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.
A possible strategy for managing personal costs is one that centers on satisfying basic dental hygiene and health needs before embarking on cosmetic and other enhancements. While there are cases where cosmetic and functional needs coincide, there are also cases where the two can be separated, the cosmetic need being one that can be postponed until a later date. Your dentist would be happy to provide you with a reasoned cost and benefit analysis for the best decision from a financial standpoint.
An example of this might be the following. Suppose one is afflicted by a large cavity that has affected a large fraction of the enamel of a tooth. There may be two options. In one, the cavity is filled and a porcelain cap or metal cap covers it for further strengthening and protection. In the other, the cavity is filled and left alone. The first option is more expensive and longer-term, but the second is much less expensive and also lasts many years.
Astute patients will also know to avoid some cosmetic procedures unless absolutely necessary. For example, teeth become stained by coffee or smoking. The stains may be removed by whitening methods. However, it turns out that whitening procedures differ quite a bit in cost because of the differential use of underlying technology. Old methods allow for submersion in carbamide peroxide whereas newer methods incorporate the use of powerful lasers to activate and remove stains.
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.
The newer motorized toothbrushes provide added value because of vibratory motions that are more effective at plaque removal. Prices of toothbrushes occupy a rather large range meaning that consumers can elect to look at different models for different price points. Find one that suits your purpose without going overboard. Consider sacrificing on some features that are extraneous. A battery operated motorized brush can be half the price of one that uses fancy recharging circuitry.
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