DentalHealth

When times get tough, teeth just aren't on the top of the "take care of this now" list. And that's nothing to smile about. About half of Americans lack dental insurance, and 77% of those have postponed seeing a dentist because of the cost -- a choice that can have serious long-term consequences.

William Shatner may not be available, but patients who use a new Web site to negotiate prices with doctors might want to use Shatner's tactics as "The Negotiator" for Priceline.com. PriceDoc.com started in Seattle in April and is set to go national in November, allowing people to name their...

I used to have twice-yearly teeth cleanings when I had a full-time job with great health benefits. Now that I'm self-employed with a not-as-great healthcare plan, dental insurance is an unaffordable luxury right now. I've postponed the $125 cleaning this year as other bills are more pressing, but...