Many Americans lack dental insurance. If you’re one of them, you may be tempted to think, “It’s no big deal. I can brush and floss at home.” However, we’d encourage you to take this issue seriously. There are a number of reasons that it’s very important to schedule regular dental visits even if you don’t have insurance.
Exceptional At-Home Care Is Not Enough
Unfortunately, even if you brush twice a day for 2 minutes, floss daily, and eat a nutritious diet, you will still experience tooth decay without regular checkups. That’s because tartar—or hardened plaque—cannot be removed by brushing alone. It can only be removed by special tools that we use during your dentist appointments. If left untreated, plaque and tartar cause tooth decay, gingivitis, and ultimately, periodontal disease.
Risk of Serious Health Problems
While gum disease may seem like a small price to pay for skipping dental checkups, it can wreak havoc on your health. Not only can it lead to tooth loss, but advanced gum disease has been associated with a number of very serious health conditions including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, strokes, and respiratory disease.
Rather than run the risk of developing a serious health issue, we encourage you to schedule a dentist appointment. It’s actually far less expensive than you might imagine. Which brings us to the next reason regular checkups are so important…
Increased Expense
Like many people without insurance, you’re probably inclined to believe that the benefits of dental checkups don’t justify the expense. However, that simply isn’t true. When people don’t have insurance, they typically put off regular dental treatment.
While that may initially seem like a good solution, it allows dental problems to grow unchecked. So something that began as a very minor issue—a cavity requiring a filling, for example—worsens over time until more extensive dental work like a root canal or extraction is required. Because those services involve anesthesia and antibiotics, they cost significantly more than a filling would.
Bottom line? Regular dental checkups ultimately cost you less in the long run than treating dental emergencies as they arise.
The ER Is Unequipped to Help
Speaking of those dental emergencies, many people who skip regular dental appointments end up seeking help in the ER for severe toothaches. Yet, there is only so much the ER can do. While they might offer you pain medication, it’s only a temporary fix because those doctors can’t extract a tooth. Perhaps worse still, people who go to the ER are often left saddled with bills costing hundreds to thousands of dollars!
What Can I Do If I’d Like To Schedule a Dental Visit But I Don’t Have Insurance?
We can help! For a small annual fee, our Herrick Dental Loyalty program offers dental services at significantly reduced prices with no waiting periods, maximums, or deductibles. Contact us to learn more about the specific benefits of our dental loyalty program!
Alternatively, there are other ways to make your dental visit more affordable, like Care Credit. Visit our financing and insurances page to see all of your options. At the end of the day, your dental health is always worth it – it will pay off in the long run!
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