How Can I Fix My Teeth with No Money?
How can I fix my teeth with no money? It’s a question we get asked a lot as dentists.
The truth is, the services you need effects the over cost of fixing your teeth. For example, a dental crown is more affordable than veneers, and your tooth extraction cost depends on whether you have a simple or surgical procedure.
Even your teeth cleaning costs vary. What it all comes down to is your daily oral hygiene routine. The more vigilant you are at home at preventing tooth decay, the less expensive your dental procedures will be.
Here’s the complete guide for how much each dental service costs and ways you can pay for it without breaking the bank.
How Much Does a Dental Appointment Cost?
We’ve written nearly 10 guides about the costs of dental services on this website.
So we figure it’s about time we put all that information in one place!
The next time you find yourself saying, “I need my teeth fixed but have no money!” hopefully, you can remember to come back to this guide to find a solution.
But first, let’s go over how much each dental service — on average – might cost you.
1. Teeth Cleaning
If you need your teeth fixed, you will 100% need teeth cleaning first. If you have insurance, your bi-annual teeth cleaning should be free. You should also be able to get two free 3D dental x-rays through your insurance every year.
Depending on your personal dental insurance plan, you can expect to pay $0-$40 for a routine tooth cleaning. Without insurance, a teeth cleaning is around $120-$150.
On the other hand, a deep cleaning can cost anywhere between $150 and $350.
Our Guides On Teeth Cleaning:
- HOW MUCH DOES A TEETH CLEANING COST?
- HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU GET X-RAYS AT THE DENTIST AND WHAT IS THE COST?
2. Teeth Fillings
There are five types of materials that dentists use for teeth fillings:
- Amalgam
- Composite resin
- Ceramic
- Glass ionomer
- Gold
The type of material used combined with whether or not you need additional services like root canal determines your overall cost.
On average, you can expect the total cost of a dental filling to be $157-$344 per filling, according to Aspen Dental.
Our Guide On Teeth Filings:
3. Root Canal
We always pair a root canal treatment with other services, including teeth cleaning, dental x-rays, and tooth extractions. Each of these services has its own set of prices which is why it’s ideal to have dental coverage, so you aren’t paying for each service out of pocket.
A root canal with insurance can cost $200-$500. Without insurance, this procedure can cost a minimum of $1,000.
Our Guide On Root Canals:
4. Teeth Whitening
While plenty of DIY teeth whitening products are available (see below), professional teeth whitening is actually more affordable than more people realize.
You can expect a complete whitening procedure to cost about $500. This covers whitening all of your teeth and only takes about 45 minutes.
Learn more about teeth bleaching versus laser whitening versus Zoom whitening and their price differences in the guides below.
Our Guides On Teeth Whitening:
- TEETH WHITENING IN LOS ANGELES
- 8 OF THE BEST AT-HOME TEETH WHITENING PRODUCTS (ADA-APPROVED)!
- TEETH BLEACHING BY DENTIST VS. AT-HOME TEETH WHITENING PRODUCTS
- THE ZOOM TEETH WHITENING EXPERIENCE: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
5. Invisalign
How can I fix my teeth with no money and afford something like Invisalign?
We probably get more inquiries for this than anything else. The reason is that adults and teens alike are searching for an alternative to braces. Who wants medal brackets in their mouth in 2022, right?
The national average for Invisalign is $3,000–$5,000, which is about $1,000 cheaper than braces!
Our Guides On Invisalign:
- INVISALIGN IN LOS ANGELES: DO YOU REALLY NEED IT?
- INVISALIGN VS. BRACES: OPTIONS, DIFFERENCES, AND SIMILARITIES
- THESE 8 CELEBRITIES WEARING INVISALIGN PROVE IT’S WORTH IT!
6. Composite Bonding
Bonding is the application of a tooth-colored composite resin directly to the tooth to make it appear straighter or whiter.
This is an option for people who have chipped or cracked teeth. Your dentist will match the resin to the color of your natural teeth. However, we find that most patients want to have a teeth whitening procedure first and then match the composite bonding to their new (and improved) tooth color.
This can drive up the price of composite bonding anywhere between $100 and $600.
Our Guide On Composite Bonding:
7. Veneers
Veneers are considered a cosmetic dental service. This means your insurance probably won’t cover them (barring a medical necessity).
