MY MOUTH IS GOING TO DIE
I am losing my mind.
I have been calling and calling and calling dental clinics trying to find ONE place, just ONE place, that is low-cost and treats non-pregnant adults. (I don't have dental insurance.) I've gone through the community tags, but a lot of the posts are before the budget cuts in the low-income programs. Now the Neighborcare and similar places only take children and pregnant women. I am neither, although I act like both.
The places I've found that do treat adults require up-front payment of $200 or more for a checkup and a few hundred more for actual treatment, which I probably need. They claim to offer sliding scale payment plans, but I was informed by all I called that the payment had to be up front.
All I want is a dentist who can do cleaning/fillings and not charge hundreds and hundreds of dollars- or, if they do, a place that allows payment plans. I can spend $300 up front, but I can't afford follow-up care without a payment plan.
I tried UW. They are completely booked. So.
I'm wondering if I should just go to the UW emergency clinic and... say it's an emergency? I would feel guilty, but they are only $200 up front and they offer actual treatment in addition to a checkup and cleaning. Is there any other option?
I've also considered claiming to be pregnant, but I assume they would require proof. Then I considered ACTUALLY getting pregnant. Yes, I am almost willing to get knocked up for affordable dental care.
What the fuck.
I mean, has anyone else had this problem? Do you just... not see a dentist if you don't have insurance or hundreds of dollars or six months to wait?
I have been calling and calling and calling dental clinics trying to find ONE place, just ONE place, that is low-cost and treats non-pregnant adults. (I don't have dental insurance.) I've gone through the community tags, but a lot of the posts are before the budget cuts in the low-income programs. Now the Neighborcare and similar places only take children and pregnant women. I am neither, although I act like both.
The places I've found that do treat adults require up-front payment of $200 or more for a checkup and a few hundred more for actual treatment, which I probably need. They claim to offer sliding scale payment plans, but I was informed by all I called that the payment had to be up front.
All I want is a dentist who can do cleaning/fillings and not charge hundreds and hundreds of dollars- or, if they do, a place that allows payment plans. I can spend $300 up front, but I can't afford follow-up care without a payment plan.
I tried UW. They are completely booked. So.
I'm wondering if I should just go to the UW emergency clinic and... say it's an emergency? I would feel guilty, but they are only $200 up front and they offer actual treatment in addition to a checkup and cleaning. Is there any other option?
I've also considered claiming to be pregnant, but I assume they would require proof. Then I considered ACTUALLY getting pregnant. Yes, I am almost willing to get knocked up for affordable dental care.
What the fuck.
I mean, has anyone else had this problem? Do you just... not see a dentist if you don't have insurance or hundreds of dollars or six months to wait?