Dental treatment can be expensive even if you have dental insurance. Most insurance covers basic cleaning and fillings, as well as x-rays and extractions. However, unless you have the best coverage, you may be responsible for partial payment on procedures like root canals, teeth whitening, gum surgery and cosmetic dentistry. If you don't have insurance cost for dental care can be astronomical.

Dental treatment usually involves relatively low-cost diagnostic measures and if tooth decay or consequent diseases are diagnosed early, the treatment is less expensive. So, education on dental care and early treatment are good ways to keep the cost down. However, there are ways to lower the cost of your dental care either through your place of employment or through low-income, community dental health care programs.

In a place of employment, an employee is usually offered a few dental plan options. The plans range from basic care coverage to the best dental care coverage you can get. The employer may pay all or part of a monthly premium to the dental insurance coverage. When the employee is seen by a dentist, depending on the coverage, he may have to pay for has much as half or as little as nothing for the procedure. Some types of treatment may not be covered under this plan at all.

For instance, cosmetic dentistry is generally not covered by any insurance, as it is not considered essential dental care. In many low-income community dental health plans, the only coverage is for the least expensive alternate treatment (LEAT) that is listed by the insurance company. For instance, if there is the option of a root canal or extraction the insurance company will pay for the extraction because it is less expensive.

In Austin, there are many private dental clinics and healthcare companies that offer low cost dental services. Check the local phone book or go to www.tda.org.