Dental

Dental

Free and Low-Cost Dental Clinics

• Annual Free Dental Clinic (October 5 and 6, 2024) – This website for the RI Mission of Mercy provides time, place, & description of services available at annual free dental clinic.
• Forsyth Dental Hygiene Clinic: Low Cost Preventive Dental Care – Free or reduced cost dental care in Worcester and Boston. $0-$25 for cleanings. Services include: complete oral assessment, cleaning, fluoride, dental sealants, athletic mouths guards, non-surgical periodontal therapy, whitening trays, and dental radiographs
• Charles River Community Health in Waltham – A community health center that provides low cost cleanings, x-rays, fillings, crowns, bridges, dentures, simple root canals, and simple extractions.
• Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center in Framingham – Multilingual staff and interpreters facilitate all appointments and programs, including pediatric and adult dentistry, dentals exams and cleanings, x-rays, urgent dental care, fluoride treatments, fillings, root canals, extractions, crowns, bridges, mouth guards, and dentures.
• Upham’s Corner Health Center in Dorchester – Accepts MassHealth dental plans and offers a sliding scale for those who can’t get dental coverage.
• East Boston Neighborhood Health Center – Financial assistance for dental services is available. Call Patient Services at (617) 568-4600.

Applying for Mass Health

NOTE:  Mass Health Dental Coverage covers most basic dental care services.  However, when choosing a dentist, it is best to select a Federally Qualified Provider such as a Community Health Center to ensure that the provider accepts Mass Health and that the service charges do not exceed the amounts covered by Mass Health.

Applying for Mass Health can be done online here.  This address is also useful when referencing application procedures and eligibility requirements.  UMass hospitals have Financial/Medical Eligibility Specialists that can facilitate completion of applications and answer Mass Health billing questions for those who would like assistance.  These professionals can help offer one-on-one assistance and expertise.

Mass Health Dental Benefits

• Mass Health Dental Annual Benefits
  –2 Cleanings
  -2 X-Rays
  -Fillings (if needed)

• Mass Health – Additional Benefits
• Dental Crowns (no molars)
  • Upper teeth 11-6
  • Lower teeth 22-27
  • Molars (may be covered with a formal appeal)
• Root Canals
  • Upper teeth 11-16
  • Lower teeth 22-27
  • Molars (may be covered with a formal appeal)

• Mass Health – Cosmetic Services
  • Acrylic Dentures
  • Acrylic Partials
  • Other materials may be partially covered with the client responsible for the majority of the cost.

Supplemental Insurance Plans

NOTE: Like most other health insurance, supplemental dental insurance plans often come with annual premiums, co-pays, and coverage limits.  It is important to carefully assess whether your treatment needs warrant enrolling in one of the types of plans.

• Fee for Service Plans
  • Indemnity Plans – Patient pays full cost up front and applies for reimbursement from insurer.
  • Direct Reimbursement Plan – Reimbursed based on money spent and not on the specific type of treatment.
• Managed Care Plans
  • Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)
    • Generally, more affordable
    • Coverage level varies according to treatment
  • Dental Maintenance Organization (DMO)
    • Usually the least expensive
    • Covers some treatments at no charge to the patient
    • Treatments often come with co-pays

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