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Is it cheaper to go to a dentist every 6 months or to wait for pain?

February 19th, 2008 at 06:44 pm

I am wondering this, now for the sake of keeping my teeth I vote dentist every 6 months (plus home care) But to tell the truth, I am not sure it is financially better.

A root canal and fillings are expensive...but so are x rays and cleanings.

Different dentists charge different amounts bu having researched price recently the average for a root canal is 1000..plus a crown at 1300 (why does it cost more to make em pretty than to clean em out?)

a checkup (with x rays) costs between 2 and 3 hundred...two a year is 400 to 600 a year.

And no guarantee having regular checkups will remove the need for a root canal!

So I am not sure teeth really follow the 'cheaper to maintain than fix' rule....

10 Responses to “Is it cheaper to go to a dentist every 6 months or to wait for pain?”

  1. Carolina Bound Says:
    1203447548

    I think you should go every six months, because things can change faster than you think. Yes, cleanings are expensive, but the dentist is also monitoring the state of your teeth and your gums, and it's a mistake to let things slide. Just ask me!

    The most frugal, and healthy, thing you can do is floss twice a day.

  2. Caoineag Says:
    1203450549

    Preventative dentist visits are not cheaper than fixing problems BUT I don't think this is one where the money is the only thing that matters...

    I agree that the frugal thing to do is to floss and brush your teeth.

  3. monkeymama Says:
    1203453037

    I do the 6 month thing.

    These days more and more dentists recommend 3 months. That seems overkill to me. Likewise, I don't find the vists to be expensive, so I don't mind going every 6 months.

  4. Joan.of.the.Arch Says:
    1203461049

    I don't go every six months. At this point in my life I think I can tell if my gums have a problem. My teeth stay really clean and I feel like I'm paying for nothing at all when they "clean" them. I'm in that chair no time at all. I am a big time user of that floss, though. I can't stand not to floss.

    Crowns are not just for pretty. They should also be engineered well to preserve function and useful alignment of remaining teeth.

  5. Broken Arrow Says:
    1203474347

    Hmm. I think you've mentioned that you don't have insurance, which changes things quite a bit. I have it right now, so it makes a lot more sense for me to engage in regular check-ups rather than not. After all, either way, I'm already paying for it!

    I also think it's worth "shopping around" for dentists and prices. I am almost convinced that many will charge you different rates for same basic service.

  6. reflectionite Says:
    1203479358

    i just made my first dentists appointment in two years the other day, and i go on thursday next week! (i'll let you know how THAT goes)

    before then, i had major work done as i had not been before that time, since i was about 7. it cost to the tune of $2000

  7. MariRDH Says:
    1203481563

    Things to look for in a Dental office:
    1. Appointment length- (should be AT LEAST 45 minutes. If you find one who gives an hour or more all the better)

    2. What is done at first visit as a new patient -(absolute best scenario is the DDS sees you first, thoroughly goes over your dental and healthy history, looks in your mouth and comes up with a treatment plan, explains everything and answers all your questions, Xrays if needed, baseline data collected...notice I did not say cleaning. These offices are very difficult to find and usually expensive - because they are worth it. Next best scenario is you are given an hour appointment or more so that the RDH or RDA can go over dental/medical history, collect baseline data & take xrays if needed, then the DDS examines you, comes up with a treatment plan, and the RDH cleans your teeth if there is time and you do not need more than a simple cleaning)

    3. The DDS washes their hands and puts on new gloves when he walks in the room. Seriously. Some don't and it is scary!

    4. I'm sure there are more but it was a 12 hour day today and I am tired! *LOL*

    PS. I am a preventative specialist. Prevention is cheaper than disease, also less embarrassing, less painful, etc. Who says you'll only need ONE root canal if you skip those regular preventive appointments?! Wink
    Not everyone needs to see the DDS every 6 months, but it is more likely that a person will need a more frequent recall (every 3 or 4 months) than need a less frequent one because most people do not take very good care of their teeth. If you really want to save money, next time you are at your preventive appt, ask your RDH to show you how to brush and floss and what else he/she recommends for your personal care routine...and then do it! At your next appt you can ask for feedback and recommendations for improvement. Once you are really good at taking care of your mouth, you can ask about once yearly appts, and I bet they agree. I can almost guarantee that they will be ecstatic that you actually care enough to ask for help!!!

  8. princessperky Says:
    1203526115

    Don't worry I plan on going to the dentist, just not sure it is cheaper...though it may be.

    Now flossing and brushing I totally agree is frugal! Very worth the cost...

  9. Lesley Says:
    1237753275

    it is by far way chaeaper and healthier to visit a DDS every SIX months for a routine exam and cleaning. A mouth is the window to the body...it is linked to heart disease, diabeates, oral cancer and many others. You change your oil in your car every 3,000 miles don't you??? Not sure where you all live but a cleaning/exam is usually under $100. If xrays ARE needed they are less than $20 a piece. And if you need to go every 3 months that is because you have PERIO (gum) disease and if left untreated than eventually ur teeth will fall out, leaving you with a set of DENTURES...and yes, you will still need to visit a DDS with those in your mouth due to the high amount of bacteria, breakage, fitting issues, and they DO have to be replaced every so often...So VISIT a DDS twice a year!

  10. Mythbuster Says:
    1246481136

    "You change your oil in your car every 3,000 miles don't you???"

    No, because this has been exposed as an utter fraud. The 3000 mile gimick goes back to a marketing genius who put it on those window stickers for one of the oil change franchises.

    There is no mechanical reason to change the oil at 3,000 miles. 5,000 is the norm unless your manual says 10,000.

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