It’s easy to rationalize not visiting the dentist – the procedures aren’t fun, they cost money, and whatever pains and aches you’re feeling aren’t that bad. Of course, this focus on the short term rather than the bigger picture could end up costing you greatly.
Oral Conditions That Can Worsen When Left Unchecked
Cavities, also called dental caries, are a relatively minor dental problem. They are common enough that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that about 32 percent of American adults have untreated cavities. For children, it’s a whisker under 19 percent.
If a visit to your dentist uncovers cavities, it’s possible that fillings or remineralization procedures could reverse the decay. But what if you keep putting off that dental visit? It could be years before you see a professional, and that cavity could become a major problem requiring a root canal or an extraction.
Even if you practice excellent dental hygiene by brushing and flossing every day, your tartar still builds up. The result could be gingivitis and gum disease. Respiratory disease, diabetes and heart disease are other serious problems that dentists could detect before it’s too late.
The Cost of Preventive Care vs. Reactive Dental Care
The cost of reactive care goes beyond dollar figures, although these are important too (and easier to quantify). Subjective costs include quality of life, stress and pain. Your quality of life suffers if you’re constantly hurting, even if it is a minor toothache. If you’re embarrassed about your bad breath and how your teeth look, you could inadvertently turn away from socializing and engaging in relationships. If you develop a disease, you might have to deal with constant and exhausting treatment. It’s hard to put a price tag on such costs, but they are tremendous.
Now to look at concrete costs: A cavity filling goes for about $204 if you don’t have insurance, although costs vary depending on where you live and where you get treatment. The cavity fillings should be at least half covered if you have dental insurance.
On the other hand, a root canal costs $957 for a back tooth and $1,156 for a front tooth if you don’t have insurance. That’s a huge price jump from $204. A tooth extraction should cost less, but the price tag can still run several hundred dollars more than the preventive cavity filling.
A preventive care visit tends to include a dental exam, X-rays and a basic cleaning. That could cost about $261, depending on where you live. However, that $261 you spend could mean not having to empty your pockets of thousands of dollars several years later.
Cut Your Costs With A Dental Discount Plan
If dental insurance is too expensive, you still don’t have to pay full price for preventative or reactive dental care. DentalSave’s discount dental plan saves patients 20-50% off every dental bill by negotiating fees with dentists. There is no approval or claims process, and all dental procedures are included as long as you visit an in-network dentist.