If there’s one thing that you should do every year that you probably dread, what would that be? If you said “Going to the dentist’s office”, you are certainly not alone. Sometimes even just a series of X-rays and a good dental cleaning can be a bit uncomfortable, let alone if you need a cavity filled or something more serious. Then sometimes, when you end up getting your bill, it can be just that much more painful.
It doesn’t have to be, though. We’ve done a little bit of research and have uncovered five ways that you can save money on your dental expenses. Check these out below:
Be strategic with your scheduling. One thing that a lot of people don’t know is that there are actually “on and off times” for scheduling a dental appointment. For instance, often on Friday afternoons before 3pm, the dentist will consider providing a bit of a discount because they don’t tend to have quite as much “people traffic” in their offices. It’s not a guarantee that every dentist offers this kind of deal, so make sure to call ahead and ask if you can get a discount for coming at a time when business tends to be a bit slower.
Remember that there are other discounts. Just because it may not always be advertised, dentist offices do tend to offer several kinds of discounts. If you are a new client, some offices offer certain promotional services absolutely free. If you are a student or senior, this is another way to get a percentage deducted from your bill. Also, if your entire family goes to the same dentist, you can often get procedures for 10-15 percent less. Just ask.
Sign up for a dental discount plan. If you have dental insurance, that’s great. If you don’t, you might want to consider signing up for what is known as a dental discount plan. For an annual membership of between $50-100 (on average), you can join a network of dentists who will provide you with dental care at an already agreed upon (through the discount plan’s organization) list of discounts. This can really be helpful if you need something like a root canal or even some Invisalign braces. Some of the dental discount plans that you might want to check out include Dental Plans or Choice Plus Dental Plans.
Get on a “payment plan”. Sometimes the cost of dental work can easily run into the thousands. Most dentist offices are quite compassionate about this fact and are willing to work with you to set up a payment plan that you can afford. It’s smart to ask about this before undergoing any major procedure, but more times than not, something can be worked out.
Take good care of your teeth. You know what they say: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and sometimes, it can also save you a lot of money. A big part of the reason why dentists are so encouraging of eating right, brushing and flossing your teeth three times a day and having annual cleanings is so that you can prevent any major dental problems from occurring. Look at it this way: a good toothbrush and toothpaste can run you under $10. That’s a lot better than what it would cost to fix a cavity at the dentist.
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