The prestigious Mayo Clinic does not mince words when it comes to the condition of the mouth: its website boldly asserts that oral health is “a window to your overall health.” For sure, certain bacteria and gum inflammation are linked by scientists to cardiovascular disease, premature birth, and insufficient birth weight. With this holistic understanding in mind, few would doubt the importance–urgency, even–of regular dental care and treatment. Given the economic realities and the state of insurance coverage, many individuals and families opt to put off this necessity in favor of other priorities. Is the typical dental visit a cost-prohibitive luxury?
Of course, pricing for dental procedures varies according to geography and the cost of living in general. One way to get a ballpark figure is to search out the amounts that insurance companies reimburse to providers. For example, a major national insurer estimates that a normal check-up for a returning adult patient might top out at $320. This price includes the examination, cleaning, and x-rays. The same company figures the same set of procedures will run about $233 in the southeastern U.S. Even on the low end, as is evident, a visit to the dentist is something that requires budgeting for most families, even more so for large ones.
The Huffington Post reported in 2017 that the number of people without dental insurance is triple that of those who lack basic health insurance. Even those who carry dental coverage are sometimes disappointed in the modest remuneration, leaving them with still significant out-of-pocket costs. Furthermore, those in need of treatment over and above semi-annual cleanings can face additional demands on the household assets. This underscores the need to include provisions for oral health maintenance and emergencies. Having a dental practice that is transparent and open about costs helps families to do this.
Case in point: a crown can run up to $1,700 in metropolitan New York while the same service can reach $1,500 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. These are imposing figures, yes, but amount to less than $33 per week. Even that can stretch some budgets uncomfortably but so does saving for vacations, dining out and weddings. Important to remember is the existential threat posed by passing on critical dental care year after year. When a crown is needed, for instance, and not taken care of, the bite and jaw can be affected adversely, promising a good deal of pain in the future.
A Washington Post article features a sobering statistic from the American Dental Association–emergency room visits for mouth infections are costing nearly two-billion dollars annually. Most of those crises would have been easily addressed earlier in the dentist’s office, for much less money. For some, yes, the ER is their only recourse. Still, there is a question over whether shifting financial priorities might make preventive care more affordable. Dentists and their staffs invest years of pricey education into their practices. Moreover, dental materials–equipment, instruments, gold, and silver amalgam, e.g.–must be paid for. Most health care providers are working people simply trying to make a comfortable living. The best of them remember that the patients are doing likewise.