If you want to achieve a healthy smile in 2020 as affordably as possible, here’s a statistic that may interest you: For every $1 spent on preventive dental care, you can save up to $50 on major dental work like dental crowns and root canals. And while seeing a dentist in Midlothian for regular checkups saves a lot of money in the long-run, the benefits don’t end there! The new year just got started, so keep reading for 5 reasons why it’s a great time to schedule a checkup for everyone in the family.
1. Your Smile Will Look Better
Even good brushing and flossing habits can’t remove all the plaque, tartar and surface stains from your teeth and gums. With a professional cleaning, your teeth will stay clean and sparkling. In addition, any imperfections like chips and cracks can be addressed before they become more noticeable.
2. Painful Emergencies Will Be Minimized
Unfortunately, you can’t prevent all dental emergencies (such as a knocked-out tooth from an accident or injury). But when you see a dentist regularly, they’ll keep a close eye on your teeth and gums so that any problems can be found in their earliest stages, before they cause pain. This not only saves you from painful toothaches but also means that treatment will be simpler and less expensive.
3. You’ll Lower Your Risk of Gum Disease, Tooth Loss, and General Health Problems
Gum disease destroys the gum tissue and underlying jawbone which are the supportive structures around your teeth. And it’s not only incredibly common but also the leading cause of tooth loss. Equally as alarming, it’s also been found to increase the risk for certain cancers, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, stroke, and even pregnancy complications.
Professional cleanings remove cement-like deposits of tartar from under your gums, which is important for keeping them healthy. In addition, checkups include an annual gum exam to find signs of gum disease as soon as possible, before too much damage has been done.
4. An Oral Cancer Screening Is Included In Every Checkup
With any type of cancer, early detection is key to successful treatment outcomes. And when oral cancer is found early, the survival rate is 85%-90%. That’s why every checkup automatically includes a fast, easy oral cancer screening that takes just minutes.
5. Checkups and Cleanings Are Covered By Dental Insurance
Dental insurance companies usually cover checkups and cleanings at 80%-100% because they know that people who schedule these visits need less major dental work. That saves you money in both the short-term and long-term and also keeps everything much healthier, so it’s a win-win.
If you don’t have insurance, keep in mind that checkups are still well worth it and will lower your overall dental bills. You can also ask a dentist if coming in every 9 months or 12 months is an option. It’s not as ideal as 6-month checkups, but it’s much better than going years in between visits.
2020 just began, so why not start the year off right with a dental checkup? Now that you know about these 5 benefits, you’ll have plenty of motivation to schedule!
About the Author
Dr. Jay Oza is a family dentist in Midlothian who is dedicated to helping his patients achieve great oral health. He’s currently a member of the American Dental Association, Texas Dental Association, and the Fort Worth Dental Society. If you’d like to know more about the benefits of checkups or have any questions, he can be contacted through his website.