You’re looking for ways to save money, and one idea you’ve come up with is cutting back on dental visits. Since you brush and floss every day, your smile should be safe enough that you don’t really need to spend extra on dental checkups, right? However, what you may not realize is that by not visiting your dentist every six months, you could actually be setting yourself up for higher dental costs in the future. Here are 3 ways that visiting the dentist ultimately saves you money.
1. It Lets You Address Gum Disease Early
Nearly half of all adults are affected by gum disease even though it’s a highly preventable condition. It’s easy to treat gum disease while it’s still in its earliest stages, but oftentimes there aren’t any noticeable symptoms until the condition has already become severe. A dentist can identify the warning signs of gum disease during a regular checkup and take steps to stop it from growing any worse. This helps you avoid the need to pay for advanced gum disease treatment and restorations later on.
2. It Helps You Ward Off Decay and Dental Infection
Even if your diligent about your daily hygiene routine, there are several spots in your mouth that are very hard to reach on your own. Bacteria can accumulate in these hard-to-reach areas, leading to cavities and eventual tooth infections. Regular dental checkups give your dentist a chance to clean your entire mouth before the bacteria that has built up can do any permanent harm; they’re also an opportunity to detect cavities while they’re small enough to be treated with a filling. If tooth decay isn’t caught as early as possible, it could eventually require root canal therapy, tooth extractions, or other costly treatments. It’s more cost effective to either have cavities treated while they’re still small or to stop them from forming in the first place.
3. You’ll Have the Chance to Use Your Dental Insurance
If you have dental insurance in South Portland, having regular dental checkups done is one of the best ways you can use your benefits. Dental insurance is not like medical insurance; while it does help pay for emergency treatments, its main purpose is to cover the cost of preventive care. As such, you’ll maximize your dental savings and get your full money’s worth out of your insurance plan by having at least two dental checkups performed each year.
If you’re still concerned about the costs of regular dental checkups, talk to your dentist. Even if you don’t have dental insurance, they might be able to offer other ways to save money, like an in-office membership plan; they can also help you apply for financing to make managing the costs of care easier. Take whatever steps you need to in order to fit preventive dentistry into your budget; your bank account will thank you for it in the long run.
About the Author
Dr. Katherine Parét wants Mind Your Mouth to be a practice where you can get high-quality dental care while also supporting your overall wellness. She’s studied many different fields of dentistry so that she can meet the needs of all of her patients. She believes that regular dental checkups should fit into any budget, which is why her practice accepts dental insurance and offers both an in-office membership plan and financing. To schedule an appointment or ask about your financial options, visit our website or call (207) 200-4106.