Being neglectful when it comes to your oral hygiene can have some serious consequences when it comes to your overall health. Not taking proper care of your mouth can lead to things such as infections, sores, cancers and other ailments that will have an affect on the rest of your body. If you are currently in need of dental care but cannot currently afford to pay for it, there are several options in your community that will provide you with free or low cost care.
Often times schools of dentistry in your area will offer to sponsor public clinics. This is a benefit for the person in need as well as the students in training. The students are able to perform the needed dental procedure under the supervision of their professor or licensed dentist. This way they are able to gain experience before receiving their certification and you are able to get free or cheap dental care. It is important to keep in mind that these student clinics do not always offer a wide range of services. Therefore prior to visiting, it is recommended that you call and ask what kind of work they are able to perform.
Local community centers often sponsored by the government, offer free or low cost dental coverage to individuals and families who are uninsured or have a low income. You can find out more about these available programs by contacting your state health department. In addition, there are also programs available such as the DDS (donated dental services) that provide free or low cost dental care to those who are seriously ill or disabled. Often times the dentist donating his or her service will either do it in their office or go to the patient’s home if necessary.