Low-income adults often have no savings to pay unexpected dental bills.
Finding help is complicated because many options lead nowhere. Popular search engines exacerbate the problem by making faulty suggestions.
Follow our guide to get cheap teeth, mouth, and gum treatment. Avoid unnecessary delays and find resources that reduce or remove oral care costs.
For convenience, we group opportunities by theme. These include free treatment, grant programs, financial help, and government loans.
We hope you find these resources helpful.
Free Dental Care
Medicaid is the primary way for low-income adults to get free dental care. You can fix decayed, missing, or crooked teeth even if you lack money because the cost is zero.
Dentists who take Medicaid cannot charge extra. They agree to accept the plan payment as full reimbursement, so the patient owes nothing further. However, benefits vary by state and treatment needed.
Implants
Around 18% of economically disadvantaged adults may get free dental implants through Medicaid. Most states do not support benefits for permanent tooth replacement.
Medicaid pays for dental implants in two large states.
- New York State pays for tooth implants after a recent court case (Ciaramella v. McDonald). NY makes up 6% of the US population.
- California might pay for tooth implants when patients submit a Treatment Authorization Request documenting medical necessity. CA comprises 12% of the US population.
People in the other forty-eight states are unlikely to get Medicaid support for implants, so they must use a cheaper method to replace missing teeth.
Dentures
Roughly 71% of adults with limited financial resources may qualify for zero-cost dentures through Medicaid. Thirty-four states support this more affordable tooth replacement option.
Dentures cost nothing with Medicaid if you choose the cheapest set. You might pay more for same-day or snap-in dentures.
Unfortunately, patients pay the total price for dentures in the sixteen states that do not support benefits through Medicaid.
Braces
Young adults under 21 frequently qualify for free metal braces through Medicaid, depending on their state’s age rules. Permanent second molars erupt by age 13, so any need for orthodontia should be evident by age 18.
Medicaid covers metal braces for adults aged 18 to 21 in forty-two states and up to age 20 in four more. After you turn 21, you need a medical reason for braces, like repositioning teeth after a broken jaw.
Do not expect benefits for costlier appliances such as Invisalign, gold, ceramic, or lingual braces.
Extractions
Young adults in financially challenged households often qualify for zero-cost wisdom tooth extraction through Medicaid. However, the reason third molars need removal transcends any age-related limitations.
- Medicaid covers bone-impacted wisdom teeth removal 100% of the time, regardless of age or residence state. Extractions of bone-impacted third molars are medically necessary, meaning the health insurance component of Medicaid determines benefits following a uniform nationwide standard.
- Medicaid covers gum-impacted wisdom teeth removal under the dental insurance component. Benefits vary by age and state standards for oral surgery.
- 4 states support up to the age of 20
- 42 states support up to age 21
- 21 states support adults over 21
Periodontal
Approximately 41% of adults with restricted income may be eligible for free periodontal treatment courtesy of Medicaid. A periodontist specializes in preventing, diagnosing, and treating gum diseases like gingivitis.
Periodontal treatment costs nothing in the twenty-two states where Medicaid covers necessary services like deep cleaning and gum flap surgery. Cosmetic procedures such as crown lengthening are self-paid.
Root Canal
Adults with low earnings in thirty-four states are eligible for zero-cost root canals through Medicaid. The treatment removes inflamed or infected pulp on the inside of the tooth.
You can afford a root canal when Medicaid covers the procedure and you use an endodontist participating with the Dental Benefits Manager (DBM) chosen by your state. Use the DBM “Find a Dentist” feature to locate a provider near your zip code.
If you live in one of the sixteen states without root canal benefits, you must find help elsewhere.
Dental Financial Assistance
Financial assistance can help low-income adults afford dental work when they lack the money to pay the dentist. You might find help lowering expenses from various sources. However, no single resource will eliminate all out-of-pocket costs.
