Would like to start this article by bringing to light a very nice & old Chinese saying. It goes like this – A good doctor is one who will work towards eliminating his own profession. I read this 23 years back & since then I am a fan of this Chinese saying. Today, I want to tell you all one thing – I feel very happy to tell my some of my patients at least that they do not need any treatment & their mouth is healthy & fine. I dream of a day when all my patients will become healthy but visit us only for preventive procedures & when this happens, they will be also be spending less money on their dental health. While I wait to see such days in my patients’ lives, I would like to write about few best practices, which will help you to spend less money at a dental clinic.
A. Good oral hygiene routine
The 1st best way to save money on your dental treatments is the daily care of your teeth and its health at home, which is critical in staying healthy and saving money. It is important to ensure that you brush your teeth twice a day using a soft bristled toothbrush & good toothpaste. You should change your toothbrush every 6 months (some good quality brushes can last 12 to 18 months, though not many people tell you this) or whenever the bristles would become worn. You should also floss or use interdental cleaning aids daily according to the dentists’ advice whenever needed.
B. Routine dental appointments
The 2nd best way may sound strange, but to save good amount of money on dental care is by attending for regular, routine dental appointments. Studies have shown that for every rupee invested in preventative oral health care, you can save between few 1000s to few lakh rupees that might get spent over more complicated treatments.
Skipping dental cleanings and check-ups is a false notion of saving money. Gum disease in the initial stages & dental decay is almost entirely preventable with regular home & professional preventive care protocols. Dentists will be able to identify problems early reducing the need for extensive or expensive treatments. Spending a little on check-ups and cleanings will save you a lot in the long run. Just remember: the bill for filling a cavity is much easier to swallow than the bill for a root canal, crown or tooth removal. Whenever required we will advice you on proper diet & other preventive protocols to be followed at home or at clinic.
Choose to right time to visit a Dentist,
The more you delay, The more you pay
C. Seek best quality treatment
The 3rd best way – I will reveal a secret here, which is known to all but not obvious to them.
Hence, it is quite common for most patients to fall trap for economical treatments where they end up getting lower quality treatments. What follows after this, is that, the lower quality treatments won’t last longer & they become repeat patients for the same procedures spending more money over a period of time, compromising their dental health & many a times creating irreparable problems. So, over a period of time they end up spending more, though they may be spending in small increments each time (It is equivalent to paying EMIs). So, the wise thing is to get good quality treatment done, even if it costs a little more & for those who can’t afford, good idea is to choose EMIs over quality treatments instead of paying small increments over cheaper treatments. So choose a place which offers EMIs & get a durable treatment, which costs less over a period of time, saving money, time, energy & stress too.
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