Save money on dental care with our advanced tips.
The main reason people avoid the dentist isn’t fear, it is money. So it does not come as a surprise that scams to fleece patients abound. There are ethical and honest dental clinics there to help, yet some are not. It is buyer beware, ask friends who they go to, and look on local review sites. If a dental clinic tries to pressure you into something you didn’t expect or don’t know if you want, seek a second opinion elsewhere.
Dental Scams
Lying about being in-network
This scam is harder to pull off now that most people have access to their health care benefits information online and can pull it up on their phone. Do not take the word of a dental clinic that you are in network. Look at your dental benefits. Insurance programs will have a provider look-up tool, to confirm your new dentist is in-network before booking any services. We have seen this scam conducted where people were told the clinic was in network and also told specific services were “pre-approved” with insurance in order to convince people to agree to services. If you are a new patient, ask for some sort of proof insurance actually did pre-approve the service. If possible schedule the service for a later date, then contact your insurance to make sure the procedure really was pre-approved. If you agree to services and find out later they were not actually covered by your insurance you may still be legally liable for a big bill.
Your young kid needs a ton of dental work
Kids can have cavities or need tooth extractions just like adults. In many cases fillings or other dental work is not necessary and can even cause severe trauma. Baby teeth frequently do not benefit from fillings, crowns, or extractions. This overuse of dental procedures on children took a horrible turn in one community where children on Medicaid were given completely unnecessary crowns, fillings, and extractions. Some of these procedures had horrific outcomes. It isn’t just low-income kids who are at risk, families with the ability to easily pay out of pocket are equally at risk. All it takes is convincing a parent the procedure is necessary and a means to pay the bill.
The house is on fire levels of urgency
There are rare situations where a dental problem is extremely urgent, infections and abscesses can be life-threatening. Dishonest dentists will use a kind of vague urgency to pressure people into expensive procedures they don’t really need. This is a common high-pressure sales tactic in other industries, to pressure the customer into making a decision without time to think. If a dentist or their staff tells you something is urgent but can’t explain why, this might be a red flag.
You suddenly need thousands of dollars in treatment
People who have neglected their teeth may need extensive dental work. Telling patients they need lots of very expensive dental work out of the blue, usually to new patients, is a red flag.
Withholding needed treatment in lieu of expensive non-urgent services
Some dishonest dentists will withhold needed dental services like fillings or the repair of a broken tooth, insisting the patient needs other optional yet expensive services done first. A common one is to tell a patient they need hundreds or thousands of dollars in root planing or deep cleanings before any work would be done on a damaged tooth. Even in situations where the tooth problem is severe, some dentists have insisted on months worth of these cleanings first. If they can’t clearly explain why this other service is tied to the urgent repair in detail, go elsewhere.
Everyone gets a root planing
While this procedure does have medical validity and has been a common treatment for decades, it is a frequent component of dental scams because it is so easy to fake a need. Dishonest dental practices will tell most of their patients they need root planing costing thousands of dollars. Vice explains what kind of measurements and tools are used to diagnose root pocket issues. If the clinic isn’t showing you the proof or you feel it is being used to empty your wallet, seek a second opinion.
You suddenly and urgently need dentures
This is sadly a common scam. A patient with no actual issue is told they need dentures, and perfectly healthy teeth are pulled. Frequently, the dentures sold do not fit properly. If a dentist says you need dentures out of the blue, seek a second opinion. Typically things like shifting and loose teeth are a sign you may need dentures.
