Several dental clinics and organization offer free dental services in Texas.
Many people who have medical insurance do not get dental insurance included. Dental procedures can be expensive, so many choose to opt out of oral care, risking tooth decay and gum disease. In Texas, the situation is grim, as it ranks last in the amount of residents who have overall health insurance out of all 50 states, according to Texas Senator Eliot Shapleigh. However, there are places to go and organizations that are trying to fill in the gap in Texas and across the country for those who need free dental care.
Instructions
1. Contact the Texas Dental Association Smiles Foundation. This organization of licensed dentists provides several opportunities each year for those in need to receive free dental care. Each year they hold a large event known as the Texas Mission of Mercy in a different city in the state for two days, where volunteer dentists see hundreds of people in need of care at a time. They also have a Smiles on Wheels mobile vans that go into communities in Texas and offer free dental services.
2. Apply for free dental care through a Hill-Burton Facility. The Hill-Burton program is run by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources and allows qualified people to get free or reduced-cost dental and medical care. Your income level must meet the current HHR Poverty Guidelines to be eligible. To apply you must go to the nearest facility that accepts Hill-Burton obligated facility. As of 2010, there are 11 Hill-Burton facilities in Texas, whose information you can find on the HHR website.
3. Do a free dental clinic search online. In a search engine, type in the city you are closest to and the term "free dental care" to see what services and programs come up. Some websites also list free dental services. Free Medical Camps.com offers a comprehensive listing of free and reduced-cost medical and dental services by state and then by city. Free Dental Care.us also offers listings of places to receive free dental care.
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