Preventive Dental Care Can Save Thousands of Dollars
You may not want to spend the money on a dental check-up, but in the end it could save you thousands of dollars in avoiding an emergency room visit. If you skip a regular dental cleaning, it could cost you ten times as much in the long run, according to a PEW Center report.
The analysis also showed that ER visits for dental related issues have increased by 16 percent from 2006 to 2009. The increase is a result of a lack of dentists willing to treat Medicaid patients because of the low reimbursements, and the recession. Yet going to the ER is not the correct solution if you can’t afford the dentist. The ER doesn’t have dentists, so they are not set-up to treat teeth problems.
An average dental cleaning can cost from $50-$100; an average ER visit for oral issues can cost around a $1,000 for the treatment and prescriptions for painkillers and antibiotics to deal with cavities and infections. In Florida, there were more than 115,000 ER dental visits in 2010, which cost a total of $88 million in charges.
Most ER patients with teeth problems are children, perhaps because over half of children who receive Medicaid did not get preventive dental care. Teeth infections are especially scary for children who may get fevers or dehydrate from these teeth conditions. In Florida, 200 children were hospitalized in 2006 because of oral infections.
Pew researchers and the government are working to train hospital medical professionals on minor, preventive dental work. They are also considering adding more fluoride to water to help reduce cavities.
Wurzbach Parkway Family Dental wants to make sure that you get the preventative dental care you need to avoid costly medical bills. Contact us today to make an appointment for a dental cleaning to save you money and pain.
