Affording Dental Services

Did you know that many Americans skip visiting the dentist because they believe they can’t afford it? About 1/3rd of Americans don’t go to the dentist because they don’t have dental insurance. Many more skip dental services because they don’t like paying for procedures. However, dental care is worth the cost, especially because not receiving dental services can cost you much more money in the long run. If you think you can’t afford dental care, think again! We can help you to know about dental insurance, why you need dental services and how our financial care team members can help you with dental costs!

How Many People See the Dentist?

Did you know that the American Dental Association recommends that every person visit the dentist at least twice a year? That’s about 30-45 minutes seeing a dentist every 6 months. Sounds pretty simple, right? However, studies show that not enough people are seeing the dentist. Americans visit the dentist much more than many other nations do, and yet, only about 65% of Americans see the dentist each year. With that number, many are only visiting the dentist once instead of twice.

The recommendation is to see the dentist for dental services every 6 months so that tooth decay and severe oral health problems don’t form. 6 months is a great amount of time to catch small decays in teeth that could grow large quickly. These biannual visits are so important that many insurances cover these preventative visits. We say “preventative” because biannual dental services are usually dental cleanings and comprehensive exams. These are two dental services that are vital for detecting oral health diseases and stopping their progression. With only 65% of American adults visiting the dentist, that leaves at least 35% that aren’t. It’s no wonder that about 32% of adults have untreated tooth decay. Is it a coincidence that that’s almost the same percentage of adults who don’t see the dentist? We think so!

Are Dental Services Important?

Many people don’t visit the dentist because they feel that they don’t have time in their busy schedules to see a dentist. Others will skip dental services because they don’t think they can afford the appointments. Seeing a dentist for biannual visits is much more affordable than skipping the dentist and developing oral health diseases. Diseases and oral health conditions cause such extensive damage to the mouth that you will have health problems and large costs to replace teeth and to do gum grafts and more. People who see the dentist for dental services are generally the people that have little to no tooth decay and oral health problems. Dental services are right up there with brushing and flossing when it comes to your dental health.

What We Offer

Through dental services, we offer our patients the chance at having a healthy mouth for life. You don’t have to lose your teeth with old age (or even in early age) if you see the dentist often. We know that most families have tight budgets. You have to make dental services fit into that budget. Dental emergencies and tooth decay can strike at any time. That’s why you always want to have dental insurance. Some insurances can be costly, but there are also many very affordable insurances offered through the federal government and even state governments that patients can get.

If nothing else, make sure you get comprehensive exams and dental cleanings every 6 months. These are the most important dental services we offer to help patients avoid disease and decay. Brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day, if not after every meal. Floss 1-2 times a day, use mouthwash to kill mouth bacteria and use fluoride products to strengthen your teeth. Find an insurance plan that will cover these dental services and then schedule your appointments. These insurances may only amount to a few dollars of your money being spent to receive much-needed dental services. Insurance premiums are calculated based on income and some families only pay premiums that would equal how much you would spend if you went out to eat.

Affording Dental Services

When it comes to affording dental services, realize that you definitely can! There are countless resources for helping families and individuals pay for dental services and biannual check-ups. You simply have to ask! We have many competent members of our staff that can assist patients with resources and insurance help for keeping their smiles healthy. We have options such as:

• Insurance and copays: Your insurance will pay all or a portion, and you will pay a small sum as well.
• Cash-Pay: We accept cash, checks, debit and credit cards for patients waiting on insurance or who don’t have insurance. We also accept Flex Cards, Flex Spending monies, HSA Cards and HSA monies. Financing with cash-pay is also fairly easy.
• 5% Discounts: These discounts are for those 65 years and older, as they have a higher risk for dental health problems.
• In-Network Insurance Companies: We work with Aetna, Anthem, Assurant, Cigna, Delta Dental, GEHA, MetLife, UnitedHealthcare and United Concordia Dental.

We often have new and current patient special offers. These change from time-to-time but include discounts on dental services like dental implants, Invisalign treatment, teeth-whitening and more. If there are specific dental services you would like, check our page often for specials we have.

Benefits of Better Oral Health

Our goal at Stonebrook Family Dental is to remove any financial barriers between you and the dental services you need. Prior to scheduling any treatment, our dedicated financial care team members can provide you with an estimate of costs. We can help you with insurance tips and sources and with alternative financing if needed. Your dental health is to important to simply skip your exams and cleanings. To get help with your insurance or to learn more about financing, call our office today at (303) 872-7907!