Dental Emergencies without Insurance Can Be Costly
Murphy’s Law often comes into play when it comes to medical emergencies. You no sooner let your dental insurance lapse than a horrible toothache appears. In a few days, you realize the toothache may be something much more serious and are forced to go to a dentist and pay the full price. So, how can you be better prepared for emergencies like this if you not currently have dental insurance?
Preventive Dental Care Can Help
Have you ever heard the saying, “You need to spend money to make money”? Well, the same can be true for medical care. While preventive care does cost money, the money it costs is far less than what it will cost if conditions are allowed to worsen simply because they are not detected until it is too late. Even if you do not have coverage, find a way to budget bi-annual checkups with your local dentist.
Dental Emergencies Happen…Be Prepared
Take the time to understand what to do if a dental emergency happens. For instance, you are out to dinner and crack a tooth when you bite into your steak. What should you do? Knowing what to do in cases such as this can be the difference in the dentist being able to save the teeth or much more costly bills down the road.
Know When You Need Dental Help during a Dental Emergency
We understand budgets are tight these days, but a true emergency requires you to put your finances on the back burner and seek the help of a professional. In the situation above, common sense would tell you that you need dental care ASAP. It is in cases such as this where a self-diagnosis or delayed treatment can lead to more serious problems.
Space Out Treatments
In some cases, you may not need a specific treatment at this very time. In fact, there may be less costly options that can save you even more money. If your budget is tight, check with the dentist to see if it is possible to space out your treatments over time so the issues can be addressed but done so in a way that you are not financially stressed.
Find Alternative Dental Coverage
If dental insurance is not feasible, there are alternative plans available that allow for discounted dental preventive care and treatments. For instance, the Wellness Dental Plan can save participants as much as 20 percent off the full cost of dental care. When you compare premiums and costs, it is possible to save more simply with regular maintenance visits to your dentist!
For more information about alternative dental coverage, please click here.
*Photo Courtesy of Wanna Be Creative via Creative Commons License
