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).
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.