Healthcare and Classes: How to Afford Dental Care While in School
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Posted By: Dixie Somers on November 10, 2017 You don’t have to sacrifice every other basic necessity just to afford dental care while in school. A cynical old adage of higher education insists to university students from all walks of life, “You can have great grades, a social life or sleep. Pick two.” True, you can expect a long and trying road between yourself and that degree. At the same time, don’t forget that you have one set of adult teeth to last your entire life after graduation. Care for it well with a little help from these budget-friendly resources between Spring Break getaways and exhaustive hours drowning in books. Community ClinicsThe larger the city you call home while pursuing your degree, the better your chances of coming across a no-cost or low-cost community dental clinic nearby. These institutions are dedicated to the needs of impoverished citizens who would face substantial health risks without affordable and accessible oral health resources. Begin your search at a local public hospital, which may actually have a community dental clinic of its own. If that doesn’t turn up any useful direction, visit the American Dental Association (ADA) website to pinpoint your state’s recommended free or cost-flexible care programs, organizations, clinics and dental schools on their “Dental Health” map. Dental SchoolsYou need compassionate, attentive dental care at the lowest price possible. Dental school students cannot call themselves truly prepared to practice licensed dentistry without considerable hands-on experience treating real patients. Where the Venn diagrams of your respective needs align, affordable care billed on a sliding-scale basis may await. Students working under a licensed dentist’s close supervision will almost always mean more time in the chair and could require a follow-up appointment to complete treatment. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing; you can count on ample one-on-one attention to your case and rest assured the work being done is undergoing close scrutiny every step of the way. Discount Dental PlansFor want of personal insurance, some group dental plans offer practical coverage for a flat monthly fee through a discount membership club. Rates are as affordable as $10 per month, but discounts for treatment often range from 10 to 60 percent. The tradeoff? Benefits will limit care options to a list of participating dentists. The next time you go to a clinic like Treman & Treman Family Dental Care, see what options they have for helping you out in the way of financing. Smile for a LifetimeThis charitable non-profit organization’s local chapters select individual applicants to receive affordable or free-of-charge orthodontic treatment based on personal hardships. Each chapter’s Board of Directors scrutinize applications carefully according to separately established criteria, but countless patients across America have benefited from their generosity. When browsing providers, keep an eye out for the Smile for a Lifetime logo online or in advertising materials and inquire about the application process and requirements wherever you find it. Dentists Who Work with Uninsured PatientsMany dentists are surprisingly willing to finance their work within uninsured patients’ means, extend deep discounts or spread treatment over multiple visits spanning several months. Others may negotiate a sliding price scale. If you don’t at least ask, you may never know and inadvertently forego an affordable treatment opportunity. Begin by informing whoever books your appointment that you don’t have insurance and would like to discuss payment plans when you arrive. Expect the going rate for a checkup, x-rays and possibly a cleaning to fall somewhere between $150 and $270, but understand that prices vary from one dentist to the next. Never underestimate a dentist’s understanding. At the end of the day, medical professionals everywhere prioritize absolutely nothing above a patient’s well-being. That includes money. With so many health considerations tied to maintaining tip-top teeth and gums, any orthodontist, dentist or dental hygienist would much rather anyone bring limited financial or insurance means to light right away than know someone chose to forego treatment from them when timely attention could have dramatically improved quality of life for years to come. If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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Dixie Somers
Freelance Writer, Self Employed Other College... class of 2004 Member Since November 2016 |
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