How Can I Fix My Teeth With No Money?

How can I fix my teeth with no money? It’s a question we get asked a lot as dentists.

The truth is, the services you need effects the over cost of fixing your teeth. For example, a dental crown is more affordable than veneers, and your tooth extraction cost depends on whether you have a simple or surgical procedure.

Even your teeth cleaning costs vary. What it all comes down to is your daily oral hygiene routine. The more vigilant you are at home at preventing tooth decay, the less expensive your dental procedures will be.

Here’s the complete guide for how much each dental service costs and ways you can pay for it without breaking the bank.

How Much Does a Dental Appointment Cost?

We’ve written nearly 10 guides about the costs of dental services on this website.

So we figure it’s about time we put all that information in one place!

The next time you find yourself saying, “I need my teeth fixed but have no money!” hopefully, you can remember to come back to this guide to find a solution.

But first, let’s go over how much each dental service — on average – might cost you.

1. Teeth Cleaning

If you need your teeth fixed, you will 100% need teeth cleaning first. If you have insurance, your bi-annual teeth cleaning should be free. You should also be able to get two free 3D dental x-rays through your insurance every year.

Depending on your personal dental insurance plan, you can expect to pay $0-$40 for a routine tooth cleaning. Without insurance, a teeth cleaning is around $120-$150.

On the other hand, a deep cleaning can cost anywhere between $150 and $350.

Our Guides On Teeth Cleaning:

HOW MUCH DOES A TEETH CLEANING COST?
HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU GET X-RAYS AT THE DENTIST AND WHAT IS THE COST?

2. Teeth Fillings

There are five types of materials that dentists use for teeth fillings:

Amalgam

Composite resin

Ceramic

Glass ionomer

Gold

The type of material used combined with whether or not you need additional services like root canal determines your overall cost.

On average, you can expect the total cost of a dental filling to be $157-$344 per filling, according to Aspen Dental.

Our Guide On Teeth Filings:

HOW MUCH ARE TEETH FILLINGS?

3. Root Canal

We always pair a root canal treatment with other services, including teeth cleaning, dental x-rays, and tooth extractions. Each of these services has its own set of prices which is why it’s ideal to have dental coverage, so you aren’t paying for each service out of pocket.

A root canal with insurance can cost $200-$500. Without insurance, this procedure can cost a minimum of $1,000.

Our Guide On Root Canals:

ROOT CANAL PROCEDURE: WHAT TO EXPECT

4. Teeth Whitening

While plenty of DIY teeth whitening products are available (see below), professional teeth whitening is actually more affordable than more people realize.

You can expect a complete whitening procedure to cost about $500. This covers whitening all of your teeth and only takes about 45 minutes.

Learn more about teeth bleaching versus laser whitening versus Zoom whitening and their price differences in the guides below.

Our Guides On Teeth Whitening:

TEETH WHITENING IN LOS ANGELES
8 OF THE BEST AT-HOME TEETH WHITENING PRODUCTS (ADA-APPROVED)!
TEETH BLEACHING BY DENTIST VS. AT-HOME TEETH WHITENING PRODUCTS
THE ZOOM TEETH WHITENING EXPERIENCE: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

5. Invisalign

How can I fix my teeth with no money and afford something like Invisalign?

We probably get more inquiries for this than anything else. The reason is that adults and teens alike are searching for an alternative to braces. Who wants medal brackets in their mouth in 2022, right?

The national average for Invisalign is $3,000-$5,000, which is about $1,000 cheaper than braces!

Our Guides On Invisalign:

INVISALIGN IN LOS ANGELES: DO YOU REALLY NEED IT?
INVISALIGN VS. BRACES: OPTIONS, DIFFERENCES, AND SIMILARITIES
THESE 8 CELEBRITIES WEARING INVISALIGN PROVE IT’S WORTH IT!

6. Composite Bonding

Bonding is the application of a tooth-colored composite resin directly to the tooth to make it appear straighter or whiter.

This is an option for people who have chipped or cracked teeth. Your dentist will match the resin to the color of your natural teeth. However, we find that most patients want to have a teeth whitening procedure first and then match the composite bonding to their new (and improved) tooth color.

This can drive up the price of composite bonding anywhere between $100 and $600.

Our Guide On Composite Bonding:

COMPOSITE BONDING COST, PROCEDURE, AND RESULTS

7. Veneers

Veneers are considered a cosmetic dental service. This means your insurance probably won’t cover them (barring a medical necessity).

Just like with fillings, the type of material used to make your veneers determines how much they cost.