Just like with fillings, the type of material used to make your veneers determines how much they cost.
On average, you can expect veneers to be $250-$1,000 per tooth.
Our Guide On Veneers:
8. Dental Crown
A dental crown or cap covers a damaged tooth. When so much of a tooth is missing that traditional fillings cannot repair the damage, your dentist might recommend a crown.
Below, you’ll find the different types of crowns and their alternative prices. You’ll see that the price of a single crown ranges from $300 to #3,000 per tooth.
Our Guide On Crowns:
9. Dental Implant
Dental implants can last up to twenty years, which is why they’re much more sought after today than dentures (or partials).
This process initially requires 3D scans, occasionally tooth pulling and bone grafting, followed by implant placement, abutment, and crown. The entire process can take 3-18 months of your time.
And while these can almost certainly last a lifetime, dental implants can cost $3,000 per tooth.
Our Guides On Dental Implants:
10. Tooth Extraction
Tooth extractions might be the most common dental procedure. Adults ages 20 to 64 have an average of 24.92 remaining teeth out of 32.
This is generally covered under health insurance, especially since simple tooth extractions are needed to prevent disease or treat mouth trauma.
Remember that wisdom tooth removal costs differ from these standard single tooth extractions.
For example, a single tooth extraction might cost $75, but an impacted tooth that needs surgical removal can cost up to $650.
Our Guides On Tooth Extraction:
- WISDOM TEETH REMOVAL COST: BREAKING DOWN THE BASICS
- HERE’S WHAT TO EAT AFTER WISDOM TEETH REMOVAL
- HOW MUCH DOES TOOTH EXTRACTION COST AND DO YOU NEED IT?
How Can I Fix My Teeth with No Money?
Keep in mind that every single price we have listed above will always be dependent on these 5 things:
- Where you live
- Your dentist’s experience (for example, oral surgeons can charge more than a general dentist)
- Your insurance (or lack thereof)
- Whether your procedure requires anesthesia
- Your oral hygiene routine
We want to ensure our readers know that these prices are not one-size-fits-all. Only use these as a general guideline for price expectations.
So now you’re asking, how can I fix my teeth with no money?
It might seem impossible, but take a look at these 3 options:
Option #1: Insurance
If you think you have pretty healthy teeth, insurance that covers your bi-annual scans and teeth cleaning should be more than enough.
If you want cosmetic procedures like teeth whitening or Invisalign, your insurance likely will not cover it unless medically necessary. Talk to your dentist about your options.
On the other hand, if you think you’ll need multiple teeth services down the road, get a dental insurance plan that you can afford every month. Not only will this save you money over the years, but staying with the same plan and dentist usually has its perks!
Option #2: Local Departments
You check with your local health departments for low-cost (sometimes free) dental services.
Dental schools also offer decreased prices. You can find a list of accredited dental schools at the website of the American Dental Association.
Option #3: CareCredit and Payment Plans
Understandably, some people still can’t afford dental insurance copays or deductibles. While some plans can offer a deductible of less than $500, it all depends on your career and where you live.
In instances where you don’t have insurance or can’t afford your deductible, we recommend Care Credit. CareCredit provides no-interest financing options for 6-24 months on charges over $200
Your local dentist may even offer in-house payment plans if you’re paying out-of-pocket! You can find more information here.
What If I Don’t Have Insurance?
Did you know that your teeth affect your overall health? Researchers have found that oral complications such as periodontal (gum) disease is linked to pre-diabetes, premature fetus deliveries, and other chronic diseases.
And according to the ADA, “Some evidence suggests that oral bacteria may be linked to heart disease, arterial blockages and stroke. “
As you can see, postponing dental services because you don’t have money can result in you paying even more for dental and medical services in the years to come.
If you don’t have insurance to cover any of these services, here are some steps you can take:
- Step 1: Visit your local dentist to find out every procedure you may need over the next year.
- Step 2: Call local dentists and ask if they accept CareCredit or offer payment plans. Ask what their standard rates are for the procedures you need.
- Step 3: Compare local dentist rates
- Step 4: Choose your favorite dentist with the best payment options and set up a schedule to have your teeth fixed (even without money upfront!).
Here’s how much it costs to go to the dentist without insurance.
How can I fix my teeth with no money? Ask Dr. Lasry of Los Angeles in your FREE first-time patient consultation.
