Question: I am unsure, but I may have an abscessed tooth. I do not currently have dental insurance, and with the cost of dental care, I have been putting off going to the dentist because I do not have the money for treatment. I don’t know what to do, but I have some pain issues now.  

Answer: Sadly, deferring dental care is never a good idea since, as you can see, it generally only leads to more extensive and, yes, more costly dental care treatment. Yet you still have some options left to you.  

1) you can buy a low-cost dental discount plan. Discount plans run around $10.00 a month. These plans will help reduce your dental care cost at plan providers. They also usually are effective the next business day, which is essential since you should see a dentist right away before your infection starts to spread and cause not only oral health issues but overall health problems. 

2) You can buy a lower-cost HMO insurance plan, like a discount plan. You will need to go to plan providers, but they usually will not have any plan waiting periods, which is what you will want. However, generally, HMOs become effective on the 1st of the following month. Though they all have different cut-off dates, make sure you know before buying the effective date so you can make a dental appointment immediately.  

3) You can see about going to a dental school. If you have any local dental schools near you, this is an excellent way to get much lower-cost dental care. However, you may not be able to get in the right way, so that is something you will need to look into. 

4) See if there are any dental clinics near you. Generally, dental clinics provide their dental treatment services at a lower cost. Sometimes their prices are based on what you can afford to pay.