On average, you can expect veneers to be $250-$1,000 per tooth.

Our Guide On Veneers:

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LOS ANGELES VENEERS

8. Dental Crown

A dental crown or cap covers a damaged tooth. When so much of a tooth is missing that traditional fillings cannot repair the damage, your dentist might recommend a crown.

Below, you’ll find the different types of crowns and their alternative prices. You’ll see that the price of a single crown ranges from $300 to #3,000 per tooth.

Our Guide On Crowns:

DENTAL CROWN: PRICE, PROCEDURE, AND OPTIONS

9. Dental Implant

Dental implants can last up to twenty years, which is why they’re much more sought after today than dentures (or partials).

This process initially requires 3D scans, occasionally tooth pulling and bone grafting, followed by implant placement, abutment, and crown. The entire process can take 3-18 months of your time.

And while these can almost certainly last a lifetime, dental implants can cost $3,000 per tooth.

Our Guides On Dental Implants:

WHAT HAPPENS DURING A DENTAL IMPLANT PROCEDURE?
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST FOR A DENTAL IMPLANT?

10. Tooth Extraction

Tooth extractions might be the most common dental procedure. Adults ages 20 to 64 have an average of 24.92 remaining teeth out of 32.

This is generally covered under health insurance, especially since simple tooth extractions are needed to prevent disease or treat mouth trauma.

Remember that wisdom tooth removal costs differ from these standard single tooth extractions.

For example, a single tooth extraction might cost $75, but an impacted tooth that needs surgical removal can cost up to $650.

Our Guides On Tooth Extraction:

WISDOM TEETH REMOVAL COST: BREAKING DOWN THE BASICS
HERE’S WHAT TO EAT AFTER WISDOM TEETH REMOVAL
HOW MUCH DOES TOOTH EXTRACTION COST AND DO YOU NEED IT?

How Can I Fix My Teeth with No Money?

Keep in mind that every single price we have listed above will always be dependent on these 5 things:

Where you live
Your dentist’s experience (for example, oral surgeons can charge more than a general dentist)
Your insurance (or lack thereof)
Whether your procedure requires anesthesia
Your oral hygiene routine

We want to ensure our readers know that these prices are not one-size-fits-all. Only use these as a general guideline for price expectations.

So now you’re asking, how can I fix my teeth with no money?

It might seem impossible, but take a look at these 3 options:

Option #1: Insurance

If you think you have pretty healthy teeth, insurance that covers your bi-annual scans and teeth cleaning should be more than enough.

If you want cosmetic procedures like teeth whitening or Invisalign, your insurance likely will not cover it unless medically necessary. Talk to your dentist about your options.

On the other hand, if you think you’ll need multiple teeth services down the road, get a dental insurance plan that you can afford every month. Not only will this save you money over the years, but staying with the same plan and dentist usually has its perks!

Option #2: Local Departments

You check with your local health departments for low-cost (sometimes free) dental services.

Dental schools also offer decreased prices. You can find a list of accredited dental schools at the website of the American Dental Association.

Option #3: CareCredit and Payment Plans

Understandably, some people still can’t afford dental insurance copays or deductibles. While some plans can offer a deductible of less than $500, it all depends on your career and where you live.

In instances where you don’t have insurance or can’t afford your deductible, we recommend Care Credit. CareCredit provides no-interest financing options for 6-24 months on charges over $200

Your local dentist may even offer in-house payment plans if you’re paying out-of-pocket! You can find more information here.

What If I Don’t Have Insurance?

Did you know that your teeth affect your overall health? Researchers have found that oral complications such as periodontal (gum) disease is linked to pre-diabetes, premature fetus deliveries, and other chronic diseases.

And according to the ADA, “Some evidence suggests that oral bacteria may be linked to heart disease, arterial blockages and stroke. “

As you can see, postponing dental services because you don’t have money can result in you paying even more for dental and medical services in the years to come.

If you don’t have insurance to cover any of these services, here are some steps you can take:

Step 1: Visit your local dentist to find out every procedure you may need over the next year.
Step 2: Call local dentists and ask if they accept CareCredit or offer payment plans. Ask what their standard rates are for the procedures you need.
Step 3: Compare local dentist rates
Step 4: Choose your favorite dentist with the best payment options and set up a schedule to have your teeth fixed (even without money upfront!).

Here’s how much it costs to go to the dentist without insurance.

How can I fix my teeth with no money? Ask Dr. Lasry of Los Angeles in your FREE first-time patient consultation.

How Can I Fix My Teeth with No Money?