Regular dental care is essential for many people, but many choose to forego having these treatments. The main reason is simple: dental procedures can be pretty expensive. Many people cannot cover out-of-pocket payments, while others do not have insurance coverage for the procedure they need.
If you need a dental implant, one opportunity you may consider is visiting a dental school. Dental schools are great sources of high-quality dental treatments without worrying about money. You will have dental students providing the services, with licensed dentists supervising to ensure safety.
In this article, learn about dental schools that do affordable dental implants or even free dental care for those in need.
Who Usually Qualifies For Cheap Or Free Services At Dental Schools?
Becoming a patient at a dental school comes with some requirements. Before anything else, you must undergo a screening procedure. This process will evaluate a patient's suitability, and it will also verify whether your situation will offer benefits to the education of these dental students.
In general, the people who usually qualify for a free dental service program meet one or more of the following qualifications:
- Uninsured or underinsured
- Students enrolled in the dental school
- Low-income individuals
- Veterans
- Recipients of government assistance programs
Some Dental Schools That Do Free Dental Implants, If Not Cheap
In most states, free or low-cost dental services are accessible through dental schools and dental hygiene schools. Usually, the price you may have to pay will depend on whether the student dentists are part of pre-doctoral, advanced, or allied dental education programs.
To give you an idea, some schools accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) and the American Dental Association (ADA) help people maintain their oral health.
California Northstate University College of Dental Medicine
The California Northstate University College of Dental Medicine is well-known for providing constructive innovation in its dental programs. Aside from the dental focus, they also integrate oral health into other human health care systems. Furthermore, the college spends time on community services, including providing free dental implants for those in need.
University of Florida College of Dentistry
The College of Dentistry at the University of Florida partners with a wide array of dental centers to cover a complete range of general and specialty dental services and oral health care for patients of all ages.
Aside from their community health centers in Gainesville, patients may also gain access to services in Hialeah, St. Petersburg, Naples, and Wildlight. Though some services may charge a minimal fee, the UF College of Dentistry accepts insurance and other payment plans.
In particular, they have a Center for Implant Dentistry, where dental implants are provided by faculty and fellows so that more people will have bright, white teeth.
University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry
The University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry provides a long list of service learning opportunities, allowing them to help address the dental health needs of vulnerable and underserved populations.
In their learning curriculum, the students access a variety of community-based, hands-on experiences outside of the college. These include running a dental clinic, providing valuable early prevention education, and administering services like routine x-rays, cleanings, fillings, root canal therapy, restorative treatment, oral surgery, implants, dentures, and bridges.
Harvard University School of Dental Medicine
The Harvard University School of Dental Medicine partners with the Harvard Dental Center, providing services related to all disciplines of dentistry, including implant dentistry.
Though dental students may provide dental implant services, this option is usually limited to students of the Advance Graduate programs of implant dentistry, periodontics, and prosthodontics, as well as the college faculty.
University of Nevada Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine
The UNLV School of Dental Medicine has led its community outreach programs to organizations since the college was established. Through the school, the students and faculty can offer essential care information and dental solutions to children, women and children who are victims of domestic violence, homeless people, veterans, those re-entering the workforce, and those with special needs.
To gain access to their general dentistry services, such as implants, cleanings, fillings, and crowns, the prospective patient must schedule a screening appointment and pass the evaluation.
New York University College of Dentistry
The New York University College of Dentistry provides general dentistry, specialty care, and emergency services to patients of all ages. Here, patients will experience quality, affordable, comprehensive care for all ages and all dental needs.
Though they offer implant dentistry, they do not provide services for free. Instead, people can pay significantly lower fees through cash, personal checks, money orders, credit cards, and Medicaid.
Ohio State University College of Dentistry
Adults and children may also access high-quality care through the Ohio State University College of Dentistry. We have multiple clinics offering affordable dental services for patients of all ages, backgrounds, and geographic locations. For dental implants, the college has an advanced clinic for the Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
For people looking for a way to get the dental implants they need without breaking the bank, these dental schools are a great option. With a range of services, payment options, and discounts, these dental schools that do free dental implants, if not cheap, help make dreams come true.
If you're looking for more resources that allow access to free dental healthcare, check out the Gov Relations guide to dental grants for low-income adults!
