# Dental discount plans -- what's the catch **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 28, 2012, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dental-discount-plans-whats-the-catch/636165 "2012-09-28T18:07:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dental-discount-plans-whats-the-catch/636165/21 "2012-10-01T19:05:25Z")
Been using Avia Dental as well! I’ve had to have 2 root canals, several fillings, a new crown, and many xrays. I easily saved about 1/2 of what it would have cost me out of pocket, and a little more than if I would have gone to university care (I’m not too far from UMDNJ) without having to be at the bottom of a long waiting list. Seriously, it’s saved me thousands of dollars for the price of a video game (per year). ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dental-discount-plans-whats-the-catch/636165/22 "2012-10-01T20:19:12Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > (But I have a feeling, I’m wasting my breath trying to explain this to you.) Well yes, because I already know and do all that, you may be surprised to learn. I don’t have an entertainment budget. Or a clothing budget. I don’t smoke. I rarely see friends because to them going out/seeing each other usually involves spending money. I figured out how to save $70 a month in food by making my own bread and cooking everything myself. I live a fairly spartan lifestyle, because I have to. I do without things I _need_, forget about Starbucks. There’s still rarely money left over at the end of the month. Believe me, if there was, I would damn well be saving it (and I have, when there was), because in another month or two I can expect work to fall off and I’ll have to live on savings again. When I had a middle class income, I saved like a fiend. That’s actually the only reason I’ve lasted this long. ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dental-discount-plans-whats-the-catch/636165/23 "2012-10-01T23:17:42Z")
> [@Kaio](#): > > Well yes, because I already know and do all that, you may be surprised to learn. I don’t have an entertainment budget. Or a clothing budget. I don’t smoke. I rarely see friends because to them going out/seeing each other usually involves spending money. I figured out how to save $70 a month in food by making my own bread and cooking everything myself. I live a fairly spartan lifestyle, because I have to. I do without things I _need_, forget about Starbucks. There’s still rarely money left over at the end of the month. Believe me, if there was, I would damn well be saving it (and I have, when there was), because in another month or two I can expect work to fall off and I’ll have to live on savings again. > > When I had a middle class income, I saved like a fiend. That’s actually the only reason I’ve lasted this long. you might also consider geting work done at a dental school if one is nearby, usually very cheap but take longer. Also many cities have low cost clinics based on income may be govt. run or non-profit. Check with health dept. or local dental society. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dental-discount-plans-whats-the-catch/636165.md?page=1)