How Can I Afford My Dental Care in a Down Economy?
Many patients put off necessary dental care because they are unsure how they will be able to afford what they need in this struggling economy. Rather than staying on top of regular dental visits and maintaining their health, the fear of finding an unexpected problem keeps them away. Putting off dental care can cause an emergency situation, more expensive care down the road or even tooth loss. Here are some things to consider when planning your dental care:
- Does your dentist offer interest free financing? This can be a useful way to break down payments over time at no cost to you.
- Do you have a Health Care Savings Account? The tax benefits from such an account can provide significant savings.
- If you have a large treatment plan, will your dentist help you decide what is your most pressing dental needs? Treating the worst first allows you choose how much you can spend per month or year and still continue to receive treatment.
- Do you have a plan for covering the portion of your treatment not covered by your insurance? Dental insurance has not changed much since the 1960s and most patients now incur and out of pocket expense. Be prepared.
- And ideally, you can plan ahead and be preventative instead of seeing your dentist on an emergency basis. Keep up with regular visits and follow your dentist's recommendations. This will save you a lot of money in the long run.