Going to the Dentist Can Save You Money?
Your dentist can help you save money, but first, you have to actually schedule – and keep – your appointments.
The American Dental Association recommends visiting your dentist at least once every six months.
Depending on the condition of your teeth & gums, existing health issues, habits, or genetics, your dentist could even recommend up to three or four times a year.
So how does visiting your dentist help you save money?
Not because your dentist dishes out financial advice while they’re toiling away on your teeth, but because by seeing your dentist you are proactively monitoring & treating any potential minor dental health issue that will only turn major by delaying treatment.
Think of it as preventative maintenance, like an oil change with your car.
Let’s explore…
4 Reasons Why Seeing Your Dentist Every 6 Months Saves You Money
Reason #1: Prevent Tooth Decay
Catching the cavity creeps before they infiltrate your enamel and entrench themselves in your dentin is your number one key to saving money at the dentist.
When your tooth enamel erodes or is worn away from such things as excessive tooth whitening with activated charcoal products, for example, it doesn’t grow back.
Identifying this potential weak point in your dental defenses will allow your dentist to treat this – or any – issue – before it progresses into something more serious.
How does it get worse?
By not visiting your dentist on the regular. And it will not only get worse, but you’ll wind up paying more money out of pocket to treat what was once a small issue.
Preventing tooth decay saves you money!
Reason #2: Prevent Gum Disease
Did you know that three out of four Americans over the age of 35 have some form of periodontal (gum) disease?
The first reason why you might be walking around with gum disease and don’t even know it is because the early signs aren’t that noticeable, or painful – like a toothache.
The second reason is that you don’t see your dentist enough.
Red swollen inflamed gums (also called Gingivitis) indicate the early stages of gum disease (gum disease).
Gum disease is the result of plaque buildup along the gumline that affects the gums and the bone that support the teeth.
Plaque is the sticky film of food debris, bacteria, and saliva. If plaque is not removed, it turns into calculus (tartar).
When plaque and calculus are not removed, they begin to destroy the gums and bone.
If left untreated gum disease can lead to more serious oral & overall health problems such as stroke, heart disease, and even complications with pregnancy.
Preventing gum disease saves you money, treating the advanced stages of gum disease along with the potential systemic health issues will not.
Gum disease is easily preventable, but only by seeing your dentist on the regular.
Reason #3: Prevent Tartar Build-Up
Remember that sticky icky film of leftover food debris, bacteria & saliva that can lead to gum disease?
Yes, plaque.
Although you adhere to a diligent daily dental hygiene regimen, plaque will still accumulate on your teeth.
Despite the #2x2min brushing, daily flossing & rinsing, you can’t get all of that cavity conducive crud off of your teeth.
And when plaque in between your teeth or in places regular brushing & flossing don’t cover, it turns into tartar.
Tartar is a hard calcified deposit that forms on the teeth and contributes to their decay.
Tartar can’t be removed with a toothbrush, it can only be removed by your dentist.
Neglecting tartar buildup on your teeth will only cost you more time & money when you do finally address the issue.
Not only to remove the tartar but to also treat the negative impact it’s had on your smile – tooth decay & gum disease.
That’s how preventing tartar build-up will save you money, and the only way to prevent it is by seeing your dentist on the regular.
Reason #4: Get Your Teeth Cleaned
How often do you get your car washed?
How about your clothes or your house?
Probably pretty regularly, because no one likes to sport a dirty ride, dirty duds are not dazzling, and nobody wants to live in a pig sty.
So why would you neglect a bi-annual teeth cleaning?
When you don’t clean your car, your clothes, or your house it can lead to any number of problems, the same goes for your smile.
Getting your teeth cleaned is part of a regular dental check-up, and you should have them professionally cleaned at least twice a year.
Since your trusted dentist or dental hygienist will remove any tartar build-up during your routine teeth cleaning, there will be no need for you to fork over the extra dollars for what dentists call a “Deep Cleaning.”
A deep cleaning is just that, a more in-depth, more comprehensive cleaning that is required when tartar & plaque have built up for months or even years.
See how getting your teeth cleaned on the regular saves you money?
Seeing Your Dentist Regularly Saves You Money
By visiting your dentist for your twice yearly checkup & teeth cleaning you are investing in yourself.
This preventative smile maintenance helps you identify & treat minor oral health issues before they advance into more serious oral & overall health concerns requiring significantly more time and money to treat.
The bottom line of it is this, a root canal is more expensive than a filling. And an implant is more expensive than a crown.
Treating severe tooth decay, gum disease, or oral cancer can be expensive, but by practicing preventative smile maintenance you are saving money by scheduling – and keeping – your regular dental appointments.
This is how you actually save money at the dentist!
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