The 5 Costliest Oral Health Mistakes
No one likes going to the dentist. Between the cost and the discomfort, it’s usually not a happy place to be. Despite this, many people cut corners while dealing with their oral health, leading them to spend more time and money on dentistry.
Suddenly, instead of paying a couple hundred dollars a year for scheduled visits to the dentist, you’re paying thousands. And, on top of that, you’re sitting in a dentist’s office, and the dental chair, for hours more. Not only is that uncomfortable, it’s costing you money in lost hours at work.
To help you avoid unforeseen problems that take up money and time, we’re covering the 5 costliest mistakes you can make. So read on, and do whatever you can to avoid these mistakes.
Dental mistakes that will cost you more money
1. Waiting until it hurts to go to the dentist – Many of our not-so-regular clients only come in when they have something to complain about. Until their tooth hurts, they’re MIA. Some do this because they fear the dentist’s chair, while others think they’re saving money. But the truth is waiting until you’re in pain is one of the quickest ways to increase your dentist bill. By seeing your dentist regularly, you’re getting preventative treatments, like fluoride and cleanings, that will help you avoid costly treatments or surgery down the road.
2. Putting off getting treatment – Whenever we recommend a treatment, it’s for a very good reason. Usually, there’s rot in your tooth that will continue to eat away if it’s not taken care of properly. Despite this, many clients put off treatment. Once again, this is often because the client doesn’t want to spend the money, or is afraid of going through the procedure. However, this can also happen with people who are just too busy. Whatever the reason, putting off treatment almost always ends up taking more time, more money, and requiring a more invasive procedure in the end.
3. Improper dental health routine – Have you ever been told you should floss more? As dentists, we’re always giving suggestions on how patients can better take care of their teeth. Often, we end up giving the same advice to the same patient year after year. Many people tell us they just don’t have the time to brush for 2 minutes twice a day, floss after each meal, and use mouth wash. But, by cutting corners on your oral health routine, you’re increasing the chance that you’ll spend hours more in the dentist chair, racking up bills.
4. Choosing to not fix a missing tooth – Hockey players and gold miners did well enough without a full set of teeth, so why should you pay thousands of dollars to get an implant? To keep your mouth healthy. If you leave a gap in your smile too long, your other teeth will try to fill it, which can make brushing and flossing a pain. It can also lead to bone deterioration in your jaw which can cause sunken lips and cheeks that will instantly age you. Trying to fix these problems after they’ve happened is much more costly than paying for some type of tooth replacement.
5. Not teaching kids to take care of their own teeth – There are a lot of things you need to teach your kids. From how to cross the street to how to take care of themselves, teaching your kids how to go about their life well is a full-time job. The best part is when you start young they learn quickly, and are able to start habits that will continue throughout their life. If bad oral hygiene is one of those habits, the parent will end up spending a lot of money through the child’s younger years trying to keep their offspring’s smile bright and mouth healthy. That cost then gets shuffled on to the child when they move out.
The best way to avoid the dentist is to go to the dentist ;)
Everyone wants to avoid the pain and payment associated with going to the dentist. The unfortunate thing is in the quest to avoid the dentist many people end up paying more money and spending more time in the dentist chair.
If you want to decrease the amount of time and money you spend taking care of your teeth, schedule a visit with your dentist today.