3 Ways To Afford Full-Mouth Dental Implants If You Don't Have Dental Insurance

Dentist Blog

When all of your teeth are missing, you have to deal with serious functional and cosmetic problems. Without teeth, you cannot chew food, and you may have difficulty getting all the nutrients you need. Your face may even start to look older because you no longer have teeth to prevent the skin around your mouth from sagging. If you have been struggling with these problems, full-mouth dental implants may be the solution. Implants function just like your original teeth, allowing you to eat a greater variety of foods and giving you more confidence in social situations. If you think full-mouth dental implants are right for you, here are three ways to afford them if you do not have dental insurance.

1. Medical Financing

Some lenders offer loans and credit cards specifically for medical and dental expenses. Although these financing options often come with high interest rates, many companies offer special promotional financing, which gives you a chance to pay off your balance before interest starts accruing. For example, Care Credit gives cardholders six months to pay off balances of $200 or more before charging any interest. Larger balances have longer promotional periods; for example, balances of $1,000 or more may qualify for a no-interest payment plan that lasts for 24, 36 or 48 months. If you do not qualify for an account with a company that specializes in medical financing, a personal loan from your bank or credit union is another option. One of the benefits of obtaining a personal loan instead of opening a credit card is that personal loans typically have lower interest rates. As of September 2018, interest rates on personal loans averaged just over 17%. If you have good credit, you may be able to secure a personal loan with a much lower rate, saving you money in the long run.

2. Dental Schools

To save money on your dental implants, consider having them done at a local dental school. These schools typically have on-site clinics to give upper-level students the opportunity to practice what they have learned in the classroom. Students are supervised by experienced dentists, but since they do not have a lot of experience performing dental services, it often costs less to have the work done at a dental school instead of an established practice. If you are comfortable allowing a student to do your dental work, this option can help you reduce the overall cost of your implants, making them more affordable.

3. Health Savings Account

If your employer offers a health savings account (HSA), take advantage of the benefit and use the money to pay for your dental implants. HSAs are a special type of savings account used specifically to plan for medical expenses. Under federal law, employees can have money taken out of their paychecks and deposited into a health savings account. The money in a health savings account can be used for dental implants, routine dental care, medical copays, medications, and other eligible expenses. As an added bonus, some employers with high-deductible health plans contribute to HSAs on behalf of their employees. If your employer contributes to your HSA, you can save up for your dental implants much faster. If this option appeals to you, talk to your human resources representative to find out if you can enroll immediately or if you need to wait until the next year.

Full-mouth dental implants are ideal for people who have lost all their teeth and would like to gain back their confidence. If you do not have dental insurance, you do not have to give up on the idea of implants. Ask your dental provider for an estimate, and then look into these options to determine which one is right for you.

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1 February 2019

Dealing With Dental Dilemmas: Soft Teeth and Dental Care

Being born with naturally soft teeth, I've spent a lot of time in and out of the dentist's office. Not only have I learned a lot about basic dental care, I've also discovered many tips for dealing with broken teeth, extractions, implants, and more. I decided that I wanted to make the most of my experience by sharing what I've learned with others. True first-hand experience is a great teacher, and I knew that my story could help. I created this site to do just that, and I hope that the information here helps you to understand what to expect from your dental problems.