Aspen Dental
These extremely questionable and sometimes outright dangerous tactics may apply to other dental clinic chains. Aspen’s business model is so egregious, it has been the subject of investigative journalism. There have also been various lawsuits against the company. The story usually goes like this; The victim goes in for a free or low-cost initial visit, or goes in for a problem like a broken tooth. They are informed by someone at the clinic (dentist, hygienist, or office manager) that they need a series of extremely expensive procedures, sometimes costing over $10,000. The victim is offered an “interest-free” financing plan by way of a high-interest credit card in an effort to compel them to agree to the treatment plan. Strong-arm sales tactics, manipulation and in some cases outright bullying are used to try to convince people to agree to these treatments. People have described being halfway through these treatment plans when the clinic announces they need to pay thousands more to complete the treatment plan. Some of the worst of these scams involved pulling people’s teeth for dentures then telling them they must pay thousands more before the remaining teeth are pulled or dentures would be completed. In at least one case, the victim had perfectly healthy teeth that an Aspen Dental clinic pulled out in order to sell her dentures.
Another common tactic is to tell a victim they need to complete optional dental services like thousands of dollars worth of root planing before an urgent problem would be addressed. Holding the needed service hostage.
The “interest-free” credit cards used to finance these expensive treatment plans have a 29% interest rate that kicks in when circumstances like a missed payment happen. The average rate for a credit card interest rate is about 14% – 15%. Some of these big chain clinics are more debt-creation mills than dental clinics.
To find out more details about these dental scams run by chain clinics check out this site, this site, or read Yelp or Google reviews of these chains.
Independent Dentists
Independent dentists can be a better bet than a profit-driven chain. This also still varies. There are financial incentives for all dentists to overprescribe treatments to maximize their profits, or keep a clinic in the black. Some take this path, others do not. Warning signs that a dental practice may be fleecing their patients can help you avoid falling victim.
Lots of advertising. If there are large volumes of over-the-top advertising for a clinic, this may be a sign that they are working on volume or that large profits are their priority. A new clinic trying to attract a client base would be an exception to this rule.
That fancy clinic won’t pay for itself. If that new dental clinic looks like a huge high-end spa, you will be paying for it, possibly in unnecessary treatments.
They don’t want to explain anything. If they can’t explain why you need something, why you are being billed what you are, it might be time to go elsewhere.
Dental Schools
Dental schools are an option to lower costs and access levels of care you may not find at a local dental clinic. Dental schools charge considerably less than private dental practices. A Washington Post report featured a woman who was quoted $3000 for the tooth portion of a dental implant. A nearby dental school did the work for $1416. Students perform the work under the supervision of the dentists running the program. While it may take longer to complete the work, both the student and instructor are reviewing the treatment.
One patient we spoke to had a salivary tumor discovered by a student at a dental school. A chain clinic dentist completely missed this weeks before. Luckily the tumor was benign, but this finding could have saved the person’s life. Dental schools train multiple dental specialties and some universities have extensive dental research programs. This can put you in touch with experts in various aspects of dentistry that a small practitioner may not have training in. Most dental schools accept insurance. At a minimum you should be able to submit your itemized receipts to your insurance for reimbursement. Some schools will process your insurance so you only have to pay your portion of the cost. Most dental schools have an emergency clinic for serious problems that can’t wait until a regular appointment.
Since a dental school isn’t focused on maximizing profits, you are less likely to be coerced into treatments or services you don’t really need. Find a dental school here.
Dentists In Mexico
If you live near Mexico or have other reasons to travel there, using a dentist in Mexico could save a significant amount of money, as much as 70%. One city in Mexico is particularly focused on dental care. Los Algodones has about 600 dentists. The Baha border town sees a brisk business in providing low-cost dental care to Americans and Canadians. The city has managed to avoid some of the safety issues that have plagued other border towns, making it relatively safe for tourists. Buzzfeed went in depth to see what seeking dental care in Los Algodones was like. As with dental care in the US, they suggested looking for referrals from others who have had care done in Los Algodones. This dental tourism company provides more detail about how to plan a trip. Some US dental insurance can be used at dentists in Mexico.
DIY Temporary Fixes
While some people in the UK have taken to extremes in DIY dental care, there are some types of DIY fixes that may buy some time or repair minor problems.
