How You Can Save Money by Visiting Your Dentist

If you’re stressed about your financial situation, you might have thought about skipping your biannual dental visits to save some money. However, while these appointments do carry their own costs, the truth is that they can end up saving you a lot of money in the long run. Here’s why visiting your dentist in Chaska is the best choice for your bank account.

Saving Money with Preventive Dentistry

Oral health problems like cavities and gum disease don’t go away on their own; they simply become more severe over time. And since complex dental issues tend to be much more expensive to treat, delaying care could end up costing you more money than you would have spent otherwise.

The goal of your biannual dental checkups is to identify dental problems while they’re small and still easy to manage. That way, you can avoid the more severe dental problems and the often-expensive treatments associated with them. Furthermore, your dentist can clean your teeth to remove the plaque and tartar that can lead to tooth decay and other oral health issues; this helps you avoid dental problems altogether so that you don’t have to pay for additional care.

How Dental Insurance Can Help

If you have a dental insurance plan, that’s one more reason to keep up with your dental checkups. Most dental plans offer better coverage for preventive care than restorative care. After all, your insurance company will also save money if you can avoid needing costly treatments, so they construct their plans in a way that rewards seeking dental care before problems occur.

Typically, dental insurance offers about 80% to 100% coverage for dental checkups and cleanings. Similar coverage is usually provided for other preventive services like X-rays and fluoride. Note that there will be other factors that affect how much you pay out of your own pocket, like whether you’ve met your deductible for the year. Your dental team can review your plan with you and explain what benefits you can expect your insurance plan to provide.

Other Ways to Protect Your Smile

Visiting your dentist can go a long way toward keeping your teeth healthy and your oral health costs under control. However, you also need to make sure you’re taking good care of your smile at home. That means:

• Brushing at least two times a day.
• Flossing on a daily basis.
• Minimizing exposure to sugary and starchy foods that can lead to cavities.
• Breaking bad oral habits like chewing fingernails.

In short, avoiding dental problems altogether is always going to be the most budget-friendly option for your smile. If it has been more than six months since your last checkup, there’s no time like the present; schedule a visit with your dentist today.

About the Author

Dr. Mark Stapleton earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry in 2005. His current practice in Chaska, White Oak Dental, offers a wide range of quality dental treatments and is in-network with major dental plans like Cigna and Delta Dental. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Stapleton, visit his website or call (952) 448-2868.