Cosmetic dentistry can make a big dent in your wallet, so much so that coming up with enough cash to pay for the work you want to have done can almost seem impossible. Even if you have dental insurance, this doesn't guarantee you're going to be able to get cosmetic work done. Many cosmetic procedures, such as implants, veneers, bonding, dentures and orthodontic braces are not covered by many insurance companies. The following steps can help you find a way to pay for the dental work you need.
Review Your Dental Plan
Examine your policy and speak to your insurance provider to determine just what services your dental plan (assuming you have one) covers. That way you will know what you can anticipate having to pay out-of-pocket for a given procedure. Before going ahead with the procedure, your dental insurance company should provide you with a printed out treatment plan that makes clear both the steps involved in the procedure and a cost estimate for each step. For instance, your treatment plan might include cleanings, x-rays or other procedures that are not covered by your current dental plan. These are things you will have to pay for.
Ask Your Dentist about Finance
Ask your dentist if they provide an in-house financing option. If they do, make sure you clearly understand the terms and what you are agreeing to. For example, if you are not required to make a down payment, you are probably going to be paying a higher interest rate or a larger monthly payment than you would if you work directly through a finance company.
Contact a Healthcare Financing Company
There are a number of companies available that finance healthcare. Consider making an application (either online, in person or on the telephone). You can sometimes make these applications right in the dentist office as well. You will need to have ID and any requested forms available. Again, look closely at the terms of this credit application before signing it.
Consider Waiting and Saving
Another possible approach to financing needed cosmetic surgery is to simply save up the money you need. If your cosmetic issue isn't a major one that impacts your life in a significant way, you may be able to put this off until such time as you can gather the funds necessary for the procedure. On the other hand, if your dentist believes that your current cosmetic problem will only get worse if it is not addressed quickly, you should consider one of the above options. Talk with your dentist, like Dave Kujak, DMD, MS, today.
Share23 January 2015
My son was outside playing with some friends when he accidentally fell down and hit his mouth on the sidewalk. The fall knocked out his front tooth, so I immediately placed the tooth in a small jar and added some milk. I rushed my son to the dental clinic and the dentist immediately took us into the examination room. The dentist placed the tooth back into the socket and saved it. My name is Beverly Tillman and thanks to the quick work of the dentist, my son didn't lose his tooth. Since this was a scary time for me and my son, I wanted to write this blog as a source of information for other parents who are facing a dental emergency. First of all, don't panic and get to your dentist as soon as possible. I hope this blog will help to answer your questions about dental emergencies.