The American Dental Association sponsors a site with a  1-800 number that you can all twenty four hours a day.  They will give you the names of good and ethical dentists in your area, that provide excellent dental care.  It is common practice to give at least three references.  WHAT YOU NEED TO ASK THEM is, how do you find a dentist that will work with you to make payments, over time, for the work that is needed?  They may also know of Dental Schools that provide good care at low prices, while they train dental school students.  If there are other programs available that will keep the cost down, they would be a good source for that information.  Our neighborhood dentist let us have a payment plan for my daughter’s braces.  You will find that many dentists will work with you, because they know that good health depends on good dental care.  Here is the number:  1-877-528-4242.  They have a web site that you can visit.  It allows you to put in your zip code, and even if you do not have insurance, it will show you dentists in your area.   A phone call might be a better choice though, because the site will just give generic information and not the special consideration that you need.