While some people worry about physical discomfort when visiting the dentist, others are more concerned about the potential expense, especially if they don’t have dental insurance. This causes many to avoid attending appointments at all. However, unintuitively, going to the dentist without insurance can actually help someone save money in many instances. How so? Read on to learn how you can get the affordable dental care you need without having to rely on insurance.
The Benefits of Being Proactive
When it comes to your oral health, being proactive is not only the right approach for your teeth, but also your wallet. That’s because routine procedures like checkups and cleanings are always less expensive compared to those used to fix problems, such as fillings and crowns.
Simply by attending regular checkups and cleanings, you can enable your dentist to stop many common issues (like cavities and gum disease) before they start, meaning you won’t have to pay to have them addressed later. Also, if you happen to have a dental problem that requires further treatment, allowing your dentist to take care of it quickly will likely require a less costly procedure compared to waiting.
A Real World Example
Dental decay is extremely common, and it occurs when the bacteria in your mouth consume the leftover sugar on your teeth, and this causes them to produce an acid that can weaken your enamel. If your dentist notices this early during a checkup, they can let you know and intervene. A combination of a fluoride treatment (a standard part of any cleaning) and better at-home care can prevent the decay from worsening. Without insurance, this is relatively inexpensive.
But, if you avoid going to the dentist, that decay can eventually create a cavity, or hole in the tooth. This can make the tooth more sensitive and cause a noticeable brown spot to form. Eventually, the bacteria can reach the inner nerve of a tooth and cause an infection, creating quite the toothache. Now, instead of a fluoride treatment, you may need to undergo a root canal or even an extraction to deal with the decay from earlier. Needless to say, waiting ends up costing a lot more in the long run.
No Need to Worry
Spending a little now on prevention, even without insurance, will greatly benefit your smile and bank account in the long run. According to research, for every $1 a person spends on preventive dental care, they save about $50 on restorative treatments! Of course, if you’re still anxious about how much a trip to the dentist will cost, there is a more direct way you can help yourself—simply call the office you want to visit.
The team can go over how much you’ll be expected to pay out-of-pocket so you know what to expect, and if you still have concerns, most offices offer options so you can get what you need while staying on budget, such as flexible financing.
About the Author
Dr. Moji Chandy opened Aegis Dental’s doors in 2012 and has loved helping her patients achieve their dream smiles by providing reliable, personalized dentistry ever since. She understands that many people have financial concerns, particularly if they don’t have dental insurance. That’s why our practice offers financing through CareCredit and also has a $99 New Patient Special (which includes an exam, cleaning, and X-rays) so people can experience our practice while saving at the same time. To learn more about Aegis Dental and our financing options, or to schedule an appointment, just click here.