Going to see the dentist at Summerlin Dental Solutions on a regular basis will end up saving you money in the long term.
This is for a variety of reasons, all of which will be discussed in more detail below. However, before we proceed, the most important thing to keep in mind is that this is not only about the money.
Dental problems can have a domino effect on the rest of your body. Researchers are aware of a connection between heart disease and periodontal disease; however, they do not yet have a good understanding of the nature of this association.
People who suffer from periodontal disease have an increased likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease, regardless of whether or not this oral condition is the root cause. It is important to bear in mind the risk factors associated with heart disease because it is the leading cause of death in the United States.
And if you think that the fact that you clean your teeth twice a day exempts you from the dangers of periodontal disease, you should rethink that assumption. Even with careful attention paid to dental hygiene at home on a consistent basis, everyone is susceptible to developing periodontal disease. Periodontal disease affects almost half of all persons over the age of 30, according to some estimates.
Your dentist will be able to detect tooth decay, cavities, and even oral cancer in their earliest stages if you get regular dental exams. If any of these problems are discovered in their early stages, treatment will be far simpler (and cheaper). Let's discuss.
Why maintaining a consistent visit schedule will save you more money in the long term.
Let's talk about the greenbacks now that you have a (very general) understanding of the benefits to your health. In order to receive preventative dental care, you will need to shell out some cash. Because the price of these visits builds up over time, one may wonder whether or not they wind up being less expensive than other types of dental treatment, such as restorative dental care or dental emergencies.
If you never require a restoration or find yourself in a situation requiring immediate attention, then skipping dental visits will save you money. However, how probable is that to occur? If you don't visit the dentist on a regular basis, your odds of avoiding the need for extensive dental repair are fairly low. This is because dental problems can develop slowly over time.
Let's take a look at a few of the reasons why spacing out your appointments over extended periods of time results in a higher overall bill.
1) The charges for cleanings and scaling are based on the amount of time spent: More tartar buildup equals more time spent cleaning.
The expert cleaning that the dentist performs is going to take up a significant portion of your appointment. Plaque is a sticky substance that grows on your teeth as a result of the food that you eat. The majority of this can be removed when you brush your teeth (provided that you do it in the correct manner). On the other hand, if there are any particles of plaque stuck between your teeth, over time this will eventually harden into tartar, which is extremely difficult to remove with a toothbrush.
Both of these substances provide an environment in which bacteria can thrive and multiply close to the teeth.
Plaque and tartar will be removed from your teeth in a careful and thorough manner by your dentist or dental hygienist, including from any locations that are difficult to access. The length of time needed to do this task is typically determined by how unclean your teeth are. When there is a greater accumulation of plaque and tartar, cleaning them takes significantly more time. Naturally, the lengthier the dentist session, the greater the cost of the service will be.
2) Your insurance, most likely, includes yearly minimums that must be met in order to continue coverage.
You should also take into consideration the details of your dental insurance plan. The majority of people have access to dental insurance through their place of employment. If you happen to be one of the lucky ones, you should surely make the most of this opportunity.
There are a few key operational differences between standard health insurance and dental insurance. Its primary function is not to be ready to pay the exorbitant medical bills that result from a serious accident or injury; rather, it is to pay for routine preventative treatment. Your plan may compel you to reach certain minimum charges during the year in order to encourage you to visit their establishments. To put it another way, maintaining a regular schedule for your dental checkups will be to your financial advantage.
3) It is essential to detect degradation at an early stage.
One of the reasons some people avoid going to the dentist is due to the dread of being in agony or feeling discomfort there. Dentists, on the other hand, do all in their power to alleviate their patients' discomfort and cut down on the amount of pain they feel. In point of fact, thanks to advancements in dental technology such as local anaesthetic and sedation, the majority of patients have very little discomfort during their procedures.
Having said that, larger cavities and more severe issues will still result in higher costs and greater levels of discomfort. Consider the difference in price between getting a filling and having a root canal done as an illustration.
