Dental care can be hard to budget for, especially when a routine checkup suddenly turns into a filling, crown, or another treatment. The problem is that putting off care because of the price can sometimes make the bill harder to manage later. The CDC reports that tooth disorders led to an average of about 1.9 million emergency department visits each year from 2020 to 2022. Emergency care can also be far more costly than dealing with dental problems through regular care.
That does not mean you have to accept every dental bill without question. There are practical ways to make dental care easier to manage while still dealing with problems when they need attention. Here are five ways to reduce dental costs without putting off important care.
1. Use an FSA or HSA When Available
If you receive health benefits through your employer, check whether you have access to a flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA). You may already have a way to set aside money for qualified medical and dental expenses.
The IRS states that dental services can qualify as medical expenses for purposes of an HSA, FSA, or similar arrangement when they meet the applicable requirements. This can be helpful because the money in these accounts may receive tax advantages. Instead of paying a dental bill entirely from your regular bank account, you may be able to use funds that were set aside specifically for qualified health expenses.
Check the rules of your particular account before using it, especially if you are unsure whether a treatment qualifies. A little planning here can make a large dental bill easier to absorb.
2. Check Whether You Qualify for a Dental Savings Plan
Dental insurance is not the only way to reduce what you pay for treatment. If you do not have insurance, dental savings plans can offer another option. These plans work differently from insurance. Members pay a membership fee and can receive reduced fees from participating dentists. This can be useful for people who need regular dental care but do not want to take on the cost or restrictions of traditional insurance.
Information from DentalPlans.com says its plans start at $7 per month when billed annually, while members report average savings of 50% on dental care. Savings vary by plan, dentist, location, and procedure, so the actual amount will depend on your situation.
One useful feature is that savings plans can be used for many types of dental care rather than only certain preventive services. That can make them worth looking at when you already know you need treatment.
3. Look for Dental Schools and Community Clinics
A private dental office is not the only place where you may be able to receive care. Dental schools, community clinics, and other local programs may offer lower-cost services to eligible patients. Dental schools can be especially worth investigating. Students provide treatment under the supervision of licensed dental professionals, and some dental school clinics offer services at reduced rates. The availability and type of treatment can vary by school, so you may need to join a waiting list or meet certain requirements.
Community clinics can also be useful for people who have limited access to affordable dental care. The American Dental Association has highlighted community and safety-net dental programs that help people who struggle to afford treatment.
These options may take more time to arrange than a normal appointment, but they can be worth exploring when cost is the main barrier.
4. Check Your Dental Benefits Before They Expire
If you already have dental insurance or another employer-provided dental benefit, make sure you know what you are entitled to use. People sometimes pay for coverage throughout the year without taking full advantage of the services available to them.
Check whether your plan covers routine exams, cleanings, X-rays, or other services at little or no additional cost. You should also look at deductibles, annual limits, waiting periods, and which dentists are part of the network.
Timing can matter, too. Some plans have annual maximums or benefits that reset at the end of a plan year. If you have recommended treatment that you have been putting off, knowing how your benefits work could help you decide when to schedule it. The goal is not to have treatment simply because a benefit is available. It is to avoid paying out of pocket for care that your existing coverage may already help pay for.
5. Ask About Payment Options Before You Delay Treatment
Sometimes the biggest problem is not the total cost but having to pay the entire amount at once. If a necessary procedure is outside your current budget, ask the dental office whether it offers payment plans or financing options.
Some dental practices have arrangements that allow patients to spread treatment costs over time. The American Dental Association notes that financing options can help patients who might otherwise postpone treatment because of cost.
Before agreeing to any financing arrangement, make sure you understand the interest rate, fees, payment schedule, and total amount you will repay. A payment plan should make treatment easier to manage, not create a new financial problem.
Wrapping Up
Dental care does not have to be an all-or-nothing choice between paying a large bill and ignoring a problem. Savings plans, tax-advantaged accounts, lower-cost clinics, existing benefits, and payment options can all give you more ways to manage the expense.
The best option will depend on your situation and the type of treatment you need. What matters is knowing that there may be ways to make necessary dental care more affordable before deciding to put it off.
