If you are a senior considering dental implants, you may have to worry about issues other dental patients don't have to think about. For example, you may need more time to recover after receiving your implants. My name is Jodi, and I've been working with seniors for years. I decided to create this blog to help the seniors I can't meet in person. In this space, I'm going to post entries on everything related to dental implants and seniors. From tips on flossing implants after arthritis has claimed some of your dexterity, to guiding you through the implants-vs-dentures debate, this blog is designed for you. Thanks for reading. I hope you find what you need!
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Dental emergencies can be scary, but they are even scarier if you don't know how you are going to afford to pay for the appointment. If you have private dental insurance, that can help to offset the cost, but there are other ways to approach paying for emergency dental treatment.
1. See if you are eligible to visit a community dental clinic
There are community dental clinics throughout Australia that offer low-cost emergency and routine dental care to people in financial need. In most cases, in order to qualify, you need a pensioner concession card from Centrelink or the Department of Veteran's Affairs.
However, if you are on a restricted income, it is always worth calling the community clinic in your area and seeing if they can treat you. They may be willing to provide you with services charged on a sliding scale based on your income.
2. Check out veteran dental services
If you are a veteran, you can receive free or low-cost emergency and routine dental services through the Medicare Benefits Scheme. You don't have to go to a special clinic. Rather, you simply need to make sure that the dentist you select accepts treatment arrangements from the Department of Veteran's Affairs and is board certified.
3. Compare pricing options
If you are not a vet and don't qualify for services at a community clinic, take some time when setting up your emergency appointment to do some price comparisons. Take some over-the-counter painkillers and put an ice pack on your mouth to help you get through the calls, and call a few different dentists to see what they charge.
4. Try to set up a payment plan
While some dentists prefer payment upfront, others will let you pay for your emergency treatment in installments. You may have to pay a bit of interest, but in the long run if a payment plan helps you afford the treatment, the interest is well worth it.
On the other hand, if you have cash in a savings account, see if the dentist will offer you a discount for paying in cash upfront. It may deplete your savings, but at least, you ultimately save money on treatment costs.
5. Consider going to the hospital
Extreme dental emergencies can often be handled in the emergency department. For example, if you have knocked out teeth and have tissue damage in the surrounding gums, you may be able to be treated in the emergency department. In that case, you won't have to pay for the treatment out of your own pocket, but it will be covered by your health coverage.
Talk to clinics like Bath Street Dental Practice about your dental situation and ask them for their opinion on how to pay for it.
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