The Financial Woes Dental Care Can Create
Today, most “average” people are looking for ways to trim money from the budget, not add significant costs. Unfortunately, even if you have dental insurance, dental care can create significant financial woes when something out of the ordinary pops up. In fact, many individuals cannot even afford the co-pays and deductibles, so they simply ignore regular preventative care.
Can You Afford Dental Care?
The real question here is if you “cannot” afford to have regular dental care. While most people have some type of medical coverage, dental coverage is not always included in the package. In fact, approximately 25 percent of the people in this country have no dental coverage at all! That is a staggering number of people that are simply ignoring their oral health.
Two common measures people take to save money on dental care are to avoid going to the dentist and skimping on home dental products, such as floss or toothpaste. Unfortunately, these “cost-saving measures” will end up costing you far more over time.
For example, if you buy a discount brand toothpaste that does not have fluoride, you will more than likely experience tooth decay is just a short period. In addition, by skipping regular dental visits, you will no longer be able to catch small problems, such as the development of a cavity. This can lead to severe dental problems, increasing the cost of the dental care when you are forced to address the issue. This is not even taking into account “other” medical problems that may arise due to poor oral hygiene.
Affordable Dental Care for Everyone
So, how can you save money on dental care? First, if you have not been to the dentist in some time, schedule a checkup. If you do not have dental insurance, see if you can find a local dentist that will accept payment plans so you are not forced to pay for all the care upfront. This may make it more manageable for your budget. More importantly, it will give you a much better idea of the current state of your oral health.
Second, do not skimp on dental supplies. Spend the extra $1 and buy a tube of toothpaste with fluoride. With so many vendors now selling online, you can probably buy in bulk to save money or find a much better price online with something like Amazon Prime than you can by going up to your local pharmacy.
Speaking of your local pharmacy, companies like CVS and Rite Aid have rewards programs that actually track your purchases and send you coupons based on your purchase history. In addition, these programs will also send you discount coupons a couple of times a month, enabling you to save even more money. Add a coupon out of the Sunday paper, and you just may be able to get premium products for far less than discount brands that do not deliver the same quality of care.
If you do not currently have dental insurance and are looking for affordable dental care, consider the Wellness Dental Plan. We create affordable dental plans for every budget that will enable you to secure the dental care you need to promote good oral health. For more information, please click here.
*Photo Courtesy of Marc Samson via Creative Commons License
