Are your teeth less than ideal? Do you realize that you need dental help, but you're not sure if you can afford the treatment necessary to get your mouth looking and feeling its best? Dental care can seem too expensive and out of reach for many people, even if you have an insurance plan. After all, many dental plans can be highly restrictive regarding exactly what is covered and how much they'll pay for the treatments that are covered. But you don't have to settle for teeth that are causing you pain. Whether you have no dental insurance or you have inadequate insurance, some things you can do include the following:

Find a dental college: At a dental college, students who are near graduation are tasked with treating actual patients as part of their final grade. Because of this, they often charge almost nothing for the dental services that they offer. While you might want to have someone more experienced doing something like a root canal, simple extractions or fillings may be a good choice here. You can then use the money that you've saved in this manner to get other treatments from your regular dentist.

Ask about payments: A dentist is going to want your teeth to be in the best possible condition, no matter how much money you make. To that end, many will be willing to offer a payment plan to help you meet your goals. Instead of waiting until you have all of the money saved up before they start treatment, your regular dentist may be willing to start work now as long as you are able to make regular reasonable payments towards the dental services that they are providing for you. This may not be advertised as an option, so you will have to inquire as to whether or not it is possible.

Get a discount plan: A discount plan is not insurance and does not pay the dentist for you. You can think about it as a similar concept to joining the rewards plan offered by your favorite grocery store. Instead of paying full price, you get a discount on various goods and services. With a dental discount plan, you will pay a small monthly fee in exchange for a discount on various dental services. Depending on the exact discount plan and the dentist you use, this may range anywhere from 30-90% off. Some plans may even have free exams and cleanings as long as you are a member. Be sure to ask your dentist whether they accept discount plans and, if they do, which ones they accept so that you can choose between them.