Dental care for adults without insurance does exist and it may be more accessible and affordable than you realize.
Some of the best ways to get a dental visit without insurance include:
- Paying out of pocket for visits
- Finding a local dentist that offers a membership savings plan
- Going to a dental or dental hygienist school for reduced rates
- Attending a public dental clinic in your area
The bottom line is that if you need dental work with no insurance, there are options available.
In this article, we’re sharing some of the top ways to receive dental care without insurance. Keep reading if you have questions like:
- How much is a dentist appointment without insurance?
- Are there dentists that accept no insurance?
- I don’t have dental insurance. What do I do?
Let’s jump into our discussion on how to see a local dentist without insurance.
Why Are Dental Check-Ups Important?
Before we talk about getting dental care without insurance, it’s essential to understand why seeing a dentist is valuable.
Did you know that people with gum disease are 2-3 times more likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or serious cardiovascular event? Researchers believe that the body’s inflammatory response caused by gum disease can somehow affect the heart.
If you don’t have insurance or know of programs for individuals without insurance, you may think about skipping the dentist altogether. However, that’s not a good idea. You’ll still want to see the dentist even if you don’t have insurance. Whether you’re a child or an adult, regular visits to the dentist are necessary for healthy living..
Routine dental checkups help:
- Keep your teeth and gums clean
- Address any serious oral issues
- Make oral hygiene adjustments
During your visit, the hygienist and dentist will ensure those three actions take place by performing any number of the following dental procedures:
- Taking x-rays of your teeth
- Scaling your teeth (scraping plaque and tartar off your teeth)
- Brushing and flossing
- Polishing
- Checking your mouth for problems or cancer
- Doing a fluoride treatment
Dental visits provide you with a clean mouth and valuable insight into your oral health. And fortunately, most major insurance companies offer coverage for routine checkups and some more serious dental procedures.
But some people may be thinking, “I don’t have dental insurance, or I can’t afford a dentist. What can I do?”
Continue reading to learn about what to do about dentist costs with no insurance.
How to Get Dental Care for Adults Without Insurance
Not having dental insurance doesn’t disqualify you from receiving professional dental care as an adult. There are dentists that accept patients with no insurance, and there are also offices that offer discount plans. Dental help for unemployed individuals also exists in many cities around the nation.
Here are the top four options for visiting a local dentist without insurance.
Option #1: Paying Out-of-pocket
Seeing the dentist doesn’t require insurance, so one way that you can pay dental costs is straight out-of-pocket. “Out-of-pocket” means that you pay the full amount of any dental costs from your dental visits.
If you want to pay expenses out-of-pocket, it may be good to know, “How much is a dentist visit without insurance?”
A 2016 dental survey found that the average cost for a routine check-up is $90 – $120 (not including x-rays or other preventative procedures). This study is a few years old and a more recent one hasn’t yet surfaced, but it seems that most rates are now somewhere between $100 – $300 out of pocket depending on your location.
If you practice good oral hygiene and rarely need more serious dental procedures, paying for two visits every year out of pocket might be manageable.
However, procedures like root canals, crowns, and dentures can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars without insurance. If you have poor oral hygiene, scheduling a dentist visit without insurance and paying out-of-pocket may be pretty expensive (which is another reason to attend routine checkups—reduce the risk of severe dental problems!).
Option #2: Visiting a Dental or Dental Hygienist School
Going to a dental or dental hygienist school for checkups is a low-cost dental option for anyone without insurance.
Dental or dental hygienist students will provide discounted dental care for adults without insurance in exchange for practicing routine dental procedures. Most of these schools have trained professionals overseeing the students’ work to ensure quality of care.
The inexpensive rates are a positive, but there are two negatives to this dental route:
- You need to be near a dental or dental hygienist school. Many major cities in America have at least one school, but smaller or more rural areas may not.
- A routine cleaning may take nearly four times as long since these dental students need to have their professors and teachers check their work.
Option #3: Attending a Public Dental Clinic
A third option is to attend a public dental clinic. Many of these clinics offer free or significantly reduced dental rates for individuals without insurance.
For example, the Free Dental Care and Virginia Dental Association groups in Virginia offer resources to anyone in need of free or inexpensive dental care. Trained professionals provide the services at these clinics to ensure the quality of care.
These clinics are open to everyone but exist to primarily provide dental help for unemployed, low-income, or uninsured individuals.
But these clinics often work on a first-come, first-serve basis, which means you may need to arrive early and wait a few hours before being seen by a dentist. If you don’t have hours to spare, you may need another alternative.
Option #4: Find a Dentist with a Member Savings Plan
Lastly, some dentists that accept no insurance or who want to provide an alternative option to insurance offer a member savings plan. Member savings plans provide some level of routine care for a yearly fee.
For example, we here at Northside Dental Co. in Richmond, VA are a group of dentists that don’t require insurance (though we are in-network with most insurances if you have one!). Instead, those without insurance can sign up for our Dental Savings Plan. This membership plan costs $399 each year and comes with some great benefits like:
- Two comprehensive exams
- Yearly x-rays
- Two cleanings
- Two fluoride treatments
- 15% off minor treatments
- 10% off major treatments
Signing up for a membership savings plan is an excellent option for anyone looking for an affordable alternative to dental insurance. But not all dental care providers offer a savings plan, so you may need to look into dental practices in your area to see if any offer them.
Schedule Your Dentist Visit Without Insurance Today
It’s important to maintain good oral hygiene, as issues like gum disease can lead to an increased risk for cardiovascular problems. One of the best ways to keep your teeth and gums healthy is through regular dental visits, often covered by most major insurance companies.
But what if your someone who doesn’t have dental insurance?
Are you unable to see a local dentist without insurance?
How much is a dentist appointment without insurance?
Dental care for adults without insurance does exist. Four of the top options available are:
- Paying for all your dental expenses out-of-pocket
- Scheduling an appointment with a local dental or dental hygienist school
- Visiting a public dental clinic in your area
- Signing up for a membership savings plan at a local dentist office
If you’re an adult without insurance living in Richmond, VA who’s searching for an “affordable dentist in my area,” look no further than Northside Dental Co.
At NDCo., we’re highly trained and professional dentists that accept no-insurance patients. Our desire is to make high-quality dental care accessible and affordable to everyone, whether you have insurance or not. Therefore, we are in-network with most insurances and offer a Members Saving Plan for those without insurance. This savings plan covers your routine care and also provides additional discounts for procedures like fillings and crowns.
Schedule your appointment online and take a step toward a healthier, brighter smile today.
