When I left my job tofreelance full-time, my teeth were not high on my priority list.
(And thankfully, they did.)
Sure, I would commit to regular brushing and flossing.
But anything beyond that just seemed too expensive.
Whats a self-employed girl to do?
Become an expert on dental plans, thats what.
So what did most people do?
Everyone I spoke to paid out of pocket.
No Interest Til Almost 2027?
Balance Transfer = Credit Card Cheat Code
I figured Id have to do the same.
I called my dentists office and was told a cleaning would be $140.
I couldnt bear to ask how much fillings might cost.
The tooth fairy must have known what was up.
Just a couple of weeks before my appointment, I found out about :DentalPlans.
(That colon before the name is part of their logo; it looks like a smiley face.
Fun, right?)
Even though I didnt fully understand what dental savings plans were about, I was game.
Why?Because allegedly, their plans could cut the cost of every trip to the dentist in half.
Did you know?
First, what a dental plan isnot.
My last dental insurance covered $1,000 of additional work.
And the club perks are steep discounts on dental services.
If my math was correct,the plan would pay for itself after just two cleanings.
Did they accept Careington Dental Plans?
Did they really give these huge discounts?
So I signed up, which only took a few minutes, and printed out my membership card.
I didnt need to be pre-approved or share my dental records or anything of that sort.
Still Too Good to be True?
He assured me I would save tons of cash.
I needed to know more about these dental plans.
Before I allowed my dentist and the hygienist get to work, I asked lots of questions.
Do dentists pay to be a part of the plan?
To bring in new clients who might not have come in otherwise.
Can anyone join the plan to get these discounts?
What was the catch here?
If so, do they keep their mouths open?
Yes, I learned many people do indeed doze off and in the process close their mouths.
So the dentist either has to wake them up or prop their mouths open.
My cleaning was over in a jiffy, and I had zero cavities.
And just one cleaning in, it had already saved me $94 off the cost of my appointment.
Plus, if Im unlucky enough to need further dental work, itll be even more worthwhile.
We rely on our teeth all day long to chew our food and help us enunciate our words.
Its ridiculous that great dental care is so expensive.
So few Americans regularly visit the dentist because many cant afford it.
Our teeth can finally get the attention they deserve.
you might sign up by calling DentalPlans at 1-855-423-9414.
Or you canclick here to sign up online.
Use the promo code HOARDER to save 15% and get the first two months for free.
Your Turn: Have you tried using a dental savings plan to save money on visits to the dentist?
Betsy Mikel is a Chicago-based freelance copywriter.
She loves biking all over every city she visits to find its best taqueria.
Probably not as good as youd like.
It always seems like an uphill battle to build (and keep) a decent amount in savings.
But what if your car breaks down, or you have a sudden medical bill?
Ask one of these companies to help…
