Seniors face distinct disadvantages when it comes to covering the cost of dental care:
- Seniors typically have a fixed income, so money can be tight.
- Original, aka traditional, Medicare typically doesn’t cover dental care.
- Retirees typically don’t have employer-sponsored dental insurance to help with their dental bills.
These out-of-pocket dental care bills can be a shock to new retirees. Nearly 40% of seniors did not have dental coverage in 2023 (after accounting for those with Medicare Advantage plans), the American Dental Association finds in a 2026 report.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has made changes to add more dental services available to Medicare beneficiaries, but the list is limited and projected to benefit a small number of beneficiaries, according to nonprofit KFF.
For now, at least, the tooth fairy isn’t coming. Seniors are on their own to maintain oral health on a budget. Here are our best tips for limiting the expense of dental care in retirement.
1. Check out Medicare Advantage plans
Medicare Advantage (Part C) is the private insurance alternative to traditional Medicare (also called Original Medicare).
These plans often cover costs that Medicare doesn’t pay, including offering preventive dental benefits, such as teeth cleaning.
Seniors who skip dental care to save money are inviting trouble. Untreated dental problems are linked to serious medical problems, including heart disease.
Switching to a Medicare Advantage plan to save money on dental care isn’t an automatic no-brainer, though.
- Medicare Advantage plans vary widely in their coverage and costs.
- If you switch to Medicare Advantage from Original Medicare with a supplemental (Medigap) plan, you could lose supplemental coverage if you try to switch back.
2. Use a health savings account
You can save money by paying your dentist bills with money from a health savings account (HSA).
If you qualify for one, an HSA lets you contribute a set amount of money annually for spending tax-free on eligible medical (including dental) expenses.
HSA contribution limits for the 2026 tax year are $4,400 for individuals and $8,750 for a family.
Learn more about the value of these tax-free accounts in “The Health Savings Account Tax Trick Retirees Swear by — and 5 Other Reasons to Use It for Retirement.”
One important note, however: Once you enroll in Medicare, you no longer can contribute new funds to an HSA. You can still use any existing funds in your account to pay for dental services, though.
3. Consider alternatives to dental insurance
There are numerous ways besides insurance to cover the cost of dental care.
Did you know, for instance, that university dental schools often give free or reduced costs for dental work? Or that charitable clinics where you live may offer dental care at a reduced cost?
Dental tourism — traveling to another country where dental care standards are high and costs are less — is another approach that many have used.
4. Consult with your dentist
When considering how to cope with the cost of dental care, your first move should be to schedule a dental exam. At the appointment, talk to both your dentist and the dentist’s billing department.
The dentist can recommend a plan for your treatment. Ask which procedures should be done immediately and which can wait a bit. This way, you can map out your costs over the next year or two or longer, and budget to meet the costs.
Next, talk with billing. Say frankly that you have a tight budget for dental care and you would like help spreading out the costs. You may be able to work out a plan to pay for a costly procedure in, say, two or more installments.
Or you can have the most urgent procedure done this year and wait for next year to do a procedure that can wait a bit.
5. Buy dental insurance — or not
Is dental insurance cost-effective? Saying “it depends” isn’t just a way to weasel out of making a tough decision.
The plan you purchase, the cost of the services and the work you’ll need done all determine the value of insurance for you.
If your teeth and gums are healthy and your dentist says it’s likely that you won’t need expensive procedures in the near future, paying dental bills entirely out of pocket can make sense.
Here’s how to know: Look at your expected costs for the next year with and without insurance. Next, talk with your dentist’s billing department, which invoices insurance and sees each plan’s coverage limits. Ask if insurance seems worth buying, given the procedures recommended and, if so, which insurers offer better coverage.
6. Get the cash discount
Some dentists will discount the cost of their services by a specific amount — 10% is common — if you pay your bill in cash at the time of the visit.
Ask your dentist’s receptionist or billing personnel to find out if the discount is available.
7. Shop around for the best rates
When you are considering an expensive dental procedure, do what you would do if you were buying a washing machine or having the house painted: Shop around.
Go online and call local dentists to find out and compare costs.
8. Hang onto your workplace insurance
The proportion of seniors in the civilian workforce continues to climb. As of 2025, roughly 1 in 5 people ages 65 and older are working or looking actively for work, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates.
The takeaway: If you or your spouse is “actively” working (AARP covers this key distinction in depth) with health and dental insurance through an employer, don’t automatically enroll in Medicare. It may be cheaper for you to continue to get dental benefits through work.
9. Use fluoride
Fluoride, a mineral found naturally in water, is a cheap, safe supplement that helps reduce tooth decay, says the ADA. As such, it may keep your dental costs down.
Fluoride is added in low levels to public water in many communities to help prevent tooth decay.
Ask your dentist if fluoridated toothpaste or mouth rinses are recommended for you, particularly if you drink bottled water or if your community water isn’t fluoridated.
10. Be careful with credit-based payment plans
Your dentist may offer a payment plan. Before signing up, ask for a copy of the contract and take it home and study it. Interest payments and fees can potentially add substantially to the cost of dental care, so be sure you understand what you are getting into.
Self-insuring — simply putting a chunk of money into savings each month for dental costs — may be a financially safer plan.
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