Budgets get tight at least several times in a person´s lifetime and when that time comes it is nice to know that there are clinics offering free or low cost dental care.

One of the largest sources of information that I found was www.freemedicalcamps.com/. This website lists hundreds of sources for dental care. I am not sure if they are all free however the contact information for each of the hundreds of clinics is clearly visible. The site clearly states in its "About" section the following information below:

* Where one can get free medical help .

* Some of the listings we have do charge very little fee.

* Some places they ask you for small donation. We still list them Free Medical clinicss/Clinics as they are almost free.

There is one listing which ask for $20.00 per visit. We considered listing them, we made a note in the listing that they charge. As long as we see a motive towards helping people who are in need of medical help we consider them Free Clinics (We agree that we are going away from "Free") but we know their effort is worth lot more to lots of people.

* Some are for low income people, some are for homeless

* Some only serve the local community residents.

* Some Clinics are specific to HIV treatment etc. (We list them as well)

Free Medical Camp/Clinics lists clinic locations throughout the United States and some other countries.

At the website www.dentistryfromtheheart.org/ , Dentists From The Heart have, as their website says, “With every new event, Dentistry From The Heart is spreading free smiles across America. In 2008, Dentistry From The Heart events have donated more than $1.5 million in free dental care to more than 5,500 patients nationwide. The site features a You Tube like video that tells about their dental services. One particular thing that I liked about the site was that they featured photos of homeless people who were getting dental work done. I am an advocate for homeless people.

If you live near Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers low cost dental services. Find out more by visiting /www.wral.com/news/local/story/4614911/

Toronto Public Health Services offers Free dental care for eligible children, high school students and seniors

Services Include:

• Examinations
• Fillings
• Extractions
• Partial and Full Dentures*
• Cleanings
• Fluoride treatment
• Sealants
• Root canals on selected teeth

* Clients may be required to pay half the laboratory fee. Visit Toronto Public Health Services website at www.toronto.ca/health/dental/index.htm

The websites I mentioned above are just a few of thousands featuring low cost or free dental services. If none have listings in the area where you are living or where you need dental care call a dentist in your area and enquire about the location of a dentist that provides low cost or free dental care. Also, you can contact Dentist Associations and possibly get a referral there. In the United States there are local Chambers of Commerce, a business association group, which may be able to help with contacts or resources.

If you are out of a job, money dwindling down to zero, rent is due and no money for food AND you or a member of your family has a dental problem consider a free or low cost clinic. But, do not wait too long. The bacteria are eating away on the enamel and other parts of teeth 24/7.

Just the other day a friend of mine commented on his most recent visit to the dentist. The thing that really caught his attention were the screams coming from a six-year old girl in a dental chair next to the X-Ray room where he was being taken. The little girl was screaming, "Mahma, Mahma, make them stop. MaMA, MAMA!!! NOooooo," Her screams trailed off into hopeless sobs as the dentist´s drill probed deeper into the nerve of her tooth... the high schrill sound of the speeding drill entering her ears and the burning acrid smoke from her tooth entering her nose.

That little girl was terrorized as the dentist and technicians smiled as they continued their procedure on the little girl. It is likely that little girl will end up hating dentists, as well as her mother for not helping her.

Little has changed in the dental industry in the last fifty years.