Control Expenses Of Dental Needs

Our need to maintain good oral health is balanced by cost. The average patient provides about $800 of revenue to a dentist each year, largely through group dental insurance but including also some out-of-pocket costs. In addition, patients must buy dental products such as night guards, electric tooth brushes that are not covered by insurance.

One way to save money at the dentist is to make sure that you’re getting the right amount of work done on your teeth, and not more. Whenever your dentist recommends a procedure, take a proactive stance by asking about alternative treatments, the costs of both the primary and alternative treatment, and most importantly, a comparison of the benefits between primary and alternatives. That is, if procedure B costs 50% less but can achieve 80% of the results, then your budget may accommodate procedure B much more easily.

A concrete example can help us understand how to manage costs. A common problem is a large cavity that has almost reached the root of the tooth. There are two options. The first option is to fill the cavity with natural color filling, and then cap it with a crown. The second option is to just fill the cavity. The first treatment will last longer but costs three times more, the second treatment should last many years and costs much less. A patient should weigh the lifetime of the work against the current cost.

Sometimes a procedure should be avoided for scientific reasons. Discoloration or stains on teeth can be removed by teeth whitening procedures. Traditionally, a dental solution of carbamide peroxide is used to activate stains to make them removable. In recent times, lasers have been brought in to enhance breakdown and activation of stains. The most current research, however, indicates that laser whitening is a strategy that has mixed results and warrants further refinement. Unless you find the carbamide peroxide alone is ineffective, consider avoiding the more expensive laser whitening.

Dental accessories are costly over time. Consider buying toothbrushes and floss in bulk at wholesalers such as Costco and Sam’s Club rather than one at a time at a supermarket. Try to get as much use out of a toothbrush as possible but don’t sacrifice usability. Very old toothbrushes become less effective at plaque removal because of poor bristle contact with surfaces.

Electrical toothbrushes are a convenience because of their high speed and power at removing plaque. But the prices vary quite a bit. There’s room to shop around for one that suits both your purposes and your budget. For example, a rechargeable base costs extra but saves batteries. However, considering that batteries need to be changed only once every 9 months means that effectively over the life of the toothbrush the rechargeable base may cost more.

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