Discounted Dental Plan and
Free Dental Work Resources

Dental schools are the #1 source for finding a low cost, discounted dental plan and/or free dental work. In this setting, you are able to negotiate dental prices, get a easy payment plan, and even participate in free examinations and research projects if you qualify.

Whether you require basic or advanced dental care in a specialized clinic setting, you can receive quality dental care for little or no cost at a dental school.

Care is provided by a dental hygiene student who performs teeth cleaning procedures (prophys and scalings and root planning).

Care is provided by a second, third, or fourth-year dental student in a general dental clinic. In some schools, only third and fourth year students may perform procedures on patients in the general clinic.

Care is provided by a graduate dental student doing advanced specialty study in a specialized graduate clinic such as Endodontics, Periodontics, Implants, or Prosthodontics.

At most schools, patients also have the option of being treated by a faculty member in a faculty practice clinic. This option is never really discussed during your treatment planning consultation. In addition, there are really no opportunities for free dental work or a discounted dental plan in a faculty practice setting. The dental fees charged are slightly higher than the general clinics, yet lower than a private practice setting.

For the purposes of finding a discounted dental plan and/or free dental work, our focus will be on those students outlined in areas 1 and 2 above. If you are only seeking to find an affordable dentist, then all four areas of care should be considered.

Below are some ideas you should use to explore with the clinic manager or clinic facilitator for free and a discounted dental plan. This information should be discussed after you have been presented with a treatment plan. This is because the total amount involved may determine if you are eligible for a discount and/or payment plan. Detailed information for each source is explained below.

Speak to the clinic manager or clinic facilitator about a discounted dental plan. Try not to discuss fees with the dental student. They are expected to focus on your dental care, not dental fees (at least not until they begin their own private practice). The clinic manager or clinic facilitator usually handles all administrative matters. If there is no clinic manager or clinic facilitator available, find out who could authorize a discounted dental plan and speak with that individual.

Research Opportunities Research is at the heart of almost any health care organization – dental schools included. Faculty members, graduate students, and dental students are engaged in research work on diseases of the mouth and teeth, on improved methods of treatment, and on dental materials and equipment. Participants benefit in many ways – receiving monetary compensation, as well as great new products and services. The school benefits by having participants help them test products or procedures that may benefit all mankind. As a result of dental research, the quality of dentistry is constantly improving.

Patients can receive very expensive procedures at a significantly low cost or free by participating in dental research projects. This may include teeth whitening procedures, dental bonding procedures, dental implant procedures, dental crowns, a fixed bridge and even some cosmetic dentistry procedures such as inlays, onlays and veneers! See the latest dental school research projects here.

Most dental schools receive grants for a specific group (senior citizens), or procedure (implants). Speak with the clinic manager or clinic facility about referring you to the appropriate personnel for further information. I have personally awarded over $50,000 in grant monies to individuals for a variety of dental procedures, including crowns, dentures, root canals and fixed bridges.

All states require dentists to be licensed to practice. In most states, a candidate must graduate from a U. S. dental school accredited by the ADA Commission on Dental Accreditation and pass written and practical examinations to qualify for a license. A practical examination involves the use of qualified patients. Speak to both the dental student and the clinic manager or clinic facilitator about how you may participate. Practical examinations, sometimes referred to as National Board Examinations, may occur more than once per year at some dental schools.

Depending upon the type of dental exam you participate in, you can receive free dental work. It may consist of 1) a free cleaning being performed as part of the examination or 2) the cleaning being done prior to your having the procedure that is related to the exam performed. For instance, the national board exam may consist of the student doing a dental filling. As part of your involvement, you may be given a teeth cleaning before the dental filling is performed, as well as any monetary compensation if offered.

It is not unheard of for patients to get free custom fitted mouth guards, a root canal, or even a free dental crown for helping a dental student with a board examination!

Every dental school participates in community service activities. These activities almost always involve free oral examinations and screenings. Open to the general public, it may include an oral cancer screening and “free” coupon giveaways for dental procedures. Participants have been known to receive free x-rays and comprehensive examination coupons, free denture coupons, free sealants and/or free mouth guard coupons. Click here to find the nearest dental school in your area. Then speak with the clinic manager or clinic facilitator to find out about any upcoming dental events at that facility. You can also Check here to see the latest Dental School events for patients from around the nation.

Other Resources

NIDCR Clinical Trials

NIDCR sometimes seeks volunteers with specific dental, oral, and craniofacial conditions to participate in research studies, also known as clinical trials. Researchers may provide study participants with limited free or low-cost dental treatment for the particular condition they are studying. To find out if there are any NIDCR clinical trials that you might fit into, visit the NIDCR website and click on "NIDCR Studies Seeking Patients." For a complete list of all federally funded clinical trials, visit Clinical Trials. If you do not have access to the Internet, visit your local library or ask a friend or family member for assistance.


Bureau of Primary Health Care

The Bureau of Primary Health Care, a service of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), supports federally-funded community health centers across the country that provide free or reduced-cost health services, including dental care. To obtain a list of centers in your area, contact the HRSA Information Center toll-free at 1-888-ASK-HRSA (1-888-275-4772) or visit the HRSA website.


Medicare & Medicaid Services

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) administers three important federally-funded programs: Medicare, Medicaid, and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

Medicare is a health insurance program for people who are 65 years and older or for people with specific disabilities. Medicare does not cover most routine dental care or dentures. Visit their website for more information.

Medicaid is a state-run program that provides medical benefits, and in some cases dental benefits. Eligibility is for both individuals and families. Each State sets their own guidelines regarding eligibility and service coverage. Many states provide limited emergency dental services for people age 21 or over, while others offer comprehensive services. For most individuals under the age of 21, dental services are provided under Medicaid. Click here for more information.

