Question: I am unsure, but I may have an abscessed tooth. I do not currently have dental insurance, and with the cost of dental care, I have been putting off going to the dentist because I do not have the money for treatment. I am having some pain issues now.  

Answer: Sadly, deferring dental care is never a good idea since, as you can see, it generally only leads to larger and, yes, more costly dental care treatment. Yet you still have some options left.  

1) you can buy a low-cost dental discount plan. They run around $10.00 a month. These plans will help reduce your dental care cost at plan providers. They also normally are effective the next business day, which is important since you should see a dentist right away before your infection spreads and causes not only oral health issues but overall health problems.

2) You can buy a lower-cost HMO insurance plan, like a discount plan. You will need to go to plan providers, but they normally will not have any plan waiting periods, which is what you will want. However, generally, they are not effective until the next month you buy them. Though they all have different cut-off dates, make sure you know before purchasing the effective date so you can make a dental appointment immediately.  

3) You can see about going to a dental school. If you have any local dental schools near you, this is a good way to get much lower-cost dental care. However, you may not be able to get in the right way, so that is something you will need to look into.

4) See if there are any dental clinics near you. Generally, dental clinics provide their dental treatment services at a lower cost. Sometimes, their prices are based on what you can afford to pay.

I hope you find the above options helpful in finding a solution to your dental care needs. It’s important to address dental issues promptly to prevent further complications. Take care, and I wish you all the best in finding a suitable and affordable dental care option.