While it may sound enticing to save money by skipping regular dental visits, you’re more than likely hurting yourself in the future. Regular dental visits aren’t just for routine cleanings; they are meant to confirm your oral and overall health is in good condition. Without this peace of mind, you won’t know if something is wrong until it’s too late.
Today, your dentist in Spring Hill is explaining why preventive visits will save you time, money, and pain that could be avoided.
Preventive Care is Cheaper Than the Alternative
Preventive care is considered to be the cheapest form of dental care available. Routine cleanings work to remove calcified plaque, reducing your chances of cavities later. This tartar can only be removed by a dentist, so regular dental visits are necessary for good oral health. Additionally, preventive care is accepted across most dental insurance plans because insurance companies consider it proactive care. This means you’re less likely to need a more expensive treatment, such as a dental crown or root canal.
According to your dentist, every dollar spent on preventive care is worth several dozen on emergency and restorative care. That means seeing your dentist every six months will always be cheaper than needing a root canal, dental crown, filling, or dental implant. Preventive care helps you avoid the need for those treatments in the first place.
Less Problems = Less Time in the Dental Chair
The beauty of preventive dental visits is they can be completed in a single visit. That means, assuming you’re taking care of your mouth at home, you should only need to visit the dentist twice a year. A routine checkup only takes about an hour to complete, which means you’ll be giving about two hours of your time per year to keep your oral health in check. Treatments like root canals and dental implants can take multiple visits to complete. This is because a dental crown takes at least two visits to receive: one to fabricate it and one for placement.
Emergency and Restorative Care is Preventable
Even if you’re trying to save money, it’s important that you ask yourself this question first.
Is it worth the pain and suffering of a severe toothache, dental disease, or worse, just to save a couple dollars?
Emergency and restorative dental treatments are very preventable when you routinely visit the dentist and practice at-home oral care. That means brushing twice a day with a fluoridated toothpaste and flossing daily. Furthermore, a routine exam helps you stay ahead of disease that you may not have been aware of until your visits. Markers for heart disease and diabetes both appear in the mouth. Early detection is necessary to treat and cure oral cancer, and you won’t be able to do so if you skip your dental visits.
In the long-term, routine visits to your dentist in Spring Hill are always worth it. Schedule an appointment today to prevent emergencies and the need for restorative care.
About the Author
Dr. Loretta Matic earned her DMD degree from the Southern Illinois School of Dental Medicine. She’s always enjoyed helping patients achieve healthy smiles since she started working as a dental assistant in 2001 and been with Family Dental Associates since 2010. To learn more about her practice, contact her at (615) 302-1414 or visit her website.