What I am going to share will eventually put a smile on your face, but at the moment there is nothing to grin about. Our national dental wellness is in the bottom 20% of economically developed nations. The largest driving factor is the cost of dental care. Currently, insurance companies cover 19% of total dental care costs on average. Our state and federal assistance programs cover even a smaller percentage. Leaving your pocket to bridge the gap of +62%.
Personally, I have a hard time looking to the government for solutions to personal choice problems. If someone has smoked their entire life, or chooses to ride a motorbike without head protection, the taxpayers should not have to cover their poor choices. Likewise, taxpayers should not have to carry the load of poor dental health maintenance.
Dental diseases are a different issue. Our heredity can contribute factors that cannot be mitigated and those people need help, as in other diseases. However, most dental diseases can be prevented by something you have heard of many times called brushing, flossing, rinsing and checkups.
We need to be at the sink with our children, brushing and flossing alongside them to prevent a life of pain and expense. As we reinforce this positive habit, another positive process should be added with semi-annual cleaning and inspection with your family dentist at Smile On Dental Clinic in Huskisson.
Creating a relationship with your local dentist means quick emergency care when needed, and easy scheduling for routines or a digital smile design and treatment planning. A family dentist will have the skills to address everything from an infant’s teething to dentures, from whitening and clear alignment to veneers and implants.
The sector that can benefit most from regular cleaning and checkups, avoiding hospitalization is in ages 6-14. Our most vulnerable need protection. Currently, the subsidy scheme offers a maximum of $1132 for a two-year period. The average cost of a comprehensive inspection is $309, twice a year, over two years makes your out-of-pocket expense $104 before any treatments or procedures.
Prevention is key. We cannot control heredity so we must focus all the more on the factors we can control. Do yourself and your family a big favor, and brush together. Poor dental hygiene can lead to diabetes, heart disease, respiratory infections, and dementia down the road.
Now will you brush frequently? Give yourself a reason to smile by picturing the money you will save as you take your dental hygiene as seriously as a heart attack.