Dental fillings are a common and routine operation. They are typically able to be performed on the spot, requiring only a brief injection of local anesthesia, and do not incur a significant cost. When you have slight dental decay that has hollowed out a hole in one of your teeth, your dentist will place a filling (after cleaning out and disinfecting the tooth that was impacted). This will be done after the tooth has been cleaned out.
Depending on the extent of the damage, a filling might cost anywhere from $150 to $350 on average.
If, on the other hand, your dentist does not have the opportunity to fill that cavity, the decay of your tooth will continue until the infection reaches the pulp, which is a soft tissue located inside your tooth. If you haven't already, you will almost certainly get a toothache or experience pain at this time, and you will have no choice but to get a root canal.
How much will it set you back to purchase that? You could wind up paying anything from $600 to $1,400 for a single tooth, depending on the market and the kind of tooth you need (molars have more roots and thus are more expensive).
4) Routine dental cleanings prevent the buildup of tartar and plaque, two factors that contribute to more severe forms of gum disease.
It is important to keep in mind that the accumulation of more plaque and tartar in a longer period of time between visits to the dentist is not the only issue to consider. Even if you only have a small amount, the longer plaque and tartar are allowed to remain on your teeth, the more time the bacteria have to create damage, and the deeper it is able to penetrate your teeth.
The situation is just going to get worse as time goes on since it is only getting deeper and more entrenched. When this happens, you will start having significant issues with your teeth. To completely repair your smile, you might even need to have some of your teeth extracted and replaced with dental restorations.
The surface of your teeth does not contain any nerves at all. Toothaches and other forms of dental pain are normally only experienced if the problem has progressed to the point where it is affecting the soft pulp located in the core of the tooth, which is where the nerves are located. That is to say, if you wait until you feel it, it may already be too late to save the tooth, thus you should not wait until you feel it.
5) Preventative medical care is less difficult and more affordable to carry out.
Regular trips to the dentist are not too expensive, particularly if you have dental insurance. If all that is required of you is a speedy cleaning, a visual inspection, and perhaps a set of dental x-rays, you can expect to be in and out of the clinic in under an hour for the cost of a copay. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our office.
If, on the other hand, you require a root canal or restoration, you should plan on several visits and care that is significantly more complex. That translates into dollar signs that are going up as well. According to the findings of a study conducted by the health insurance company Cigna, individuals who did not receive preventative dental treatment had dental costs that were 43 percent greater.
When should I next make an appointment with the dentist?
The majority of patients benefit best from seeing their doctor once every six months. Because of the unique factors affecting their oral health, certain individuals might require more frequent trips to the dentist than others. When you have located a dentist, make it a point to inquire about the frequency with which they advise patients to schedule checkups.
How much does it cost to have a checkup at the dentist?
It's possible that you've overheard some individuals griping about how expensive dental treatment is. It's possible that this is the reason you've put off going to the dentist for such a long time. On the other hand, it's highly improbable that they are upset about the price of a routine dentist appointment.
Depending on the specifics of the market in which you live, the price of a dental checkup might range anywhere from $20 (with insurance) to $500. On the other hand, any service that requires more than just a basic filling or cleaning may easily cost several thousand dollars. For instance, the price of an extraction can range anywhere from $220 to $4,000, and the price of a crown might be anywhere from $500 to $3,000. Dental implants can replace individual missing teeth for a cost ranging from $3,500 to $4,000 per implant.
With just these examples, it is easy to see how the price of these more significant dental procedures far outweigh those of preventative care.
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Dr. Marianne Cohan was voted The Best Dentist/ Dental Office and Best Cosmetic Dentist from The Las Vegas Review-Journal in 2020 and 2021. She received her Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1992.
With an emphasis on cosmetic dentistry, complete makeovers, and implant dentistry, Dr. Cohan is committed to continuing education and feels that we never stop learning. Dr. Cohan takes pride in using high-powered magnification to perform minimally invasive restorative dentistry. She uses all the latest technological advances including digital radiography, digital photography, computer simulations, and high-resolution pictures of your proposed treatment on 55-inch screens. She also utilizes CBCT (cone beam) and laser technology.
Dr. Cohan is always available to her patients and is available for any dental emergency.
