We travel 30 miles to an awesome dentist in a working class town where I used to live and work who sees a lot of patients without insurance, frequently offers specials for cleanings and xrays, gives a cash discount for upfront payment for fillings, is open weekends and evenings, and takes excellent care of my entire family.
The best advice I can give for saving $$$ on dental care is to budget for regular checkups and floss floss floss! My kids get checkups every 6 months, but my husband and I have been stretching ours to every 8 to 9 months if nothing seems wrong. That makes it 3 visits every 2 years instead of 4, so it saves us a little $$.
I don't cut corners on the kids - my parents took me to the dentist 2 times, once to get 4 rotten baby teeth pulled in grade school, and again in high school to fill a few cavities, so once I was out on my own and got a job with dental insurance I got to pay $$$$$$$ for a ton of fillings and wisdom teeth removal in my early 20's.
I hope you find a good solution for your family!
We have dental insurance( my wife is a police sgt with LAPD) and my wife still had to pay 2700 for 2 implants. Just the implant portion. The crowns will be about another 1400.00. Dental insurance is not so great anymore.
I recommend this great book about tips on how to keep your teeth healthy and decrease need for dentist visits:
https://www.amazon.com/Kiss-Your-Dentist-Goodbye-Yourself/dp/1632991195
You can borrow it from a library or even google a summary of the advice given, though I feel it's worth reading the actual book.