4 Tips For Choosing Your Dental Procedures

Dentist Blog

Dentists do their best to keep their patients' teeth healthy. Sometimes dentists need to perform cavity fillings or root canals when a patient's teeth have started to decay. If you need restoration work on your teeth, there are likely several options available to you through a dentist. Some of these options are more inexpensive than others, but every treatment has its pros and cons. Here are four steps you can take when deciding on a particular dental treatment:

1. Take your budget into account.

When it comes to any medical treatment, your personal budget must always be taken into account. Some dental procedures are pricey, and not every budget is able to support that. It may be possible to choose more inexpensive alternatives to popular treatments, such as picking amalgam fillings instead of tooth-colored fillings. Talk to your dentist about your budgetary concerns because they may be able to offer you a payment plan or a discount to defray the cost.

2. Listen to your dentist's recommendations.

Your dentist knows best when it comes to your oral health. If you know you'll get a paycheck or bonus soon, it might make financial sense to wait on certain treatments. Your dentist will let you know if waiting is a viable option for you. Some treatments, like replacing dental crowns that are starting to show wear, can be put off for a few weeks or months without causing a catastrophe. Other dental problems are likely to worsen rapidly and should be treated immediately.

3. Consider the long-term implications of any treatment.

You must always consider the long-term implications to your oral health when choosing a procedure. For example, when a tooth is infected, root canal therapy is usually indicated. If you can't afford root canal therapy, you can choose to have your tooth extracted instead. However, tooth extractions can lead to complications in the future, necessitating dentures or dental implants down the line. After considering the pros and cons of both treatments, you may decide to take out a loan to get the root canal after all.

4. Pick the option that will give you the most peace of mind.

Your teeth are very important, so nervousness about dental work is normal. However, you can choose treatments that will ease your anxiety. Some dentists offer sedation dentistry through the use of nitrous oxide and other sedatives designed to help patients feel more comfortable. When considering your treatment options, make sure to factor in your mental comfort as well.

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15 April 2021

Mouth Rinses Are Not Just for Bad Breath

I have always brushed and flossed my teeth daily, but I still had the occasional cavity when I visited the dentist for a check-up. He told me it was normal to have a cavity on occasion and that I shouldn't let it stress me out too much. Well, I am not one to just accept any problem I am having, so I started looking into how to improve my oral hygiene even more. I had always thought mouthwash was just to improve your breath, but I found some that said they helped keep cavities away. I started using one every day before bed. I haven't had a cavity in two years now, and I think the mouth rinse is the reason! I created this blog to remind other people that even if they brush and floss regularly, they can always find ways to take even better care of their teeth.