When most people visit the dentist, the first thing on their minds is getting their smile the care it needs. Whether you’re there for preventive, restorative, or cosmetic treatment, a trip to the dentist always results in good things for your pearly whites. That said, your smile isn’t the only thing that’ll benefit from seeing the dentist; it’ll actually help your wallet quite a bit in the long run! Here’s more from your dentist in Little Rock about how visiting the dentist can pay huge dividends in both the short and long term, especially if you have dental insurance.
It Helps Detect Oral Health Issues Early On
Routine dental visits play a crucial role in preventing oral health issues like tooth decay, cavities, gum disease, and more from escalating into serious problems. Without the intervention of your dentist, many of these issues can result in total tooth loss! Not only that, but these issues are also relatively expensive to treat compared to the cost of preventive dental care and things like simple dental fillings. Visiting your dentist biannually will help to prevent giant spikes in your monthly budget due to unexpected dental costs!
One of the first things your dentist does during a routine visit is conduct an oral cancer screening. They’ll inspect your mouth, neck, throat, and oral tissues for any abnormalities or signs of this deadly disease. Since it progresses so quickly, missing even a single appointment could end up being the difference between being able to easily treat the cancer versus needing intensive, expensive treatment.
It Prevents Teeth Staining
In addition to preventing serious oral health issues, regular dental visits also help to mitigate and prevent aesthetic flaws, such as tooth discoloration. Every time you visit your dentist for a cleaning, they wrap up your appointment by polishing your teeth with a special substance called prophylaxis paste; it’s a gritty, nifty material that breaks apart surface stains on your teeth caused by things like coffee, red wine, soy sauce, and more. This helps you dodge the added cost of receiving cosmetic care down the road to enhance the brightness of your smile; the cost of repeated teeth whitening treatments can quickly add up over the years!
It Allows You to Utilize Your Dental Insurance Benefits
If you have dental insurance, you should know that most plans cover the cost of preventive care! You should also know that your benefits are set to expire at the end of the calendar year—meaning that any unused benefits won’t roll over! In this way, taking full advantage of your dental insurance before the end of the year means that you aren’t throwing away any money that you’ve already spent on coverage; go visit your dentist and get your money’s worth!
At first, it might seem cheaper to skip your dental visits—but this will ultimately cost you much more down the road! That said, be sure to visit your dentist before the year ends; their team can also work with you to ensure that you’re maximizing your benefits based on your plan.
About the Author
Dr. Randy Machen has proudly served the dental needs of the Little Rock community for over 30 years! Dr. Machen received his dental doctorate from the University of Tennessee and is an active member of several professional organizations including the notable American Dental Association. His practice is pleased to offer a wide range of preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatment options. If you have any questions about the article or how to maximize your dental insurance benefits, feel free to contact the practice online or over the phone for assistance: (501) 954-9900.