subject: How To Finance Dental Services [print this page] As I can tell you from experience, dental work is not cheap, and dental insurance can be hard to come by. For awhile, my spouse and I had supplemental coverage, but after our first appointment with our new dentist, we realized the supplement was more than a little pathetic.
I had to abjure any hope of help getting my wisdom teeth removed, and cosmetic procedures were out of the question. But unlike so many individuals and families, I did not decide to forsake my dentist altogether. Instead, I started to focus on better ways to finance dental work. Let me share some of my ideas with you.
Give your health insurance provider a call to find out about rates for more comprehensive coverage. While not all supplemental plans are as useless as mine was, you are going to be better off with some real insurance.
If you need to, sit down with an agent to find out about independent dental plans versus what your current company may offer. Talk about the procedures you want to or need to have done and if they are covered by the plans you are investigating. This will help you narrow things down.
Consider switching to a different dentist if you feel you are constantly overpaying for routine services. It may initially feel like a hassle to make the switch, but if you are saving bundles of money and feeling more comfortable when you want to take a trip to the dentist, it will be well worth it.
Talk to your dentist to find out if there is a discount for paying in full at the time of the visit. Many doctors and dentists do this so that they are put at less of a risk of not being paid at all and having bills revert to collections agencies. You can have up to 20 percent shaved off your bill immediately.
During your next visit, ask your dentist for a quote on the services you would like to have performed in the near future--whether that's professional whitening, dental implants, or cavity filling--so that you can begin adequately planning.
You might not be able to save money this way, but if you begin putting small amounts of cash away every week or every month, you can be more prepared, which will alleviate some of the stress of paying for upcoming dental work.
There are always ways to make it happen, even if you have to work out a payment plan with the dentist's office. Don't let finances stand in the way of your beautiful smile.
