Dental treatment can be costly, but it doesn’t have to be all the time. By maximizing your options, you can save a few bucks on your next check-up. If you have a habit of avoiding the dentist to save money, this article would help you become wiser in handling your finances for your dental care.
Minimize Dental Costs
Visiting a dentist is an investment you should be smart about. Here are some ways for you to have the treatment you want without breaking the bank:
1. Practice The Fundamentals Of Dental Care
Oral hygiene begins at home. Clean your teeth for about two minutes each morning and each night with a soft-bristled toothbrush, then floss between each tooth daily. These are both essential for removing plaque and tartar as these are the root causes of dental decay, gum disease, and expensive dental problems in the future.
2. Look For Dental Clinic
You should compare dentists’ rates in much the same way you would with any other services. In reality, if you do a little digging, you can discover prices of dental care can vary greatly within your area.
Call around before you choose a dentist and a rate you can live with. If you’re unsure where to start with your search, then it might be a good idea to go and compare dentists on AirSmile and other online platforms to find a dentist in almost any price range.
3. Make Routine Check-ups A Priority
It’s important to visit your dentist regularly. A dental practitioner can access those difficult to reach parts of your mouth and clean them far more thoroughly than you can at home. Furthermore, the dentist can diagnose potential problems before they become more severe and costly.
Six-month dental check-ups are generally recognized as the practice, so consult with your doctor to determine how frequently you should visit.
4. Ask Questions
Check with your dentist to see what dental procedures Are appropriate for you. Your dentist, for instance, can try to sell you on teeth whitening, which would be a cosmetic treatment unlikely to be protected by dental insurance. Furthermore, always inquire about less costly care options, and obtain a written quotation before committing to something.
5. Make Use Of Pre-Tax Dollars
Many companies have a health savings account (HSA) or a flexible spending account (FSA) (FSA), and pre-tax dollars may be contributed to any of these plans to assist with potential healthcare expenditures. Because you can’t spend something you don’t have, set up monthly automatic payments from your bank account to your HSA or FSA.
You probably won’t miss the small amounts sent per paycheck, but you’ll be grateful the cash is always there when you need it. Consider it your oral healthcare fund.
6. Use A Credit Card With No Interest
If you’re not using an HSA, FSA, or emergency fund to bear the expenses of dental care, see whether you’re eligible for a 0% interest credit card. This allows you to spread the expense of your dental treatment over a longer period without incurring any additional fees. Simply make sure to pay the required minimum per month and the balance before the promotional period has expired.
7. Request A Discount
If you don’t have any money saved up, talk to your dentist to find out if they can give you a discount should you make your payment in cash upfront. Many dental insurers would give you at least a slight discount, and it saves them money as well since they’ll avoid using a dental insurance agent.
8. Cancel Your Dental Insurance
Dental insurance isn’t suitable for all, so consider the amount you pay for dental treatment every year, including dental premiums and out-of-pocket dental expenses. Compare the amount you’d have to pay for the same dental treatments if you didn’t have dental insurance. You’ll discover getting dental coverage might be an unfavorable expenditure for you.
9. Go And Visit A Dental School
Dental schools are an excellent source of cheap dental treatment for procedures ranging from fillings and cleanings to root canals and wisdom tooth removal. Dental students operate under the guidance of licensed teachers, so you can relax knowing you’re in safe hands.
10. Dental Savings Plan
You’ll find dental savings plan a much more versatile and cost-effective alternative to dental insurance since the annual subscription to the plan can be purchased for about USD$80 only. This entitles you to discounts ranging from 10-60% off for most dental services, including procedures dental insurance doesn’t cover.
Conclusion
Dental treatment can be obtained at a more affordable cost, so begin implementing these suggestions right away. Consider all the things you’ll be able to do with the money you won’t be spending on dental care. In this way, you’ll be able to maximize the resources you have.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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