The Scary Truth About Postponing Dental Treatment
It can be unnerving to hear from your dentist that you are in need of restorative dental work, especially if you aren’t currently experiencing any pain. After all, if the tooth isn’t causing you any day-to-day problems then why should you make dental treatment a priority? We get this question from patients all the time so we want to help you understand just how important it is to not postpone your dental treatment.
Dental Problems Get Worse With Time
The most important thing for you to understand is that the majority of dental problems only get worse with time. This means that even though you may not be in pain today, chances are good that you will eventually be in pain if you choose not to fix the problem.
All too often we get calls from patients who are in severe pain and need to be seen immediately only to learn that their pain could have been entirely prevented if they fixed the problem while it was still manageable.
Stages of Decay
Decay typically starts out very small. At first we will see a weakened part of your enamel which is our first indicator that there may be a problem with the tooth. With time, the decay works through the enamel and eventually will attack the dentin. If the decay is still left untreated, the decay will move into the pulp of the tooth, resulting in the need for a root canal, extraction, or an implant.
If we catch the decay while it is still only affecting the enamel, we have a much better chance of keeping you out of pain altogether.
Objections To Treatment
The most common objections we hear from patients who need dental work are cost and fear. Our dental practice is empathetic to both.
Dental work is not always glamorous, so we understand that people don’t always want to spend their money on it. However, what inevitably ends up happening is that their problem gets worse, they find themselves in pain, and more expensive treatment is necessary to remedy the problem. Since they are in pain they have no time to make financial arrangements, they are instead forced to come up with their out-of-pocket expense on the spot. It is always better for our patients in the long run to choose the more preventative treatment option as to avoid an unforeseen financial obligation down the road.
When it comes to dental anxiety and dental fear, we have you covered. In fact, our dental office caters to those who are scared of the dentist. We offer nitrous-oxide for those who need a little extra help relaxing, and we do everything in our power to make you as comfortable as possible.
Schedule An Appointment Today!
It’s normal to want to postpone your dental work, but the scary truth about postponing your dental treatment is that it will negatively affect the health of your mouth by doing so. If you are currently postponing work that your dentist recommended you receive, we want to encourage you to make the phone call today to setup your dental appointment. Your smile (and your checkbook) will thank you down the road!
