Consequences of Postponing Dental Treatment

If you begin feeling a minor toothache, it can be tempting to just dismiss it. Especially if it’s not too painful or your budget is tight. However, ignoring a dental problem will not make it go away on its own. In fact, it will only continue to get worse, sometimes very rapidly. By the time the pain is bad enough for you to make an appointment, what may have been a small dental cavity has now become a severe tooth abscess. Instead of getting your tooth evaluated at the first sign of trouble, you’ve now undergone much more pain and will likely have to spend quite a bit more money getting it fixed.

Americans are spending millions of dollars every year on dental procedures that could have been avoided had they visited the dentist earlier. In addition to the added cost, dental emergencies can make you miss work, causing even more financial strain.

The Cost of Postponing Dental Treatment

Below are some alarming facts surrounding the increase of postponed dental treatment:

• One in three Americans have admitted that they’ve put off a dental appointment
• Of the above one-in-three, 80% know that the decision to delay treatment will cost more in the long run
• Up to 60% of people who make less than $30-35,000 a year don’t have dental insurance; this makes it even less likely that they’ll visit the dentist for treatment
• There has been a 21% increase of people visiting the ER for dental problems

In addition to the monetary cost of postponing treatment, you’ll also cause damage to your overall health as well. If problems like periodontitis and gum disease go untreated, you risk developing diabetes, heart disease, or stroke. In addition to the cost of your dental treatment, you’ll also have accrued medical costs for these other issues that may have otherwise been prevented.

The best way to prevent dental problems in the first place is to practice good oral hygiene and visit your general dentist every six months for a dental cleaning and a checkup.

If you believe you need endodontic treatment, or to speak to someone about root canal therapy, please call Endodontic Specialists today. We have two offices located in Colorado Springs and Pueblo, Colorado.