When most people visit the dentist, the first thing on their minds is getting their smile the care it needs—whether it’s preventive, restorative, or cosmetic treatment! That said, your smile isn’t the only thing that’ll benefit from seeing the dentist; it’ll actually save you quite a bit of money in the long run! Here are a few ways that visiting your dentist in Stephens City can pay off in both the short and long term.
1. Helps You Catch Oral Health Issues Early On
There are many small, hard-to-reach places inside of your mouth that simply can’t be reached with your toothbrush, meaning that professional cleanings are a very important part of preventing oral health issues like tooth decay, cavities, gum disease, and more. These problems can all become quite serious when left untreated and can even end in total tooth loss without the intervention of your dentist! However, these issues are all much more 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!
2. 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.
3. Detects Oral Cancer
One of the very first things your dentist does at the beginning of every checkup 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 treatment. These screenings don’t just potentially save your life; they prevent you from having to pay for expensive chemotherapy.
4. Utilizes Your Dental Insurance Benefits
If you have dental insurance, you should 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! You can also work with your dentist and their team to ensure that you’ve maximizing your benefits based on your plan.
It might seem cheaper altogether to skip out on visiting the dentist, but ultimately, this will lead to costly problems that hurt your wallet and your smile in the future. That said, be sure to visit your dentist before the year!
About the Author
Dr. Thomas A. Gromling received his dental doctorate from the Medical College of Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth University and has proudly served patients and families in Stephens City for over four decades! His practice is pleased to offer a wide range of services including preventive, cosmetic, restorative options and more. If you have any questions about the article or would like to arrange a visit, you can contact Dr. Gromling through his practice’s website or over the phone for assistance: (540) 869-4377.