Going to an expensive dentist does not necessarily mean that you’re getting your money’s worth out of the appointment. It can be hard at times to know how to use money in the most optimal way with dentists, that is why we will talk about the best ways of avoiding paying too much unnecessary money for your dentist. So, let’s get right into it.
Avoid Cheap Dentists
People assume that there is no big difference between going to an expensive dentist and going to a cheap dentist. “Doesn’t take rocket science to pull out my tooth, right?”, This is where you are wrong. Cheap dentists aren’t great, they won’t flat-out fix your problem because to them you are a good sustainable source of revenue, why would they want to fix your problem and get rid of you? Not to mention, there is a reason for that cheap price tag of their services. They usually use sub-par cheap materials to temporarily fix the problem. Then, sooner or later, you will notice that their “solution” will start wearing out and make you have to come back to do it again, and so the cycle begins. There are several things that can go wrong with opting for a cheap dentist:
- You will spend more money in the long term due to the need to come back to fix the problem again
- The final product can look horrendous
- It can cause major discomfort in the mouth
- You will spend more money than you would originally to fix the problem that the original dentist has made
Regularly Go to Check-Ups
It’s weird when you think about how people will regularly clean and maintain their cars but not their teeth. You shouldn’t be seeing a dentist only when you feel soaring pain. Instead, going to regular check-ups every 5-6 months would mean that you maintain the optimal dental condition and prevent any big problems from even starting. It is also a lot cheaper to have check-ups from time to time when you are completely fine than neglecting to give any attention to your teeth and then once you feel huge amounts of pain to go to the dentist and get an astronomically high bill. So, if you haven’t been to the dentist in a long time, time to rethink your decision and maybe book an appointment.
Take Advantage of the CDBS
The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS for short) is a program by Medicare that covers an eligible child with up to $1,000 in the span of 2 calendar years to pay for various dental services. There are exact conditions that need to be met in order to be eligible for the CDBS, so you can check them out on the website of the Australian government.
Generally, you should take advantage of this program if you have an eligible child. If you’re wondering at, what age should you bring them over for an appointment, you can do that as early as the age of two. Good oral hygiene can be assessed at an early age and, if properly maintained, lead to good, strong, and healthy teeth for the child.
Some of the areas that are covered by the CDBS include:
- X-rays
- Regular check-ups
- Fillings
- Sealing fissures
- Tooth extractions
Use Your Insurance Benefits
If you have insurance benefits for going to the dentist, what are you waiting for? It’s money that has already been separated; it is not coming back. You are in a good position, take advantage of it. Schedule regular appointments to see if everything is okay with your oral hygiene. Although, it is vital to understand that no matter how good your insurance plan is, it will not cover everything.
Similarly, if your employer has not secured your dental insurance, do not pay for dental insurance out of your own pocket as it isn’t a feasible option. Simply put, you save more money by paying the full program out of your own pocket than you would be paying a large sum for dental insurance that you may, or may not use in the year.
Avoid Procrastinating
Even though we have mentioned it multiple times during the article, we feel the need to mention it again. Do not procrastinate going to the dentist. The moment you delay it once, the cycle starts. Once you say “Eh, I can always go next week” is when you stop caring as much about your dental health. This will result in you procrastinating every week and sooner or later your problems will start developing and you will end up with more severe pain as the days pass by. So, in order to not get to the stage where you have massive pain (and possibly a bigger bill), just go to the dentist.
Make Sure That Your Dentist Uses the Right Materials
Aside from regular dentist office equipment, there is a major difference between the materials that dentists use for crowns. Generally, it is frowned upon if a dentist uses the same material to make crowns for all situations. Especially if they use the same approach for all crowns. Zirconium crowns are of the highest quality and they will rarely (if ever) need to be replaced, saving you a significant sum of money down the line on crown replacements. We are also seeing more innovative approaches to dentistry, most notably by utilizing digital dentistry for computers to carry out certain dental tasks instead of electrical tools.
Don’t Go to a Specialist for Little Things
People often opt for going to a specialist for the most trivial of things. Specialists are far more expensive because of their extensive knowledge in the profession. Getting an appointment with a specialist over a toothache is just ridiculous. You will spend so much more money and not really get any true benefits in return. Sometimes people know what they are suffering from and by implementing an easy action they can avoid visiting a dentist. For instance, some people suffer from teeth grinding and a helpful solution for this issue is using a dental mouth guard.
In order to save money, prioritize what do you actually need to visit a specialist for. More chronic problems or problems that your regular dentist can’t solve are more than enough reasons for visiting a specialist and do not hesitate to do so if found in those kinds of situations.
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