Pay Dental First (2024)

FAQs

What if I don't have enough money to go to the dentist? ›

If possible, try to find payment plans or financing opportunities offered through your local dental office or clinic. This will help make it easier for you to cover any needed procedures without breaking the bank. Also keep in mind that some states offer low-cost or free dental care programs for people who qualify.

A dentist is not obligated to provide dental services for free. There are low-income dental clinics and dental schools that dinprovide dental care regardless of income. A dentist can decide not to treat anyone, and not just because someone can't pay.

Offer Financing for Affordable Payment Plans

Some patients cannot fulfill their payments because they don't have the funds. Offering financing schedules allows such patients to make partial payments over time on a schedule that works for them.

An exceptional dentist will want to listen to your needs, concerns, and questions, and take the time needed to address them all. Good dentists will perform a thorough examination of your oral health before recommending a treatment plan and will provide you with several options for proper dental care.

There are several options available for those who need free or low-cost dental treatment. For instance, your dentist may refer you to a community clinic that offers dental treatment for a low fee, or a nearby dental school where you can be treated for free or at a low cost by students in training.

What If You Have No Money or Insurance to Get an Infected Tooth Treated? If you have an infected tooth and no money, a few things you can do include: Contact your local dental society or health department. They may be able to refer you to a dentist who offers free or low-cost dental care.

Many dental practices struggle with no-shows and cancelations. Patients may schedule an appointment, forget about it or balk at the potential bill, and fail to show up. Some will cancel or postpone their appointments due to concerns about debt. Upfront payments help minimize such problems by enforcing commitments.

If you don't pay your dental bill, your dentist will make multiple attempts to contact you before you get sent to a loan collection agency. In the dental industry, that process is known as being "sent to collections." There are consequences of having dental and medical debt in collections.

Dental neglect is a form of child maltreatment and, if suspected, should be reported to the appropriate child protective agencies.

There needs to be a firm policy on when your office will accept partial patients, or not treat those who can't pay for their care. If you and your patient can't agree on a fee – consider referring them to a local community hospital or clinic that offers low-cost or no-cost care to patients with financial stress.

How would you handle a situation where a patient cannot pay their co-pay at their time of visit? ›

One strategy that does work well is to give these patients pre-addressed, stamped envelopes and tell them to mail their co-pay to the office.

While dentists, in serving the public, may exercise reasonable discretion in selecting patients for their practices, dentists shall not refuse to accept patients into their practice or deny dental service to patients because of the patient's race, creed, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national ...

The short answer is no, dentists do not judge their patients for having bad teeth. Dentists are healthcare professionals who are dedicated to helping patients improve their oral health by providing necessary treatments. They are trained to reserve their judgment and be empathetic towards their patients' concerns.

Patients who neglect proper care of their mouths by not regularly seeing a dentist, risk not only getting tooth and gum disease, but they also risk getting diseases and illnesses in other parts of their body. Some major health conditions related to oral health include heart disease, diabetes, stroke and breast cancer.

What If You Cannot Afford Root Canal Treatment? Tooth removal is the next option if you cannot afford root canal treatment. Dentists prefer to save your natural teeth for these reasons: Other teeth begin to lose their position and drift when a tooth is missing.

Not seeing a dentist means that your gums are not being checked for gingivitis or gum disease. Gingivitis is the mild version of gum disease, where the gums are red, puffy, and sometimes painful. If not properly cared for, gingivitis can turn into periodontitis which is a more serious version of gum disease.

It can be tempting to put off those appointments or skip them entirely, but we recommend against it. The truth of the matter is, going to the dentist can help protect your teeth for decades of your life. Our teeth do not always do a great job of telling us when there are problems.