In the world of vision and dental care, you're faced with rising costs and limited insurance options, particularly if you don't get it through an employer. So it's no wonder an estimated 68.5 million adults in the US don't have dental insurance. This impacts the ability to keep up with regular cleanings and needed work that can enhance the quality of life.

So, today, we're taking a look at money-saving tips to improve your access to dental and vision services on a budget. We promise: you'll like some more than others. But you'll find the wise savings you're looking for here.

What Do Dental and Vision Cost These Days?

For reference, here are some national averages for dental and vision care without discount plans or insurance.

• Dental Cleaning - $150 to $350
• Dental Xrays - $50 to $300
• Filling a tooth - Around $400
• Partial Dental Implants - $3,000 to $4,500
• Dentures - $500 to $6500
• Root Canal - Around $1200
• Vision Exam - $50 to $200
• High Prescription Eyeglasses - $300 to $600
• Corrective Contacts - $200 to $500

Prices can vary widely by state and location. So, you'll want to do some area-specific research.

1. Check Out Local Health Clinics

Many communities offer income-based prices for dental and vision care through the health department or a local non-profit "free" clinic. These clinics often recruit reputable doctors from the community who volunteer several days a year to serve their community. If you think you may qualify, this is something to check out.

2. Contact Vision and Dental Schools

Often, dental hygienists are required by their schools to provide a certain number of free cleanings to get their certification. In other instances, the schools offer discounted care to volunteers in the school facilities if you're willing to help students learn.

After a thorough education and extensive work on non-human models, students need hands-on training with real people. So, this can be a win-win for those willing to work with someone who may not be as experienced as a licensed professional.

3. Compare Prices on Insurance

Prices for dental and vision insurance and care can vary widely from plan to plan and community to community. It pays to ask around and look for plans that provide you with not just the most benefits but ones you'll actually use.

4. Run Price Comparisons on Service Providers

When it comes to comparing actual optometrists and dental centers, realize that those newer high-technology clinics or prime locations may be charging more to pay for their expensive equipment and rent.

If you don't need some really fancy work done "old-fashioned" dentist or optometrist may offer you the best rates. These are often locals who have been working in your community for decades.

5. Join a Discount Program

Discount programs can negotiate lower rates for members by guiding more patients toward the partner clinics.

These programs can cost as little as $100 a month and save you between 10% and 50% on care, depending on what you need done. So, these programs are definitely something to check out if:

1. You're okay with going to their providers OR your preferred doctor is already a provider with the program AND
2. You will need to spend over a few hundred on dental or vision this year to make it worth the program fee.

See our list of average costs above. These programs can pay for themselves quickly.

6. Explore Medicare Advantage Plans

If you qualify for Medicare due to age or disability, you might look into Medicare Advantage health plans. Some cover dental and vision, while traditional Medicare does not and they're often very reasonably priced.

7. Attend Health Fairs

Health fairs hosted in your area often bring information about community resources into a central location. This is a great place to learn more about what's available in your area and what savings you might qualify for.

Plus, you'll often walk away with a bag of freebies and contacts that make this a day well-spent.

8. See If You Qualify for a Health Savings Account (HSA)

If you have a high deductible health plan as defined by the IRS, you may be able to put pre-tax money into that account to use on several health related experiences, including vision and dental care. Depending on your tax bracket, using this account could be the equivilant to saving 12-37%.

9. Leverage Professional Associations

If you're self-employed, you may have access to discounts or specially-priced insurance through the association.

So Many Ways to Save on Vision and Dental

Whatever you're planning to buy, it's wise to look for ways to avoid paying full price. With these tips, you'll never take the sticker price for vision and dental at face value again. To keep exploring the savings, check out our savings finding tool.