Middle Class Dental

Where does the middle class find affordable dental care? It seems the system always favors either low income residents and those who are financially comfortable or just plain wealthy.

Far too many people have to pick and choose their dental care because of their financial situation. What we see is dental care programs for low income households, these are common and necessary.

And as for those who are well off, well we know how that goes... Either they have full coverage dental insurance or they have the cash in hand to cover any dental expenses at will. So where does the middle class fare in all of this?

Middle class income statistics in the United States are always changing. In 2021/2022, the definition of the term "middle class" or "middle income" is a single American who earns approximately $30,000 to $90,000 per year. These specific numbers are open to discussion but, in general, this annual income range is fairly accurate.

Excessive inflation has affected every aspect of life in the united States and dental care is certainly not immune. The middle class was already having difficulty paying for dental work prior to nationwide price increases and this situation continues to worsen.

Industry wide price increases are influencing everything from cleanings, whitenings, extractions, veneer installation, fillings, crowns, root canal procedures, and braces or Invisalign style tooth straightening. The middle class is forced to make decisions based on cost of service in many cases, and sometimes periodic maintenance of the mouth gets sidelined because of price.

So how the an individual living on a middle class income afford proper dental care wheter it's a periodic cleaning or a restorative procedure to alleviate discomfort. The options are a paid dental insurance, a subscription to a dental discount program, or cash from the savings account.

About the Middle Class

In the USA, the middle class is defined as an economic group of inviduals who earn an annual income that falls between the upper and lower income classes; this includes professional workers, small business owners, unskilled laborers, and their families. The middle class still holds a slight majority among the population in the USA but this has changed in the last fifty years, decreasing over time.

The middle class is decreasing in overall size because of an increase in numbers at the very bottom and top of the economic range. Some examples of middle class occupations are as follows:

Suggestions for the Middle Class

First and foremost, the best advice for middle class citizens for dental care is an employee sponsored dental insurance program. Employers pay a prtion of your premium as a benefit of employment and the group benefits are typicall well worth it. The employer withdrawls a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly premium from the employees paycheck and everything else is automatic.

These employer-sponsored dental insurance plans typically pay all costs for routine cleanings, and a portion of the cost for all other types of dental work like filings, crowns, and extractions for eaxmple. The most elite group dental insurance may cover larger percentages but rarely is everything fully covered.

The biggest drawback to this form of savings is the limitation set on the individual group dental insurance. These can vary substantially depending on your empoyer's choice in providers. Larger employers enrolled in larger group plans tend to fare better than the "little guy" or small business.

Another limitation on the employer supplemented insurance plans is the waiting period. Most plans have waiting periods for some or all of their benefits aside from standard cleanings. This is an important detail if you're in need of emergency dental work today...

The other suggestion for those living on middle class income are the discount dental programs found online. This is a viable option if your employer does not offer you a dental insurance plan.

These plans cost less overall but have many more stiipulations and much less in terms of beneifts. They also can be subject to a smaller number of participation providers in your local area. The fine print is critical if you plan on going this route.

Last Updated: July 4, 2022

About UDE

UDE is a free service designed to help place perspective patients with various oral care providers in close proximity. USA Dental Edge organizes oral care providers primarily by county (or parish when applicable).