A little shopping/homework can help save you some money on your dental care needs. You should never assume the asking price for a particular service is the final amount your dental provider will accept.

First: Do some shopping, check to find the average cost of the procedure you need in your area. Call a few local providers to find out your average cost in your area. You can also visit Fairhealthconsumer.org and by entering your zip code and the dental procedure it will provide you with the UCR in your area for that service.

Second: Once you know what the going rate is, ask your dentist to accept the rate you find (if his/hers is higher) or negotiate for an even lower price. In addition many dental offices will provide a cash discount if you are paying in full for your dental care at the time the service is render.