An AirSmile study has revealed that over 42% of Australians in 2022 are putting off going to the dentist for regular check up and cleans because the cost of living has risen so high, pushing dental care further down the family budget priority list. The good news is that we’re here to share a few tried and true ways to lessen the financial burden when it comes to taking care of your family’s dental care needs.
Catch dental disease early, when it’s small and cheap to fix.
Dentists have been telling patients for years that if you want to save a significant amount of money on dental care the secret is to spend a small amount on a routine check-up and a professional dental clean twice a year. The reason this age-old advice still holds true today is because fixing small problems, like a small area of decay (tooth rot) or early stage gum disease (gingivitis) is relatively cheap, when it comes to paying for dental services. For example, a small area of decay can usually be fixed with a simple filling that costs between $180 – $230 and takes just 20 – 30 minutes in the chair to complete. Compare this with an area of decay that has been ignored for years and now the tooth is badly broken down with the bacteria threatening to reach the nerve tissue and requires root canal treatment to save the tooth. This dental treatment could cost anywhere from $450 for a large filling and up to $2000 to treat the infected nerve that’s now causing you extreme pain. That’s not including the dental crown that’s often recommended to return the tooth to a strong and stable condition following this type of invasive treatment.
The average cost of a dental check-up with a clean with a dentist or hygienist is around $150 – $250 per visit. Every two years the dentist will want to take a new set of x-rays to check between the teeth for decay which costs around $80, give or take. When you break down the cost of maintaining regular visits to catch dental disease early it works out to be around $11 per week. And since even the price of life’s little pleasures has gone up, you can’t even buy two large coffees for that.
Are you due for a check-up and clean? Get instant quotes for these services and more on AirSmile.
Buy an electric toothbrush
No matter how amazing you think you are at brushing your teeth with a manual toothbrush, nothing compares to the efficiency and accuracy you get when using an electric toothbrush. Electric toothbrushes do range significantly in price however, in the hands of someone that has been taught by a dentist or hygienists how to use it effectively, even a cheap $25 one will clean your teeth and gums far better than a manual toothbrush once you learn how to maneuver it around your mouth.
The benefits of an electric toothbrush vs a manual
- Scientifically proven to be a far more effective clean
- Great for children who want to take care of their own teeth
- Waterproof and compact
- In-built 2-minute timer to make sure you’re spending the right amount of time on each section of the mouth
- Rechargeable and long-lasting
- Great for people with dexterity issues. Just hold it on the tooth and let the brush do the work!
- Varies in price to suit all budgets and needs
- The entire family can use the same handle and just interchange the brush head.
Proper brushing technique, using the right tools and removing as much debris and build-up twice a day will give you the best chance of keeping disease-causing bacteria at bay. Failing to do so will most likely cause you to need expensive dental treatment in the future.
Get a few quotes before you proceed with treatment
If you’ve left things a little too long and now you’re in need of dental treatment to fix areas of disease the best money saving advice is to do some research before you proceed with anything. Getting a second opinion will help you better understand the treatment you need and why, the results you can expect, confirm the average cost of that service and ensure you’re comfortable with what is being recommended. A second opinion consultation with another dentist will cost around $50 – $90, but it could save you hundreds, sometimes thousands, depending on the treatment plan, so it can be well worth your time and a small outlay now.
If you don’t have time to attend multiple consultations you can do a quote comparison search on AirSmile. Best of all, it’s FREE!
We’ve got hundreds of dentists on our directory that offer instant quotes for over fifteen dental services. We also include a comprehensive practice profile to help you find the right dentist with just a few clicks. Start your search at www.airsmile.com
