“We’re too busy.”
“We can’t afford a visit.”
“If it ain’t broke, why fix it?”
“Nothing hurts so I don’t need an appointment.”
Have you used any of these excuses to not make a dentist appointment for you or your child? It’s understandable. Life can get busy, and because of this, we often try to cut corners to save time and money. However, taking the easy way out with your child’s oral health can lead to some painful and expensive consequences. To demonstrate this, let’s follow little Jack and Jill through four important life stages of dental care.
Life Stage 1: First Years
Believe it or not, preventative dental care begins pretty early. Both Jack and Jill’s parents wipe their baby’s gums after every spit up and feeding. However, when it’s time for them to visit the dentist at the age of 2 or 3, Jill’s parents invest in a Membership Savings Plan which allows children under 5 years old 2 ½ years of FREE preventative care with a participating adult membership. This early preventative care will help educate Jill and her parents about good oral health practices, such as preventing baby bottle tooth decay, as well as catching oral health issues before they get worse.
Alternatively, Jack’s parents are worried about the cost of a dental appointment and decide to avoid the dentist. Besides, Jack only has one tooth that is barely erupted from the gums. He can’t get cavities yet, right? Not quite. Jack’s parents allow him to sleep with a bottle of milk every night, causing sugary liquid to pool in the mouth and form a cavity on his new baby tooth.
Life Stage 2: Elementary Years
It’s time for Jack and Jill to start elementary school, which means it’s also time to start flossing and brushing with a pea-sized amount of toothpaste! Jill knows that she must thoroughly brush twice a day in order to wash away food particles and reduce the chances of getting a cavity. Jill and her parents brush together and make sure to floss correctly and rinse. When it’s time for Jill’s next dentist appointment, she is cavity-free!
Jack, however, does not brush consistently. Jack sometimes brushes in the morning, but on most days, he doesn’t brush at all. At this point in time, Jack has already had a couple of fillings and one tooth extracted. That’s between $75 and $600 for extractions (depending on anesthesia and type of procedure), and between $50 – $4,500 for fillings (depending on materials used).
Life Stage 3: Teen Years
Teen years are pretty busy for Jack and Jill, as they are focused on school activities, socializing, and college preparations. Busy sometimes means sugary on-the-go snack foods become the go-to for a quick meal. This is an easy way to sabotage good oral health. While Jill certainly loves her sweet snacks, her parents encourage her to choose tooth-healthy options like apples and string cheese. It’s no surprise that Jill has another cavity-free appointment during her dental visit!
By Jack’s teen years, he is already missing a few of his teeth. Added to this, Jack also enjoys an energy drink or two during the day, which causes acid to eat away at his tooth enamel leading to dental erosion and tooth sensitivity. Jack now finds it hard to eat a lot of different foods and is at risk for malnourishment.
Life Stage 4: Adult Years
Both Jack and Jill are now graduated from high school and navigating the adult world. This is also a time when their parents have stopped making choices for them. Jill already has good dental habits ingrained into her daily routine and makes smart, healthy choices while enjoying an occasional sweet. Jill is pain-free, healthy, confident, and ready to take on the world!
Jack, on the other hand, is diagnosed with severe periodontal disease, or infections around the gum, ligament, and alveolar bone. Jack may need to postpone starting college or job hunting until he is out of pain and able to be productive. Jack is also self-conscious about his mouth, which affects his socializing and performance in job interviews. Jack wishes there was more he could have done as a kid to prevent his oral health issues.
Neglecting to establish preventative care into your child’s life can carry on into adulthood and lead to issues that can affect other areas of life besides oral health and physical wellness. Start your child off right by making an appointment with us today! If you are concerned about dental costs and insurance, a Membership Savings Plan might be a great choice for your family’s oral health needs. Click here for more about our plans.
From MYDDSOFFICE.com – Keep Smiling!