subject: Dental Costs and Small Budgets [print this page] Getting free dental care can be quite tricky. Free dental care simply does not exist in most states in America, however, there are many clinics that are government funded that provide dental care to low-income individuals. There is also the option of going to a dental school, but the schools are not free either, and a student, with the supervision of a doctor, in fact does most of the work done there. It sounds pretty outlandish, considering that healthcare has much better accessibility in this country but it is true. Even though dental problems can escalate to bigger problems, and in some cases even be deadly, there is just not as much emphasis put on free dental care for deserving individuals. For instance, there could be a mentally and physically disabled person, who is unable to have dental care due to the cost. He is unable to speak or understand others, and does not understand that he must sit still during procedures such as those done at a dentist's office.
In order for him to have dental care, he has to be sedated which is very expensive. He gets a small social security check, which is almost completely used for nursing care, food and medication, so there is definitely no money for expensive dental care. He does have medicare/medicaid, but most dental offices refuse to take it, and even if they do, it only pays 30%. If a problem does arise, he could be left in considerable pain, until his mother or another caretaker, demands that a dentist see him. Usually, a situation like this ends with the family being responsible for a bill that mounts up into the thousands. They have no way to pay it, and the bill winds up in collections, which can financially ruin the family. It is a sad story, but it happens quite often. Hopefully, there will be better access to low cost and free dental care for those who need it, in the near future.
Dental Costs and Small Budgets
By: Jenny Maloy
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