re: Dental costs without insurance

paying out of pocket is practically always cheaper than buying dental coverage yourself ..


people do not buy dental insurance for life's catastrophes..they buy it because they want to use it.
which for-profit business(that plans to stick around) has ever giving you something for nothing?


just run the numbers..
if you pay for dental coverage yourself...how much do you actually expect to come out ahead?

if your mouth is healthy... just look for discount plans offered by the more 'organized' dental practices..
they usually write off exams&radiographs...and offer a discount on needed treatment.

some practices.. treat "cleaning/examss" as loss leaders.
happy pts with the great dental hygiene are highly desired..bc those pts refer (a lot). is beneficial for doctor to have lots of those pts in the practice.

if you need extensive work.. simply avoid the chains and and go to a practice owned by the doctor working on you.
they can (and will) work with you..
ask if there is a discount for prepaying cash. (prepaying saves the doctor from having to collect(~5%) later..and cash saves finance charges(3-10%))


btw, there is no such thing as dental "insurance"....it is a benefit of your job.
those maximums have not changed much since the 60s.. (we've had a bit of inflation since then)