To tell the truth, it is so cool that you covered this topic because, without any doubts, a lot of people face such problems when it is extremely necessary to get dental service, but you are short of money and you can’t find a way out. Of course, first of all you need to be sure of the type of service that you need to gain because the price directly depends on it and it is so wonderful that you enlightened people about this in detail, eliminating the risk of being misled. I can say that before this moment I hadn’t even suspected that I can use all these opportunities to fix my teeth without enough money. From my point of view, you described really convenient and optimal ways to implement this. It is so cool that the situation will not be hopeless in any way and you simply need to manifest the flexibility of thinking. For me, CareCredit is the best decision and salvation for any person because it has truly great credit conditions.
Care credit is good until you have an unforseen situation arise and cannot pay before the “no interest” part runs out and 300 turns into 1300 and you get sued because you lost job and housing and cannot pay it…
Thank you for explaining such an awkward topic.
I have had problematic teeth since childhood, I think it’s my hereditary problem. And now I go to the dental clinic every six months for preventive care. Dental checkups are not expensive, but veneers and bracket systems are more expensive and not everyone can pay in a lump sum. I used to take a payday loan, but now I am learning more about CareCredit. The terms of such a loan are really convenient and such a money loan can be used in emergency cases
I completely understand your concerns. Dental care, especially for more complex procedures, can indeed be costly. CareCredit is indeed a great option for many, offering tailored financing for healthcare needs. Direct Dental Group in London also offers 0% finance plans that may be beneficial for you. They aim to make dental care affordable and accessible for all patients. It’s always essential to explore different options and choose what fits your situation best. Regular dental checkups are a great preventive measure. Keep it up!
My daughter was diagnosed with breadt cancer in 2018, at the age of 40. Because of cancer treatments ALL of her teeth are decaying and breaking off at gum level. She is on Medicaid and they will not cover any of her treatments. We went for a consultation at Dental Center and they quoted us 59,000 to do a full mouth restoration. This is the least amount we have been told, if you can believe it! WHO HAS THIS LIND OF MONEY? She can only work part time at 10 dollars an hour. The infection is horrible! Sometimes the entire side of her face swelling up. I’ve seen her pull these teeth with tweezers. Believe me, it’s a lot worse than I’m saying. She hasn’t eaten meat in 2 yrs. She is a beautiful woman but doesn’t socialize at all. She works in distribution so she doesn’t work with anyone either. She’s single, so doesn’t date at all. She has two children. If they didn’t live with me, they would be homeless. We can take care of illegal immigrants, but not our own citizens. You tell me
Pat, I am so very sorry to hear this about your daughter! & to think, that I thought my situation was bad. I as well have bad teeth, broken teeth etc. But, as I read about your daughter, well, mine doesn’t seem as bad. I am a woman of God, & I will be praying for your daughter’s teeth, as I pray for mine! God knows! 🙏
I really need help my teeth are breaking aprt an hurting bad
Hard when accident in your life stops you from getting some help.im believing in miracles to help me get my teeth at least out.
Oh! It’s a pity! I had a similar problem with my teeth few weeks ago. I had a caries and severe toothache. Thanks guys that borrowed me some money. All in all, I’m so happy that it all left in the past.
very good advice! Why didn’t I find them earlier. I spent a lot of money last time. The guys from https://samedayloanstl.com/ helped me out and gave me money in debt
Dentists are crooks just as attorneys are CRIMInALS…dentistry is like snake oil. You have to do like the dentist says so they can make thier money…notice root canals are automatic 1,000.00….A true criminal way from dentists to rip customers OFF
Please let me know when and where I need to go to get teeth fix. I live in Shelby North Carolina please let me know what I need to do. All of my teeth need to be removed. My phone number is 17046005798
Nice guide that everyone can refer through for their dental care needs.
My teeth are chirping away I need help
I need badly
Please help me
Wow, some good advice, but my son who is 51 has no income at all and his am better(Medicaid) does not cover any dental. He has a mouth full of broken teeth and constant absesses. He has only four teeth that aren’t broken. He can’t eat and has several health issues in past year. He needs all teeth removed but has no way to pay. Since he isn’t employed, he has no credit. I can’t help him as I barely make it on my social security. I don’t know where to turn.
Wow. This is sad
USA we need help. What can we do to get teeth fixed?