One big excuse many make when skipping out on their dental appointments is that dental care is just “too expensive.”
With how important oral health is, this is not a valid excuse.
In fact, the more you let your oral health go, the more likely costs will pile up in the future as you’ll have to resort to dental procedures.
Problems with not attending bi-annual dental appointments:
Let’s face it, avoiding or continuously canceling your dental appointments is only going to set you up for trouble, but what’s specifically the problem with this?
- Approximately 90% of adults over age 20 suffered from caries (cavities) at least once. Over a fourth of these folks did not have their cavities treated in time.
- Almost half of all American adults suffer from at least a mild form of gum (periodontal) disease. Those who are 65 years and older are much more likely to suffer from gum disease.
- Adults ages 20-64 have an average of 24.92 teeth, indicating that tooth loss is more common than one would assume.
- Nearly 50,000 American adults are diagnosed with oral cavity (mouth) or oropharyngeal (throat) cancer just in 2016.
All these things can be avoided or treated quickly when one attends dental appointments bi-annually. Paying attention to one’s oral health and participating in an oral health routine are also important. Considering only a little over 60% of American adults over age 20 attended an appointment at least once, in the past year, this is an issue.
But wait, dental care can be affordable, and here’s why:
1. The amount of coffee an average American spends on a year is almost triple as high as dental appointments.
In fact, the average person spends over a thousand dollars on coffee a year, much higher than the costs of a traditional dental check-up. The average person also spends nearly $2,000 on new clothes and $500 in alcohol a year. Knowing this, it’s embarrassing that we’re willing to spend more on luxury items than on our health.
2. You might already have dental insurance and just not know it.
Think you don’t have dental insurance? Well, you might. If you purchased a plan through the Marketplace Exchange or have an employer that offers insurance, you might be covered. Not sure if your employer offers dental insurance? Speak with your employer’s Human Resources Department to see. You may be surprised to find that the answer is “Yes.”
Also, purchasing a plan through the Marketplace Exchange and opting for dental coverage may mean you’re qualified now for dental insurance. Just check the benefit availability to find out.
3. You still qualify for dental insurance.
If you don’t already have dental insurance, no worries. If you already checked with your employer’s Human Resources Department and knew you don’t qualify for them or for Marketplace Exchange, you still have a chance to get covered.
Go to the DentalPlans.com website learn more about getting covered with dental insurance. Dental Plans offers plenty of information regarding dental coverage. You just might find the perfect plan!