10 Feb Can I Get a Cleaning If I Don’t Have Dental Insurance?
It’s easy to think you need to have dental insurance in order to make an appointment, but that’s simply not the case. Anyone can go to the dentist for a cleaning—insurance is not required. However, if you don’t have insurance, you’ll probably need to pay in advance.
As dentists, we want everyone to be able to get exams and cleanings twice a year. Skipping them can be more risky than you’d think. The longer you go without a cleaning, the more likely you’ll end up with cavities or gum disease. That’s why we’ll always try to help you find a way to finance the care you need.
How to Get Affordable Dental Care
If you don’t have insurance through your job or you don’t qualify for Medicaid, there are other options besides paying out-of-pocket.
Savings accounts:
Although you can’t get an HSA account without insurance, setting up a separate savings account specifically for dental care is a good idea. As long as you know how much your dentist charges for exams and cleanings, you can set a budget and contribute a small amount every month. That way, when it comes time for your next appointment, you won’t have to worry about draining your main accounts.
Membership discounts:
You might also want to look into dental membership plans that will give you a discount on dental services. Depending on the treatment, you can save anywhere from 10% to 60% on preventive and restorative care. The only catch is that you’ll have to pay a yearly premium up front. There may also be a waiting period for some plans.
Financing options:
If you ever need urgent dental care or restorative work that you didn’t plan for, financing options like CareCredit help make the cost more affordable. With a CareCredit card, you can pay for any treatments you need up front, and then pay down that debt by making monthly payments. Premiums are lower than for most credit cards, and you can check to see if you pre-qualify without any harm to your credit score.
Affordable insurance:
If you don’t have dental insurance through your employer, you can always purchase your own policy. And it might be more affordable than you’d think. For instance, a basic Delta Dental insurance plan costs less than $20/month and covers 100% of the cost of preventive care. That’s about the same price as a streaming subscription to Netflix or Disney.
How Much Does a Dental Cleaning Cost?
On average, a dental cleaning costs between $150 to $300 depending on the dentist. Some will group the exam, cleaning, and diagnostics together in one bundle. Others will break those services up into separate charges. Since x-rays are usually only needed once a year, they may be optional.
Keep in mind that skipping your dental cleanings may end up costing you more in the long run, both in terms of money and wellness. Neglecting your dental health can cause problems like tooth decay, gum disease, and even systemic inflammation.
That’s why we always encourage our patients to visit us every six months. The sooner we spot any changes in your dental health, the easier it will be to repair them. Waiting until you’re in pain before you go see a dentist will only make treatment more costly.
Affordable Dental Care in Prescott, Arizona
At Prescott Dentistry, we want to make oral health care accessible and affordable for everyone. We will always explain the full scope and cost of any recommended treatments, so there are no surprises. If you don’t have dental insurance, we can help you find other payment options.
Take the first step! Contact us to ask about our current rates or to schedule your next cleaning and exam.
Photo by Omar Lopez-Rincon on Unsplash used with permission under the Creative Commons license for commercial use 2/10/26.