Taking care of your smile can seem like a “Catch-22.” The dictionary calls it an impossible situation because you can’t do one thing until you do another, but you can’t do the second thing until you do the first thing.
So, visiting the dentist to take care of your smile means paying for care. But treatment is expensive, having risen 5.4% from October 2021-October 2022 alone. You may put off going because you’re worried about cost. However, if you don’t take care of your smile, it can lead to bigger, more expensive problems. So where can you find low-cost dental care and get out of this Catch-22?
Penn Dental Medicine at PHMC on Cedar (PDM at PHMC on Cedar) is a top low-cost dental clinic located at the PHMC Public Health Campus on Cedar—an innovative collaboration between Penn Medicine and the not-for-profit Public Health Management Corporation. And it’s right here in the greater Philadelphia area.
3 Key Facts About Low-Cost Dental Care Available to You
Understanding everything that goes into your care at PDM at PHMC on Cedar can help you see why high-quality, low-cost dental care is within your reach.
1. On average, your costs are 50%-70% lower than private practices
When you consider average national treatment fees, such as $58 for a general exam, $99 for routine teeth cleaning, $145 for X-rays, $147 for fillings, and $198 for extractions, those fees can start to add up into a significant amount even for what is considered preventative services. And if you have bigger oral health issues, the fees are higher.
Unfortunately, a recent Kaiser Family Foundation survey found that 33% of Americans neglected dental care because of the costs. But avoiding these services won’t just lead to poor oral health. It can lead to bigger financial problems:
- An estimated 2 million visits to hospital emergency departments occur yearly for dental pain.
- For a visit, the cost averages $749, three times as much as a visit to the dentist, amounting to $1.6 billion annually.
Reducing fees by 50%-70% at PDM at PHMC on Cedar can really add up to significant savings. Plus, these lower costs can make it more financially comfortable and viable to go to the dentist before problems start and keep your oral health in good shape.
What about dental insurance?
PDM at PHMC on Cedar accepts payments from most dental insurance plans. We also accept all Medicaid plans offered to residents of Southeastern Pennsylvania. If you have dental insurance, talk to your insurance company for details about what it covers. Our patient financial services office is also happy to help you with any questions about your coverage.
2. PDM at PHMC on Cedar’s unique care model gives you access to the skills of the region’s top dentists at affordable prices
PDM at PHMC on Cedar and its connection with the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine is a prominent example of a dental school taking patients for the benefit of all. These teaching clinics allow senior student dentists to practice and develop their skills under the instruction and guidance of the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine’s award-winning faculty.
PDM at PHMC on Cedar offers the dental services you need:
- General Dentistry: Fillings, crowns, bridges, making dentures, cleanings, and more.
- Oral Medicine: Diagnostic biopsies, therapeutic injections, topical and oral medications, and minor surgical procedures and excisions.
- Pediatric Dentistry.
- Periodontics: Gum disease treatment.
- Prosthodontics: Restoring and replacing teeth.
- Oral Surgery: Extractions of teeth.
- Custom care for patients with disabilities and special needs.
You get these services at low costs. In 2021 alone, Penn Dental Medicine patients who needed help affording dental care received services valued at more than $4 million. It’s our way of showing appreciation and thanking you for helping tomorrow’s best dentists. We look forward to continuing to give back to our community year after year.
3. PDM at PHMC on Cedar is conveniently located near you
In addition to our location at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine (at 240 South 40th St., Philadelphia), our other state-of-the-art facility is at the former Mercy Philadelphia Hospital building at 501 S. 54th Street and Cedar Avenue in Cobbs Creek as part of our collaboration with PHMC Public Health Campus on Cedar. Through our low-cost dental clinic, we are committed to lowering the barriers to care, both financial and otherwise, to improve the health and well-being of our community.
For Low-Cost Dental Care, Philadelphia Is The Place To Be
With a patient-care philosophy that centers on best practices, value, and quality care, you can relax knowing your smile and budget are in good hands at PDM at PHMC on Cedar. Learn more about our low-cost services in our free eBook, Dental Work Without the Stress, which you can download here.
When you visit us, getting the care you need at a price you can afford is no longer a Catch-22. So please don’t hesitate to take the next step and schedule an appointment for an exam or to discuss your concerns. Call 855-887-9229 or complete this form today.
