The Economy And Your Dentistry
The economy is a concern to everyone right now. Families are sometimes struggling to hold onto their homes, their jobs and the lifestyle that they have grown accustomed to. So, why should you have your necessary dentistry taken care of when so much requires your financial attention? There are several smart reasons that will help you in the future.
- Neglected dental issues become more painful over time. Decay and cracks never heal on their own. They can’t! So, decay becomes larger, endangering more of your tooth and potentially causing pain, the need for a root canal or crown and more expensive dentistry in the future. Decay is like a magnet. Once the tooth is compromised, the decay escalates. Dr. Johnson will go in and gently remove the decay and replace it with a white filling. He is careful to make sure all decay has been removed and then created the new seal, protecting and strengthening your tooth.
- Sealants can protect teeth from decay. Sealants are approximately one third of the cost of decay and help to prevent decay in children and adults. Sealants help save money and prevent decay, dental emergencies and pain in the future.
- Crowns are “protectors” that are placed over a cracked or broken tooth. They can also be used to protect teeth that have been weakened by heavy decay. Crowns can prevent a painful break and can also save your tooth. Without a crown on a cracked tooth, you may bite into something at any point and split the tooth in two resulting in pain, and most times, an extraction. When an extraction is necessary, the approximate cost to replace a missing tooth is four times the amount of the original crown.
- Keeping up with necessary hygiene appointments (cleanings) prevents infection and can save you time and money in the future by eliminating the infection that can lead to blood and pus in the gum line. That infection can eventually infect your whole tooth, resulting in mobility and tooth loss. In addition, infections in gums can contribute to heart attack, stroke, pancreatic and oral cancers.
So when it comes to your dentistry and affording what needs to be done, you really can’t afford not to take action. You could save yourself a bundle in dental and medical expenses and even save your life!