There is a saying that dentists use which may not make sense when you first hear it but it will once I explain in a little more detail. The saying is, "Dentistry is not expensive. It's the lack of dentistry that's expensive." You may stop, reread that statement, and think to yourself what is he talking about? That doesn't make sense.

Dentistry is focused on preventative care, which is proactive care. Proactive care is much cheaper than retroactive care. In dentistry, being seen for your routine cleanings and checkups is part of your proactive care. When you are seen regularly by your dentist you help maintain the health of your teeth and the structures that support your teeth. The more you keep your routine care appointments the less likely you will have decay or other serious issues develop.

The most costly aspect of dentistry is the treatment of disease, not preventative care. Here's the good news: when you're seen routinely for preventative care you are preventing yourself from having costly dental treatment to fix and correct neglected problems. The longer you stay away from the dentist the greater your chance of having disease develop leading to more costly dental procedures.

This is why the saying at the beginning of this blog is true, when you focus on preventative care and see your dentist regularly twice a year you are protecting yourself from developing costly dental treatment. Preventative care is the least expensive aspect of dentistry, and is typically covered by insurance at 100%. It's when you don't visit your dentist and allow time for dental disease to progress that causes high dental costs.

Always remember, your teeth in health should not hurt. If your teeth hurt, visit the dentist sooner than later. The sooner you see a dentist the better the outcomes and the less costly it will be. Don't ignore your dental issues in 2023.

This is your year to be proactive about your oral health and your teeth. You have the power to control the health of your smile rather than respond to it after issues have happened, and our team is here to help you. Call us at 785-274-9917 to make your appointment today!