The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) helps children up to age 19 who are without health insurance. SCHIP provides medical coverage and, in most cases, dental services to children who qualify. Dental services covered under this program vary from state to state. Visit Visit the website for more information.

CMS can provide detailed information about each of these programs and refer you to state programs where applicable. If you currently have Medicare, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Others may call 1-877-267-2323 or visit the CMS website. You can also write to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244


State and Local Resources

Your state or local health department may be able to direct you to programs in your area which offer free or reduced-cost dental care. Contact your state or local health department for more information about available financial assistance programs.


United Way

The United Way may be able to direct you to free or reduced-cost dental services in your community. Check your local United Way chapter.

Important Points to Remember

If you are being treated at a dental school, remember that your primary dental provider will be a dental student being trained by some of the most highly respected dental specialists in their field.

Because your provider is a student in training and class sizes can be as large as 600 students at the clinical training stage, there is a constant demand for patients. So—

• Ask about a discounted dental plan.




• Find out if you qualify to participate in a student’s board exam.




• Ask about ongoing or upcoming grants and research projects that involve major work (bridges, crowns, root canals, implants, etc.) for which you may qualify.




• Find out the schedule for community service activities such as free annual screenings.




• Look at additional ways to help you pay the costs of major dental work. Insurance plans, low cost dental plans, and low interest credit cards which allow you to pay for your dental work at a nominal monthly rate are just a few resources to consider. In terms of credit cards, the best type of card in this instance would fall under the 0% introductory, no annual fee, or a card which has low fees for cash advances. Many individuals, myself included, are using credit cards to pay for dental procedures. In many cases, it is like having your own payment plan to pay for procedures not normally covered through insurance. In addition, if you participate in a discounted dental plan program, the savings can be substantial, lowering your monthly credit card fee. Use the credit card search tool and get the right credit card for your needs.




• Learn how I am generating income, providing you with free information. I am using this additional income to not only pay for my own dental needs, but other bills as well. You can too!




• Make certain to read the Dental Patient Guide to understand your rights are as a dental patient in an education institution. Also learn what is expected of you as a dental patient.

From time to time, a private dental provider may add an incentive or grant a discounted dental plan to a patient – not too much of a discount, and not too often, but don’t let that stop you from asking. They are also looking to retain patients. Their goal is to have a successful dental practice. This is why many dentists participate in discounted dental plan networks.

Learn more about discounted dental plan networks and how joining a plan will allow you to save money on quality dental care - often upwards of 10% to 60%. Discounted dental plans offer savings on a wide range of dental procedures such as examinations, cleaning, x-rays, as well as:

• Fluoride Treatments
• Root Canals
• Orthodontic Braces
• Dentures
• Wisdom Tooth Extractions
• Gum Surgery
• Dental Implants
• Dental Fillings
• Dental Crowns
• Dental Bridges
• plus many other dental procedures.

Review some of these low cost dentals plan using the drop down menu below. Also check out the 1 minute video below, provided courtesy of Yahoo Video, showing how easy it is to review and enroll in a dental plan with DentalPlans.com.

For a few dollars per month, it is possible to enroll in a low cost dental plan that will provide routine dental services for less than half of listed dental fees. A discounted dental plan includes a high number of qualified and affordable dentists, instant online acceptance, no claim forms or annual maximums. The main advantage of this type of low cost dental plan is the savings over listed dental fees. For some dental procedures involving bridgework, root canals, or orthodontics, the savings can be substantial.

Quite simply, you will find it much easier to request (and receive) free dental work or a discounted dental plan from an educational institution than from a private dental provider. But don’t let that stop you from asking! Success for any dentist, general or specialist, private or educational setting, equals a viable pool of patients.

The only downside to having treatment done at an educational institution is that dental treatment takes longer than if you were being treated privately. There may be times when some stages of a dental procedure will need to be redone several times by a student before a faculty member gives it a seal of approval. If time is not a factor in your decision, using an affordable dentist at a dental school may be your best option for saving money on dental treatment.

If time is an issue, or the care you need is minimal at best, or if you simply prefer treatment from a private dentist, consider using a Dental Referral service designed to help you find an affordable dentist for your needs. Also, be certain to check out the article explaining the various types of dental coverages used to pay for dental treatment. This valuable resource will help those who need assistance locating affordable individual, group or family dental coverage plans. If you are also without health insurance and looking for an affordable plan, use one of the search tools listed below to find quality health. A new window will open and you will be well on your way to getting the largest selection of health plans from which you can choose. Compare plans & apply online to receive free instant quotes, the best prices, and if necessary, Live help!

Whether you choose to have your dental work performed at a dental school or by a private dentist, before you commit to any treatment, discuss the dental treatment plan at length with your dental health care provider. Find information on dental procedures (and cost averages), anatomy of the tooth anatomy, see procedures in video, and get the latest dental news and oral hygiene information.

All of this information is designed to assist you in your discussions with your dental provider regarding your treatment needs. Discuss each procedure with your dentist, its anticipated length of time, and any potential problems that could arise having the procedure performed. Having a discussion with your dentist creates a realistic timetable and outcome assessment related to your oral health care.

I encourage you to explore and apply the techniques outlined above to increase your chances of receiving a discounted dental plan or a dental procedure performed at very little or no cost.


BEING TREATED AT A DENTAL SCHOOL? Are you or have you ever received dental care from a student dentist? Want to share your experience with others? Write your own story and create a webpage for others to view.

Ready to find a dental school that may offer a low cost discounted dental plan? Okay – Click on the Dental Clinics button to begin or use the search tool below to locate a dental school clinic in your state.