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The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), one of the federal government's National Institutes of Health, leads the nation in conducting and supporting research to improve oral health. As a research organization, NIDCR does not provide financial assistance for dental treatment. The following resources, however, may help you find the dental care you need.

Clinical Trials

NIDCR sometimes seeks volunteers with specific dental, oral, and craniofacial conditions to participate in research studies, also known as clinical trials. Researchers may provide study participants with limited free or low-cost dental treatment for the particular condition they are studying. To find out if there are any NIDCR clinical trials that you might fit into, go to "NIDCR Studies Seeking Patients." For a complete list of all federally funded clinical trials, visit ClinicalTrials.gov. To see if you qualify for any clinical trials being conducted at our Bethesda, Maryland, campus, you can call the Clinical Center's Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office at 1-800-411-1222.

Dental Schools

Dental schools  can be a good source of quality, reduced-cost dental treatment. Most of these teaching facilities have clinics that allow dental students to gain experience treating patients while providing care at a reduced cost. Experienced, licensed dentists closely supervise the students. Post-graduate and faculty clinics are also available at most schools.

Dental hygiene schools  may also offer supervised, low-cost preventive dental care as part of the training experience for dental hygienists.

Bureau of Primary Health Care
 

The Bureau of Primary Health Care, a service of the Health Resources and Services Administration  (1-888-Ask-HRSA), supports federally-funded community health centers across the country that provide free or reduced-cost health services, including dental care.
 

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services  (CMS) administers three important federally-funded programs: Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

• Medicare  is a health insurance program for people who are 65 years and older or for people with specific disabilities. Medicare dental coverage is limited; it does not cover most routine dental care or dentures.
• Medicaid  is a state-run program that provides medical benefits, and in some cases dental benefits, to eligible individuals and families. States set their own guidelines regarding who is eligible and what services are covered. Most states provide limited emergency dental services for people age 21 or over, while some offer comprehensive services. For most individuals under the age of 21, dental services are provided under Medicaid. 
• CHIP  helps children up to age 19 who are without health insurance. CHIP provides medical coverage and, in most cases, dental services to children who qualify. Dental services covered under this program vary from state to state.

CMS  (1-800-MEDICARE) can provide detailed information about each of these programs and refer you to state programs where applicable.

State and Local Resources

Your state or local health department may know of programs in your area that offer free or reduced-cost dental care. Call your local or state health department to learn more about their financial assistance programs. Check your local telephone book for the number to call.

United Way

The United Way  may be able to direct you to free or reduced-cost dental services in your community. Local United Way chapters can be located on the United Way website. 

For those of you needing free or low cost dental help, there are clinics and services to help you.  If you check my blog out at http://friendshelpingfriends.aidpage.com/ you will find a huge listing of clinics and free clinics.

Also, you might want to check this out my other site at Discounted Dental Services.

No one should have to go without dental care because of income status. 

friendshelpingfriends

Hello everyone,

I currently am 51 y/o unemployeed US Air Force veteran who has fallen on some hard times.  Luckily I have the VA Hospital for my health insurance/provider, but they will not cover any dental problems unless they occured while in the military.  I had an accident a few years ago where I had knocked out and busted a couple of my front upper teeth.  I spend $3,600.00 in dental bills to get to the stage where I need to get them capped or crowned, but I can not afford to get this done.

 I know this is one of the problems in trying to find a job, as I try not to smile to hide the fact of my dental problems.  When I do smile during an interview, I can tell that the interviewer it taken aback by my toothless smile.  They never ask anything about it, but I never receive any call backs from first the first interview.  I've never had a problem in getting a job until I've had this problem.

 It also makes it difficult to eat as I'm always biting my tongue, lips and have to continuously remind myself while eating.  Luckily I've had the root canal procedure as that was the most painful part of the procedure.  Yeah, I'm a baby when it comes to dentists.

 I'm down to my last $100 in bank accounts and do not know what will happen next.  Is there anybody out there who may be able to help me in any way that they can?  I've exhausted every method I could think of before I tried to post on here.

 Please help.

