Preventive Care Can Save You Money, Stress and Time

By Jill Feilmeier on June 21, 2012 in Dental Health

You have enough to worry about when owning and operating your own business – meeting clients, paying taxes, managing employees, and balancing your personal life. The last thing you probably want to do is go to the dentist. But, putting off a visit to the dentist may be more harmful than you think!

Preventive check-ups provide your dentist with an opportunity to identify and intervene early in dental diseases. This can reduce any pain and the financial costs associated with more severe forms of dental diseases.

For example, periodontal disease that goes unnoticed for lack of a check-up can progress into more serious stages possibly resulting in pain, tooth loss and a higher bill when you finally get in to see the dentist. If caught early, periodontal disease is easier to manage and, in some cases, can reverse.

Your dentist can use today's dental exams to screen for oral cancers and other health issues that can be difficult to spot on your own. In fact, more than 120 diseases can cause specific signs and symptoms in and around the mouth and jaw.(1) Dental professionals performing check-ups can spot  symptoms that could indicate serious health problems elsewhere in the body that
need attention. If you have a serious health problem, not only will that cost you money, but time and fear.

Check-ups allow your dentist to keep up with changes to your health status. Upon learning of medical conditions you've developed or treatments you're receiving, your dentist can recommend strategies to help you proactively counter the negative effects the conditions and treatments would otherwise have on your oral health.

Dental health professionals can suggest the frequency that's most appropriate for each patient. Some people don't need to be seen twice each year, while some need to be seen more often. Consult with your dentist to determine the number of yearly visits that is right for you.

Schedule your appointment before it is too late!

1 Steven L. Bricker, Robert P. Langlais, and Craig S.
Miller, Oral Diagnosis, Oral Medicine and Treatment Planning (Philadelphia: Lea
& Febiger, 1994).