05/22/08

This is a credit card that is only for medical procedures . Among the procedures covered are dental services. Your dentist has to subscribe to this program in order for you to access it , but the site has a search feature so that you can find out what dentists in your area have this plan . Remember , if you can't make the payments  it is still not a good deal .

 http://www.carecredit.com/dentistry/whycc.html

05/08/08

This is a great place to find Community Dental Health resources in your state or territory:

  http://www.aacdp.com/membership/find.lasso

01/19/08

Free publications about all kinds of dental challenges are found here:

 https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/OrderPublications/

01/19/08 Another place to look for local dental organizations that my help you find low or no cost assistance http://www.ada.org/ada/organizations/local.asp

 for a credit program for dental procedures. Please know that this program is for PEOPLE WHO CAN PAY THE MONTHLY PREMIUM COSTS .If you can't pay them back ,and you default , you will be paying 30% in interest ! So this is only for extreme problems that you KNOW you can pay back within a year. Still , it might be an alternative for some .

http://www.gemoney.com/personal/healthcare/index.html

Some of us feel that a low cost dental insurance is a good answer. Unfortunately , there are many 'plans' that are actually scams. Here is the National Association of Insurance Commissioners web site . On this site , you can check any insurance plan to see if it is legitimate . They also offer help in finding an alternative to pay for health bills.

http://www.naic.org/

Here is a long list of organizations that are looking for volunteers for their mouth and tooth disease studies . Most studies pay for all your work , transportation and sometimes pay you a small amount more.

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/search/browse?brwse=cond_cat_BC07

This is a program that seems fairly new called Community Oral Health Station. On this site you will find programs for children , elders , the military , low income , disabled and more.

http://www.communityoralhealthstation.org/COHSFrames.asp 

Although most of these sources are covered in one way or another on my dental Aidpages , you may still find assistance through using them . Some of this information is included in the " government run-around - type - information"category.

Finding Low-Cost Dental  Care                                                                                                                                             

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), one of the federal government's National Institutes of Health, leads the nation in conducting and supporting research to improve oral health. As a research organization, NIDCR does not provide financial assistance for dental treatment. The following resources, however, may help you find the dental care you need.

Clinical Trials

NIDCR sometimes seeks volunteers with specific dental, oral, and craniofacial conditions to participate in research studies, also known as clinical trials. Researchers may provide study participants with limited free or low-cost dental treatment for the particular condition they are studying. To find out if there are any NIDCR clinical trials that you might fit into, visit the NIDCR web site at http://www.nidcr.nih.gov and click on "NIDCR Studies Seeking Patients." For a complete list of all federally funded clinical trials, visit http://clinicaltrials.gov. If you do not have access to the Internet, you may need to visit your local library or ask a friend or family member for assistance.To see if you qualify for any clinical trials being conducted at our Bethesda, Maryland, campus, you can call the Clinical Center's Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office at 1-800-411-1222.

Dental Schools

Dental schools can be a good source of quality, reduced-cost dental treatment. Most of these teaching facilities have clinics that allow dental students to gain experience treating patients while providing care at a reduced cost. Experienced, licensed dentists closely supervise the students. Post-graduate and faculty clinics are also available at most schools.To find out if there is a dental school in your area, call your state dental society or association. These organizations are listed in your telephone book. For a complete list of dental schools, visit the NIDCR web site at http://www.nidcr.nih.gov and click on "Finding Dental Care," or contact the National Oral Health Information Clearinghouse at:National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
National Oral Health Information Clearinghouse
1 NOHIC Way
Bethesda, Maryland 20892–3500
(301) 402–7364

Bureau of Primary Health Care

The Bureau of Primary Health Care, a service of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), supports federally-funded community health centers across the country that provide free or reduced-cost health services, including dental care. To obtain a list of centers in your area, contact the HRSA Information Center toll-free at 1-888-ASK-HRSA (1-888-275-4772) or visit their web site at http://ask.hrsa.gov/pc/.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) administers three important federally-funded programs: Medicare, Medicaid, and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

   Medicare is a health insurance program for people who are 65 years and older or for people with specific disabilities. Medicare does not cover most routine dental care or dentures(WHY NOT !!!??-SL). Visit http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MedicareDentalCoverage/.

       Medicaid is a state-run program that provides medical benefits, and in some cases dental benefits, to eligible individuals and families. States set their own guidelines regarding who is eligible and what services are covered. Most states provide limited emergency dental services for people age 21 or over, while some offer comprehensive services. For most individuals under the age of 21, dental services are provided under Medicaid. Visit http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MedicaidDentalCoverage/.

       SCHIP helps children up to age 19 who are without health insurance. SCHIP provides medical coverage and, in most cases, dental services to children who qualify. Dental services covered under this program vary from state to state. Visit http://www.cms.hhs.gov/SCHIPDentalCoverage/.

 CMS can provide detailed information about each of these programs and refer you to state programs where applicable. If you currently have Medicare, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Others may call 1-877-267-2323 or visit the CMS web site at http://www.cms.hhs.gov. You can also write to them at the address below:Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
7500 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, Maryland 21244

State and Local Resources

Your state or local health department may know of programs in your area that offer free or reduced-cost dental care. Call your local or state health department to learn more about their financial assistance programs. Check your local telephone book for the number to call.

United Way

The United Way may be able to direct you to free or reduced-cost dental services in your community. Check your telephone book for the number of your local United Way chapter.For additional copies of this fact sheet contact:National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
National Oral Health Information Clearinghouse
1 NOHIC Way
Bethesda, Maryland 20892–3500
(301) 402–7364
http://www.nidcr.nih.gov
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 This publication is not copyrighted.  Make as many copies as you need.

NIH Publication No. 07-6097
Printed November 2006

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 State Oral Health Programs

 The links listed directly above are from :

Rural Assistance Center Online http://www.raconline.org/info_guides/dental/#contacts

FREE CLEFT LIP AND PALATE REPAIR FOR CHILDREN