21 Y.O. soon to be college student with no dental insurance and terrible teeth - what are my options?

I'm a college student too...In your area, you may want to call around to the area schools. See which one has a dental college. You can be treated by one of the advanced students(there will be a supervising dentist). their rates are usually considerably less than others. They will examine you and talk with you regarding what needs to be done, explaining the procedures and costs. It's never too late to start caring for yourself. Teeth if not cared for can cause pain, infection and even affect how you eat(if broken or crooked teeth are involved). This is probably something that you will need to make a payment plan for. Break up the dental care procedures. You can also check into dental plans. Since you are paying for yourself, might as well save some $ too. Good luck!