Trying to find a new source of steady income is tough enough, but many of America's unemployed are also scrambling to find affordable healthcare and dental care.
  Some have already found a quick and easy solution to dental care savings: discount dental plans.
These plans are an alternative to dental insurance plans and they're part of a new wave of discount programs designed to give consumers much-needed discounts at participating dentists.
           With the U.
S.
unemployment rate at 8.
1% and more than 4 million jobs lost since December 2007, dental health care savings solutions such as these are in demand.
Unfortunately, as jobs are lost, health and dental insurance become a financial burden to many.
Individual health insurance and dental insurance can be difficult to obtain and COBRA rates are often outside of the range that individuals and families are willing to dish out for health care protection.
Rather than spend extra money to pay for potential health problems, many families decide wait it out, hoping that they don't need any major procedures before they bridge the no insurance gap.
Without health insurance, individuals are left hoping that they stay in good health during their time of unemployment.
For those without dental insurance specifically, this strategy can prove much more costly in the end, as most dental diseases are preventive.
Annual checkups and cleanings not only help to keep teeth clean and maintained, they also help to spot problems early, before they more intensive procedures are needed.
  Discount dental plans are an affordable dental insurance alternative.
These plans allow members to pay a yearly membership fee in exchange for discounts on most dental care services at participating dentists.