A program giving people access to discount dental work launched in Central Texas in early 2015 and expanded to the entire state May 31.
The Dentegra Smile Club allows participants to receive discounted dental work, such as cleanings and routine exams, at a 50 percent discount on average, according to the company. A cleaning and exam typically costs about $80 for members of the club.
“I look at it as the same way you would get a discount membership to a bookstore,” Dentegra spokesperson Elizabeth Risberg said. “I pay an annual fee, and every time I go into Barnes & Noble, I get 10 percent off [a purchase]. It’s the same thing [with the club].”
To participate, members can sign up online. They are charged a membership fee of $2 per month. When the time comes for a dental exam or other dental work, members choose a provider in the Smile Club network.
Hays County practices in the Smile Club network include Thomas John Kennedy of Texas DDS and Castle Dental in Kyle and Carus Dental, Aloha Dental, Crescent Dental and Amor Dental Care in San Marcos.
Risberg said the club’s dues and the discounted rates members pay for common services such as cleanings are typically less expensive than insurance premiums.
“People who don’t have insurance might find this plan attractive because you’re getting access to dental insurance without having to pay a premium, per se,” Risberg said.
Club membership is not meant to replace insurance, Risberg said.
For more information, visit www.dentegrasmileclub.com.
