US government experts predict that dental spending will top $100 billion this year and reach nearly $170 billion by 2017, based on a 10-year projection of National Health Expenditures. But early, proactive, preventative steps can ensure that your budget doesn’t become just another statistic.
Patients can keep their future expenses low by identifying concerns early and treating them while they are still in the earliest stages. A simple filling will remain significantly less expensive than a root canal, and offers the best long term outcome as well.
Dental, as well as other health spending will continue to outpace the rate of economic growth as they have in recent years. An ADA Survey Center review of the Consumer Price Index for Dental Services shows them to continue accelerated growth of prices relative to goods and services as a whole, due in large part to advances in treatment technologies and the costs associated with them.
This is not bad news, however. Better diagnostic tools, better materials and better methods bear inherent costs, but they also improve patient outcomes across the board. While patients may be paying slightly more than they did ten years ago, the services they receive have improved significantly.
Still, per capita dental spending is expected to increase from $254 in 2002 to $519 in 2017, according to the American Dental Association. The best way to make sure your expenditures remain in line is by getting regular checkups, listening to your dentist’s advice, and always addressing any problems as early as possible.
If you’re looking to fine tune, or completely overhaul, your existing hygiene habits, there are a number of procedures you may need to consider to get back on track. This article will explain some of the options available, along with the various benefits and considerations you should keep in mind.
PERIODONTAL THERAPY- Such as Scaling, Root Planing and Deep Cleaning
- This is a more advanced and detailed procedure to help control infection, only recommended in cases where infection may have already gone into the gums.
- Smoothes off embedded toxins (detoxifies) the root surfaces and carefully removes all calculus.
- The one to two week sequence is critical to the quality of your healing, and your dentist or periodontist can help you understand the procedure and importance of this.
- Postponing this therapy will put you at significantly increased risk for more permanent problems, such as bone loss.
- This procedure requires advanced skill levels on the part of the hygienist.
SIX-WEEK THERAPY APPOINTMENT – The Most Important Appointment
Full-mouth repetitive therapy to disrupt the bacteria that has resurged since the initial treatment.
Your hygienist will provide oral irrigation, which is a painless procedure, when done correctly.
Your hygienist will collect data for the Doctor to evaluate the process of your healing, so he or she may determine the best course of action moving forward.
The timing of this appointment is critical for your Doctor to make an accurate assessment of your healing process.
SUPPORTIVE PERIODONTAL THERAPY – The Next Phase of Therapy
The disease-producing bacteria can and will return to your mouth within a mere 45 to 90 days, so follow up examination is critical.
The hygienist will disrupt the bacteria in the areas you are unable to reach, even with your most advanced at-home dental care products.
Your hygienist will closely monitor your periodontal health to detect any recurrence of infection, however subtle it may be.
This phase is mandatory in helping control your infection. Failure to execute this final phase may mean you will fail to execute your periodontal infection.
Your hygienist will provide oral irrigation with the antimicrobial medication, affording you the greatest probability of a favorable outcome.
The processes and procedures may sound daunting, but they are only complicated if you don’t do them. Solving for pi is a lot of work, but it IS an exact science. While dental care is not an exact science, your dentist, periodontist and/or hygienist can be the calculator that cures your calculus, and you don’t have to be a math whiz to see that that’s going to save you time, money and an awful lot of discomfort in the future.
