How To Save Money On Dental Care

One thing we have come to learn through years of experience is the fact that not many people like going to the dentist. Wow, what an epiphany right? (We are kidding.) In all seriousness, one of the biggest complaints we get from our fan base is the simple fact that going to the dentist is not cheap. This is especially true if you find yourself in a serious situation like a dental emergency.

So, our goal with this article is to help teach you the very best ways in which you can save money when you go to the dentist’s office. We are going to give you tips, recommendations and precautionary measures you can take so you can literally save your money and time.

(Disclaimer: Not all of our advice or recommendations may hold true to your specific circumstance. Keep this in mind as you read this page.)

Let’s start with what is in our opinion the best way to save money at the dentist…

Prevention

We want to start things off with a bang. Therefore, we chose to talk about what can happen if you don’t prevent things like tooth decay or some of the other dental diseases out there. We are sure you have been shown pictures of disgusting mouths, rotten teeth, etc, throughout your entire life. Well, we are going to save you the heart attack of looking at another one of those types of pictures and just speak to you in terms that we know will hit home with you….

MONEY

Did you know that a full mouth reconstruction can cost you anywhere between $45,000 and $80,000?

Now, we are sure that 99% of you are not in need of a full mouth reconstruction. However, imagine all the little problems that can creep up if you don’t take care of your teeth. Oh, and trust us when we say that those little problems aren’t cheap (even with insurance.)

It is for that reason that we highly recommend that you:

Brush A Minimum Of 2 To 3 Times A Day. You might be shocked to learn that 43.2% of American women DO NOT brush their teeth a minimum of twice a day. How do you think the men fared? Even worse actually as 51% of men in America do not brush their teeth at least twice a day. Source.

It’s The Quality Of The Brush That Matters. Allow us to expand. After a recent talk with a well known dental assistant in the Texas area we learned that just brushing your teeth in 30 seconds is not enough. In fact, you should aim to brush every single tooth. The whole process should end up taking you at least 4 to 5 minutes.

Schedule Cleanings Every Six Months. This will accomplish a number of things. First off, you will get your teeth professionally cleaned every six months and this definitely helps your overall oral health. Also, you will be able to catch any problems that have crept up during the six month break from the dentist which means you can get the problem/s taken care of right away. A root canal is a lot pricier than a cavity.

Cheaper Is Not Always Better. You may view this as quite strange since this is an article specifically geared towards saving money at the dentist. So, why shouldn’t you go to the cheapest dentist you find? Simple, sometimes “cheaper” dentists will try to make up for it by doing more work. Work that you may not even need. We are not saying that this will happen to you but it definitely is a possibility.

Dental Insurance

We have talked a lot about dental insurance throughout our site. For goodness sakes, every single state page that we have ever created has a specific section dedicated to dental insurance for that particular site.

What does that tell you about the importance that we place on it?

Dental insurance is a very powerful thing. If you are lucky enough to work somewhere that gives you dental insurance for free then make absolute certain you get it. However, if you don’t have dental insurance and are going to be forced to pay for it yourself then we highly recommend you visit the state pages (in the link above) so you can get a general idea of what you can expect to pay per month on dental insurance.

Choosing The Right Dentist

At a first glance this particular section of the page may not seem so much about saving money. However, we assure you that finding a dentist that is the right fit can save you in the long run. First off, we want to note that most of the visitors who visit our site are in emergency situations. This means that they really don’t have time to put together a dental list and “try out” their chosen dentists. However, for the purposes of this article lets assume that you aren’t in an emergency situation and are just looking for ways that you can save money on dental care.

Requirements For Choosing A Dentist

• The dentist has to accept your insurance (if you have insurance.)
• Realize that if you have insurance you are leaving money on the table if you don’t go to the dentist at least twice a year (most dental insurance plans provide for free cleanings.)
• If you don’t have dental insurance then we suggest you still go to the dentist at least once a year (since catching an oral problem early can save you a lot of money.)

IMPORTANT

One important thing to realize about dental practices is the fact that they are a business. This means that they are always looking to make money. We are not saying this to rip on dentists but we want you to understand this principle so when your dentists pitches you on something you won’t make a financial decision you regret.

Luckily, most dentists don’t try to get you to buy unnecessary things. However, there are some out there that will try to bleed you dry of every last cent you are willing to pay. So, we are going to only say this once!

Do not waste $1500 on teeth whitening or trivial things like that if you can’t afford them or don’t need them. No matter what your dentist says.