Info on Dental care for those who can't afford it..?

I am 44 years old and live in southern Alabama. I work in a local restaurant here. I haven't seen the inside of a dentist's office in many years as I simply can't afford it, but it's getting to the point where I really need to see a dentist, yet I still can't afford very much at all. Is there any way a person in my situation can get dental care? I once went to a dentist's office and many problems were outlined, but I think the dentist had visions of boat payments. I would gladly pay for a dentist's boat if I could afford it, but I can't, so to this day I still have not had any work done. Any information or help would be most welcome. Thank you.
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The dentist will go through your mouth and find all the problems, you don't have to fix everything he finds. It is WAY cheaper to fix the problems while they are small rather than to wait until you need MAJOR work. Much of the diagnosis comes from x-rays, so yes, you do need them, at least once a year. It's not a scam. What's a scam is the so-called insurance that doesn't pay for anything. If you can't afford the work there are options like care credit. Also you can go to a dental school or dental hygiene school which is often cheaper and sometimes free. Ask your local county social worker. Also, practice really good brushing and flossing and use a sonic care tooth brush.
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