What To Do When You Don’t Have Dental Insurance

Approximately 1 in 4 people in the United States do not have dental insurance. If you find yourself in this position, what should you do?  Is it necessary to have dental insurance to go to the dentist?  Is it worth it to have dental insurance?  These are some of the most important questions to ask if you do not have insurance or are trying to decide if you want to pay for dental insurance.

Here are five considerations about paying for dental visits, controlling your costs, and getting the most value for your hard-earned money:

Don’t Wait – Be Proactive With Your Dental Care

It is important to get to the dentist soon so you can minimize your need for treatment. Treatments are much easier and much less expensive the quicker they are handled. Prevention of dental problems is the best value and best outcome available. Still, most people will need dental treatment eventually. So, when you do need treatment, it is important to take care of the problem as early as possible. Many people say,” I can’t go to the dentist because I do not have dental insurance.”  In fact, the opposite is often true. The most important cost-saving tool for dental care is to get to a no insurance dental office before problems arise.

Find a Dental Care Team That You Can Trust

Having a dental care team that makes you comfortable and has your current and future best interests in mind is essential. The best way to save on dentistry is to get the right amount of it. This takes a skilled care team that can accurately diagnose your needs and creates a treatment plan based on your individual situation. A caring and trusting dental team should be able to educate you about your dental care need using x-rays, photos, demonstrations, and more so you are confident you are getting the right amount of dental care. The right dental care maximizes your comfort while respecting your budget.

Dental Insurance

Do I need dental insurance? No. Should I have dental insurance? It depends. Insurance is meant to help protect you financially from situations that are not as likely to happen but would be devastating if they did. Most dental plans at a no insurance dental office have the best coverage for maintenance and prevention and pass along much of the cost to the patient for the more expensive treatments.

Paying for Dental Treatment

There are many tools available to pay for dental treatment. This includes dental plans, membership plans, cash, check, credit cards, Care Credit, etc. Any combination of these can be used. The first step is to make a treatment plan and then prioritize the plan. Find out what can wait. Do what you can now. Spreading out treatment plans can make the cost more manageable.

Cheapest is Not Always Cheapest

Cheaper materials may not last as long or might need to be replaced sooner at an additional cost. One dentist may have cheaper fees but recommend a lot more dental work be done resulting in you paying more. Total cost, now and over a lifetime, are what matters.

At Westdale Dental, PC, these are the core ideas that we have used to build our dental care. Our care team takes pride in helping all patients, regardless if they have a dental plan. Our goal is to provide you with the best dental care and we will work hard to earn your trust and do what is in your best interest.

Dental care is very important for every stage of your life. Don’t let the thought of no dental insurance keep you from living a healthy lifestyle. Instead, come to Westdale Dental where we offer alternative options to help you receive the best care. Call today to schedule your appointment!