Dental Procedures That Could Save You Money Long Term

With so many advancements in technology and dentistry, there seems to be a procedure to fix any oral complication. However, many procedures are expensive, and dental insurance isn’t as comprehensive as medical insurance. However, in many cases, paying the money to get that dental procedure done now could save you money in the long run. If you would like to learn more, keep reading.

Advanced Routine Exams

A comprehensive routine exam may be necessary for older people. As people age, their gums tend to recede for many reasons: tobacco use, improper brushing, eating acidic and sugary foods, etc. This allows food and other particles to slip below the gumline.

This area is hard to clean, and the tooth root is not protected by enamel. During an advanced routine exam, the dentist cleans the crown of the tooth like normal, but they will also perform a deep cleaning and smooth the tooth’s root to prevent the gap from getting bigger.

Similarly, during a more comprehensive routine exam, your dentist measures the gaps between the gums and teeth. If the gap is 3mm or deeper, you may develop or have already developed minor gum disease. In extreme cases, the gap can reach 10mm or deeper.

If you neglect advanced routine dental exams, your gums and tooth roots may suffer. The gaps, in particular, pose a major issue. If left untreated, more irritation and food can increase the size of the gap, and larger gaps cannot heal on their own. They will need expensive surgical grafts or gum flap surgery to add or reposition tissue.

Root Canal Treatment

When you neglect your teeth, cavities can start to form. Ideally, the cavity is small and spotted early, so you can get a filling and stop the spread of decay. However, if left untreated, it can advance into a tooth infection or abscess. Root canal treatment and extraction are the only two viable options for a tooth abscess.

Root canal treatment is significantly more expensive than extraction. On average, you may spend up to $1,000 to $2,000 or more just for the root canal. You can add an additional $1,000 to $3,000 for the dental crown you’ll need to protect the tooth. Extraction, however, can cost as little as $325 to $450 for a simple tooth extraction.

In the long run, however, an extraction can cost you a lot more. Root canal therapy saves the tooth, but with extraction, you may want to replace the tooth. Dental bridges are one common way to replace missing teeth, but they cost between $1,000 and $12,000, depending on the type and size.

The best way to replace missing teeth is with an implant. An implant works like a regular tooth because it sits in the jawbone, but implants can cost $1,000 to $13,000 or more.

Dental Crown

You may wonder if you can further save money on your root canal therapy by forgoing a dental crown, but that is not a safe idea. In fact, a dental crown can save you money in the future.

This is because dental crowns strengthen weak teeth. Teeth with big fillings or root canal treatments are more likely to break under pressure, but a dental crown covers any weak spots. In some cases, depending on the location of the tooth, the dentist can rebuild a broken tooth and save it with a crown.

If you’ve been avoiding that dental procedure because of the cost, you may want to rethink your plan. Saving a little money now may end up costing you a lot more in the future. If you would like to know more, contact us at Crest Hill Family Dental today.