Charitable Organizations
Charitable and nonprofit organizations help low-income families with dental costs. Most depend on donors and grants, so the demand for help often exceeds the supply.
Charities that help with dental costs fall into two categories: those that assist consumers directly and those that fund the organizations.
Dental offices provide services to the public in small geographic areas or during specific periods at fairs and other events.
- Dental Lifeline Network
- Smiles for Everyone
- Give Back a Smile
- Dentistry from the Heart
- Charitable Smiles
- Mission of Mercy
Grant-making organizations that raise money and distribute it to pro bono dentists serving patients directly.
- Patterson Foundation
- America’s Dentists Care Foundation
- American Academy of Pediatric Dentists
- DentaQuest Community Response Fund
Dental Schools
Dental schools help impoverished families who need treatment. Students perform the work under the supervision of trained faculty at on-campus clinics.
The American Student Dental Association publishes a state-by-state list of accredited programs. Use this trusted resource to find a nearby clinic and apply for help as instructed.
Most dental schools do not provide free treatment. Instead, they offer low-cost services on a sliding scale based on income and other qualifications.
Dental Grant Programs
Dental grants for low-income adults are a myth. Getting free money sounds great if you can’t pay the dentist, but it requires realistic expectations.
Private companies promote programs to help dentists get more patients, while government funding lowers other costs through benefits.
Government Grants
The federal government does not give grants directly to households in financial hardship for dental work or other reasons. The funding goes to states, nonprofits, and universities to benefit the public.
However, grant recipients offer benefits to low-income families. For example, you can save money for dental work by applying for government help with other household expenses.
- Childcare
- Rent
- Groceries
- Energy
- Water
- Internet
- Home repairs
Private Grants
Private organizations promote dental grants that seem like marketing schemes to attract patients for high-margin procedures. Although they can apply, these companies do not target patients of modest means.
The partial grants focus on cosmetic dentistry, which improves appearance rather than fixing decayed, broken, or cracked teeth. You must complete any root canals, extractions, or fillings before applying.
You may qualify for a partial grant once your mouth is healthy enough for implants, whitening, bonding, veneers, and other cosmetic procedures.
Government Dental Loans
The government does not provide dental loans to low-income patients lacking cash. However, a federal agency, the IRS, supports a program that makes restoring your decaying teeth more affordable.
An IRS-approved Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (HCFSA) is not a loan but works like one with better terms. Apply at work.
Application Process
Following this simple application process, you can make a government-endorsed HCFSA work like a loan.
- During the annual open enrollment at work, you can choose to contribute up to $3,300. The maximum amount increases slightly each year.
- Schedule your dental work early in the HCFSA plan year. Most employers have plan years beginning in January.
- You can pay the dentist with your HCFSA debit card up to your annual election amount, even if you haven’t contributed yet.
- Your employer must immediately reimburse all qualifying expenses, giving you up to fifty-two weeks to fund the account later.
No Credit Check
A government-sanctioned HCFSA is better than a dental loan because private lenders usually check your credit report. Applicants of limited means often have poor credit and face frequent denials.
No credit check dental financing does not guarantee acceptance, but an HCFSA does. Under IRS rules, your employer cannot check your credit and must accept all employees willing to participate.
Zero Interest
A government-recommended HCFSA is better than a dental loan because private lenders charge interest and fees, but employers cannot under IRS rules.
In addition to interest-free financing, an HCFSA saves money on taxes. Pretax payroll deductions reduce income subject to three possible taxes: federal, state, and FICA.
No Default
A government-backed HCFSA is better than a dental loan because private lenders might sue to garnish wages or place a lien on your property if you default on payment.
Defaulting on an HCFSA has zero consequences. Payroll deductions cease at employment termination. Under IRS rules, employers have no legal recourse to recoup any money previously reimbursed for qualifying expenses.
Whether you are fired, laid off, or quit, the entire $3,300 could be forgiven. You do not need to pay it back. Sounds like a hardship grant to me!
