Have you ever heard the expression, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure?" Benjamin Franklin
spoke those words back in 1736, but they're just as true today--especially when it comes to dental care.
Less than
7 in 10 Americans visit their dentist office regularly. This could be because of financial concerns, fear, or just plain laziness.
But those who avoid dentist office visits because of the dental cleaning cost aren't truly saving money. In the long run, they'll likely spend more on conditions that could have been avoided with
basic preventative care .
How much does a teeth cleaning cost in Stockton CA? Does it really matter if you go a long time between cleanings?
In this post, we'll examine why paying for preventative dental care in Stockton CA now will save you a lot of money down the road.
Some people feel they're too busy to go to the dentist office, while others fail to see the importance. They may reason that as long as their teeth seem okay, there's no need for professional dentistry care.
This is a dangerous way of thinking--but we'll get to that in a moment.
The #1 reason why most people avoid the dentist is the cost of dentistry.
74 million Americans --or about 1 in 4 of us--have no dental coverage.
Even for those who do, many insurance plans only cover about $1,000 worth of care. In some areas, this may not be enough to pay for a single crown or root canal.
However, most policies do cover preventative care, such as regular cleanings twice a year. And for those without insurance, most dentists offer discounted cash prices or new patient specials.
Depending on what area you're in, the average dental cleaning cost for optimal oral health is
between $75 and $200. This might seem like a lot of money, especially if you don't have insurance to cover it.
But consider this: The cost of advanced dental procedures is much, much more. The average root canal costs over $1,000 , while crowns can cost twice that figure.
Do you still think a basic dental cleaning at your dentists office is too expensive or unimportant?
Getting regular cleanings in Stockton significantly reduces your risk of needing more expensive procedures in the future. It can also impact your overall health beyond what's happening inside your mouth.
Let's take a look at 6 things that can happen if you neglect your oral health.
1. Tooth Decay
It doesn't matter how vigilant you are about brushing and flossing. Without regular professional cleaning, your teeth will suffer from a buildup of plaque, bacteria and tartar.
Of course, a good routine of brushing and flossing at home is critical to maintaining healthy teeth. But once or twice a year, it's vital to get in the dentist's chair too for a deeper cleaning with professional tools.
Otherwise, plaque and tartar will slowly erode the enamel of your teeth. This can result in cavities, infections, and abscesses--all of which cost a lot of money to repair.
2. Tooth Loss
Some species of sharks can produce
over 50,000 teeth during their lifetimes.
Unfortunately, humans don't have that same ability to replace lost teeth. If we lose a tooth due to neglect and decay, that's it. There's no tooth waiting below the gums to fill in the gap.
Not getting regular dental cleanings increases your risk of losing teeth down the road. Plaque buildup leads to gum disease, which leads to destabilizing the surrounding teeth.
Once the tooth becomes loose, it's only a matter of time before it falls out. When that happens, you're looking at
thousands of dollars to replace it with a dental implant.
3. Gum Disease
Gum disease is a direct result of food particles getting lodged between your teeth and around your gum line.
Your body produces germs that break down those tiny bits of food that brushing and flossing leave behind. The germs, in turn, produce a slimy film that turns into plaque and tartar.
This creates a breeding ground for more harmful germs that can attack the surrounding gum tissue.
The result? Your gums swell, bleed, and pull away from the teeth, leaving you prone to tooth loss and serious infections.
4. Teeth Stains
Many of our favorite things in life leave stains on our teeth.
Coffee, wine, tea, and cigarettes all leave a dark residue on our teeth. Brushing your teeth at home only goes so far to prevent discoloration.
Regular visits to your dentist office in Stockton ensure your pearly whites stay pearly white. And while professional teeth whitening services are an option at your dentists office, it costs far more than keeping up with your basic cleaning routine.
5. Bad Breath
Remember the germs we talked about earlier that erode your gums?
Those same germs are also responsible for making your breath stink.
If you notice your breath is less than pleasant (or a kind friend points it out), it's time to examine your oral care routine at our office. Persistent bad breath is one of the first signs of gum disease.
6. Heart Disease
If the potential cost of advanced dental office procedures in Stockton isn't enough to motivate you, what about the cost of heart surgery?
Through x-ray procedures, scientists have found a definitive link between oral health and heart disease. The healthier you keep your teeth and gums, the less likely you are to develop heart problems later in life.
Considering the average heart surgery
costs a staggering $324,000 , getting your teeth cleaned twice a year is a small price to pay for good cardiac health.