Thank you for your assistance,

MotorCitySarge

Hello my name is Christy I am a single mom of 4 boys and I'm 25. I recently got out of an abusive relationship. My teeth are so so bad. I don't know if its because havein 4 kids in a role or what, but all of my back teeth top and bottom are rotted out. My bottom front teeth are starting to rot. When I was younger I had a root canel on my front left tooth and had a post but the tooth fell off. I had such low self esteem about it I found away to cover it up with 2 fake fingernails glued together shaped and superglued on my post. I have rooted open spots between my teeth in front so I take cotton and shove it in the hole then superglue it. This is the first time I have told anyone and its emberrising. But I want help in fixin this problem. I have 4 beautiful kids but hate to smile on a daily basis.

Unfortunate circumstances, high dollar dental needs, everything that goes along with that situation.  Broken teeth, most assuredly gum disease, ....frankly, a bad situation.

Well my story begins like this, my died when I was twelve years old I began taking care of myself when I was very young....so I did not always know that I had to take my self to the dentist and for that matter if I knew I was never in any position financial to do so. Growing up I had a beautiful smile and very nice straight teeth so I thought other things like putting myself through college were important. Well getting older and never going to the dentist and life in general began catching up with me and the worst things ever began to happen to my mouth and my teeth. When I was finally able to a dentist (emerg one which I could not pay for) he told me if I did not take care of my teeth I would loose all of them by the time I was 30 years old. I am 30 now and have about five teeth missing and a broken one, and a caviaty in every tooth in my mouth and I can't go to the dentist, I am crying writing this because I believe that I have to have some gum diease because my gums bleed every time I brush also my breath is not very fresh, but no matter how much I brush it does not help. So I keep a brush with me so that I can brush very often through out the day. In researching somethings I now know that I am probably brushing away enambal however I feel so uncomfortable. But I think the worst thing of all is that I have two children (which while the time I was preg my teeth became so so much worst....luckaly they do not have any problems) who I can't smile at much because it is embrassing when they ask what is wrong, and I am a teacher so you know I to speak with my children and co-workers, I never smile or I cover my mouth and I stay in pain everyday. Please help me, if someone could give me my smile back......and healthy this time you would be giving me life back......Thank you and even you can't help me thank you for let me get this out....

for the last year i have been suffering from dental problems. somehow, i started grinding my teeth in my sleep and now i have broken teeth that are painful and im finding it very difficult to eat lately too.

i have been a good mom to my kids, and that is why i cant afford to go to the dentist. my girls come first. but now, my dental problems are getting in the way of me being able to provide for my kids. i lay awake at night and cry about my mouth pain, then i feel sick for the whole day, its all i can do just to do the minimum around the house, and i can lo longer volunteer at the pre-school because i just cant take the pain. and my boss keeps yelling at me to look 'more pleasant' when im helping the customers, but i cant fake anymore. i fear i will lose my job or get demoted to the stock room if i cannot manage the pain. i just need money to get 3 teeth pulled, i would like to have them replaced, but for now, i just need the pain gone.

i want to be a part of my girls' lives, more than just feed and clothe and love them. i dont want to be absent because of the pain, and i dont want them to see me in pain.

i am making it known what my needs are, and i pray that they will be answered.

If you need dental care and you can't afford the prices I might be able to help you.  My company searched for good dentists and we found the best.  They truly care about your dental, medical and emotional health when it comes to your teeth.  No one should be in pain physically or mentally.  If you need dental help and have no money we can help you by referrals get the money.  We pay $50.00 a referral.  Our dental costs are very low a root canal is only $150.00, vaneers are only $250.00 per tooth, and extractions are $30.00, dentures are $350 full set.  Please contact me at smiles@smilesforless.com tell me what you need and I'll tell you how we can help you get it.  Or call me at 850-225-6516 Sincerely, Nancy McGuire

<>My name is Frederick Wirkus.
I would like to say a special thank you to Donated Dental Services, for their help with my teeth.  They made it possibal for me to get the impacted teeth worked on.  Although I still have teeth wrotted in my mouth, they did help me to get rid of the one that was infected. Thank you again for that!

<><><>Living on a very low income of less than $8000 a year gives us no money for such luxuries as teeth.  We have a hard enough time trying to buy medicines And food.  So, getting my teeth fixed is like a miracle!  I have been disabled with M.S. for 6 years now, so we are used to living cheap. I want you folks to know we don't waste money on things like trips or clothes, or even going out to eat. We are not wasteful. We recycle our rubbish! I tell you this so you know whem we recieve help, it is not wasted or abused!
 

Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Frederick Wirkus
1121 Monroe Street
Sweetwater, TN. 37874-2038
fredewir@charter.net