The True Cost of Postponing Dental Treatment

If you wake up one morning with a minor toothache, you may just dismiss it. Especially if it isn’t too painful and if money is tight. However, when it comes to dental disease, you need to know that it will never go away on its own. Instead, it will only get worse. By the time you eventually decide to visit the dentist, what might have been a simple dental cavity has now turned into a severe tooth infection. In the end, you’ve undergone a lot of pain, had to have your tooth extraction, and paid for a restoration or dental implant.

The above scenario and other very similar ones are quite common. In fact, Americans are spending millions of dollars a year on dental procedures that, had they visited the dentist earlier, would have been completely avoidable. In addition to the extra cost, a dental emergency may force you to miss work, causing even more financial strain.

Delaying Dental Treatment

Below are a few alarming statistics regarding the increase of postponing dental treatment:

• One in three Americans has admitted to putting off a dental appointment
• Of the one in three, around 80% are aware that the decision to put off treatment will cost more in the long run
• Around 60% of people who make less than $35,000 a year do not have dental insurance, meaning they’re even less likely to visit the dentist for dental treatment 
• The instances of people visiting the ER for dental issues have risen 21%

In addition to the financial cost of postponing dental treatment, you may also be damaging your overall health as well. Untreated dental problems such as gum disease and periodontitis, are linked to serious health complications such as diabetes, stroke, heart disease, and premature births. In addition to the damage to your health, these diseases will also accrue additional medical costs that could otherwise have been prevented.

In the end, simply practicing good at-home oral hygiene and visiting your general dentist every six months for a dental cleaning and exam can help you avoid painful and expensive dental and overall health problems.

For more information on periodontics and how to keep your mouth, gums, and teeth healthy, please make an appointment at Coastal Periodontics today. Our office is located in Portsmouth New Hampshire.