Can you see a dentist when you have no insurance?

Insurance is not required for dental services but does make paying for them easier. Options for reduced-cost dental care include locating a dentist who works on a sliding-fee scale, enrolling in a dental discount plan and getting treated by a dental student.

State dental associations are the best point of contact to locate dentists using a sliding-fee scale, but many other dentists also negotiate their fees, especially for patients willing to pay cash upfront. The best place to receive care from a dental student is at a school of dentistry, where the students gain treatment experience while being supervised by a licensed dentist or dental hygienist.