In the current economic environment, you may think it is better to delay your dental care and save your money. You are not alone. One in three Americans are delaying visiting their dentists, according to a 2013 study entitled Aspen Dental Cost of Delay Study. If you fall in this category of patients, be informed this decision of your will cost you a lot of money in the future. The only way to save large dental care expenses down the road is to treat small dental problems and seek preventive dental care in a timely manner.
Alarming Statistics
While so many people are avoiding dental care, nearly 80 percent of them do know that this decision will cost them an arm and a leg in the future. And, just one in 10 Americans know that seeking routine dental care is crucial for their overall health and wellbeing. Did you know gum disease has been linked to several health problems, like stroke, diabetes and heart disease? So visiting your dentist every 6 months for a checkup not only will keep dental problems at bay, but also help you avoid serious health conditions.
Unfortunately, 61 percent workers with income less than $35,000 do not have dental insurance. So, this can be a reason for such families to avoid visiting dentists, as even routine dental checkup costs money that they can ill-afford to spend.
Every year, dental-related health problems are responsible for 20.5 million missed working days, according to the annual report of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources. And, children studying in school miss 51 million hours of school due to dental-related issues. It has also been observed from 2006 to 2009, there was a 21 percent increase in the number of people visiting ERs for dental-related problems. It is believed this increase will continue even in the coming years, as more people are postponing going to dentists.
Delay Will Cost More
If you do not seek early treatment for your dental problems or visit your dentist every 6 months for a checkup, you will spend more. According to a report furnished by Oral Health America, the “more” is equivalent to 10 times for managing the symptoms of your dental problem in the ER. The report also states that preventive dental care and management can save over $4 billion every year in the cost of the various treatments.
The Bottom Line
If you have a dental problem, even though you may feel it is insignificant, make an appointment with your dentist without delay. Otherwise, this small problem will grow over a period of time and turn into a serious dental health condition which will require you to spend a lot more than the initial cost.
So rather than being penny wise and pound foolish, you should act now. This simple act of yours will save you money down the road and also make the treatment more effective. You will avert serious issues. Not only will you save money on the treatment, you also will save money by not having your wages or salary deducted for being absent from work. So, what do you think?
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