Have you been holding off on getting dental care due to a lack of funds? Maybe you are faced with a dental emergency but lack the insurance or cash to be able to pay out of pocket to get treatment. If so, there are many others in your position. Only 45 percent of Americans have access to dental insurance. While free dentist offices are hard to find, several free emergency dental care options are available and can provide you with the help you need.
State Medicaid and CHIP Programs
All states must provide dental services to children covered by Medicaid. In some cases, those benefits will extend to adults. In most states, limited free emergency dental services are available to adults over age 21. In others, comprehensive services are available.
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This means that if you do not follow up with appropriate dental care, you are likely to wind up in the emergency room again before too long.
You probably will not get free dental emergency care in an emergency room; rather, it can be very expensive. Even so, it is a better option than leaving an infection untreated. If you have multiple emergency rooms to choose from, look for one that is connected to a community dental clinic. This allows you to make an appointment with the dental clinic before leaving the emergency room. Community dental clinics tend to be understaffed but you may be able to get in faster if the emergency room refers you.
A Community Dental Clinic
While you may not be able to find free dentist offices, you can find community dental clinics in every state. Note that it may be necessary to travel to get to free dental care and clinics if you live in a rural area since many are in cities. Check with a public hospital for information on free dental care and clinics in your area. Another option is to check the website of the American Dental Association, which provides a page that lists low-cost dental care providers in each