Atlanta Dentists ??

Question

Any dentist out there feeling charitable, Need dental work done, but can't afford it. Hey you can't blame a girl for trying. It doesn't hurt to ask right?

No, I don't smoke. And I am not looking for free service. I am looking for affortable service. I want to be able to smile at people without being ashamed, and still be able to feed my kids and pay my rent.

Answer 1

I would suggest going to a university to get cheaper prices. I go to a school here in Atlanta and they have a dental clinic where I go to school and they charge half the prices because the students are doing the procedures. But, they do have a dentist on site so don't freak out at the fact that they are students. They actually do a really good job.

Answer 2

Contact your local or state dental association and and see if there are any dentists who provide free or reduced cost care for low-income, disabled or senior patients.

Call your local health department and ask about health centers that provide dental care for free or on a sliding scale.

Your local United Way may also be aware of such a clinic. In some areas, you can reach them now by dialing 2-1-1 for "non-emergency information."

Go to a dental school, if there is one near you, for reduced costs.

If you are a senior citizen, call your local Area Agency on Aging or Office on Aging. If you can not find a listing in your local phone book on the "County Government" pages (usually marked with blue borders), call toll-free 1-800-677-1116 to find how to contact the Area Agency on Aging serving you.

Check http://www.toothwoman.net to see if low-cost or free dental services are available near you.

Check http://bphc.hrsa.gov and choose "Find a Health Center" to see if there is a low-cost clinic near you.

Check http://www.nfdh.org/DDS.html to see if your state has a "Donated Dental Services" program. D.D.S. is designed to locate dentists who will give free care to patients who are financially compromised due to medical problems. This is a process that will take a couple of months to get your information and then arrange for someone to see you. Not all states have D.D.S. programs.

I personally offer free care or reduced fee care or "overlook the bill" care when I know the exact circumstances of a person's financial position. If they have had a medical hardship, for instance, I am sympathetic. You can't come in just looking for free care, though. You have to come in with the intentions of doing the best you can and then I decide exactly how I am going to handle the financial aspect. I can usually tell who is actually trying to pay and who simply wants to skip out on me. I do not usually consider smokers to be in financial need, though. If they can find a couple thousand dollars a year for cigarettes, they could find the same amount of money and fix almost any dental problem. Maybe you can find a local dentist who has the same attitude.