Ok, I am stealing this headline from a successful commercial, but I got your attention didn’t I. Some of the commercials in this campaign are pretty good. I sure wish they would start showing those “Taste Great, Less Filling” commercials from years ago (this shows my age right?)
So why do I ask “what’s in your wallet?” This past summer I was attending one of the most forward dental meetings there is, the World Congress for Minimally Invasive Dentistry. The key note speaker was discussing how patients look at dentistry. He asked us a question….How much do you think the average patient budgets for dental costs in the course of a year? (Hence the headline what’s in your wallet). I hope the answer doesn’t surprise you but it is ZERO. Really, the vast majority of people, when they plan their monthly or yearly budgets don’t have a column in there for dental expenses. I get it. I don’t even know how many of us budget for medical expenses (I just plan on my deductible)
So, if we don’t plan to spend money on dentistry doesn’t it make sense that we should take the time to try and prevent our mouths from needing dental treatment to begin with. It’s kind of like an apple a day keeps the doctor away or an ounce of prevention equals a pound of cure. It’s what I have been saying for the last several years, the need for dental treatment is preventable. So if you are not going to include any money in your budget for dental care can you meet me half way and start brushing at least twice a day and flossing at least once a day. And there is an added benefit to improved home care, increased overall health.
I make a living out of restoring broken down teeth. And guess what? The vast amount of work we do in dentistry is replacing restorations that are failing for a variety of reasons. This brings me back to prevention, especially for our children. Take care of your teeth and you won’t need restorations to begin with.
For more info on how to prevent cavities and gum disease you can find everything you need on the internet or call your dentist.