Temporary patches for cracked teeth, fillings or crowns that have come loose can buy you some time to later have it properly repaired by a dentist. Over-the-counter temporary crowns can be used to cover the remaining tooth temporarily. Kits to fill in small chips are more complex but may have better results on chips that are more cosmetic or annoying. Denture repair kits are available if you need something immediately, or can’t access a clinic able to do a repair. Replacement teeth for dentures are also available. Silicone re-line kits are available over the counter to adjust the fit or cushion on dentures. If the problem is causing pain, there are various dental pain relief products to ease the pain until you can have a proper repair.
Lower Cost Dental Guards
A custom-made mouth guard to prevent tooth damage from teeth grinding while you sleep can cost upwards of $300 from a dentist. You can buy directly from a dental lab via eBay for $50-$100 for the same custom-fit mouth guard. If you don’t need a custom fit guard, there are a number of over-the-counter mouth guards. Brand name ones from most chain pharmacies can run $15-$50 and may not last very long. There are some lesser-known and off-brands that perform just as well for a fraction of the price. A pack of 4 off-branded mold at-home dental guards can be found for the price of just one brand-name guard. If you don’t need a molded guard, Plackers grind no more guards can be had for about a dollar a piece. These guards last a week or months, depending on how bad your grinding habit is.
Save On Orthodontics
Some companies are hacking the high cost of orthodontics. If you need minor teeth realignment, these consumer-direct options can save a significant amount. Candid offers an Invisalign-style set of plastic dental aligners for $1900, with a monthly payment option. Invisalign prices out at around $5500. Byte is a similar consumer direct option that prices at about $1895 and has a pay-as-you-go option. Smile Direct is consumer direct and priced the same as Byte. Byte and Smile Direct mention you may be able to get reimbursement from your dental insurance or use an FSA or HSA health savings account to pay. Invisalign owns a small stake in Smile Direct. As with any disruptive technology, orthodontists are complaining about the new competition. They cited some problems with fit or adjustments during the treatment program in some people. The online options have dentists who create the adjustment routine, but they can be hard to contact directly if there is a question or a problem. These clear retainer programs are most suitable for people who don’t need significant adjustments or need teeth removed to do the corrections. The three programs mentioned, screen customers for suitability in the programs to weed out those who need more extensive orthodontics.
Prevention
Preventing dental problems can be the best way to save money and pain. This toothpaste has an avid following and claims to remineralize teeth, improve enamel and repair small cracks or crazing on teeth.
Tooth powders may be a better option than some commercial toothpastes. According to the JADA tooth powders or pastes made with baking soda may provide more plaque removal and antibacterial properties. They also have the added benefit of some tooth whitening and preventing gingivitis. Baking soda or baking soda mixed with sea salt and small amounts of essential oil for flavoring can be made at home and skip all of the chemicals and additives in commercial toothpaste. The banned ingredient triclosan may still be used in some commercial toothpastes. Colgate quietly removed it from their best-selling toothpaste earlier in 2019. If you used a triclosan-containing toothpaste, it is suggested you buy a new toothbrush as the chemical appears to build up in toothbrushes. Some commercial toothpastes contain microplastics, if you use a commercial toothpaste make sure it does not contain these substances.
A number of books claim that diet & lifestyle changes can prevent or reverse some dental problems. This book focuses on diet related to dental problems with teeth, this one on preventing gingivitis.
Some people swear by using a metal dental scaler at home for areas that seem to build up hard plaque even with regular brushing and flossing. This home ultrasonic cleaner may be a less aggressive option for problem places. Home tooth polishers are an option to clean or smooth polish those areas that build up despite brushing.
Your Health Insurance Might Cover It
Some health insurance contains basic dental coverage but doesn’t clearly feature it in the materials given out. Read your policy and spend some time digging through the website for your health plan. Certain dental issues may be covered by health insurance itself. Infections or inflammation in the mouth, accident-related damage, oral-related tumors, sleep apnea dental devices, dental appliances related to TMJ, headaches or bruxism, dental implants, wisdom teeth extraction, and jaw-related botox injections.