Is dental treatment too expensive?
The first concern I commonly see and hear is that dental treatment is too expensive. And I agree with you, dentistry can be expensive. There's no way around it. But there is value behind the price, and there is a reason for the price.
I always tell people, don't get overwhelmed by the number. We can break it down step by step. All my treatment plans have a sequence: this is what we do first, this is what we do next, and this is what we do after we've addressed the most urgent things. The big number that you see can often be broken down into a few steps. We also have financing options that can break the cost into monthly payments.
That's the honest conversation I have with a lot of patients. I understand it's a lot of money. I'm not here to tell you that it's not. But delaying needed dental treatment can sometimes mean that the problem becomes more extensive and more costly to treat. The longer we avoid addressing it, the bigger the problem can become.
Am I too old for dental treatment?
Another very common concern is, "I'm too old for this." That one gets to me. Don't put an expiration date on your quality of life. None of us knows how long we're going to live, but what we do know is that we want quality of life along the way.
You want to enjoy food and dinnertime with your family. You have kids, grandkids, and friends, and you want to be a part of that community. It might sound silly to some people, but a lot of people understand the embarrassment that can happen during those events. You can't chew comfortably, something hurts, you don't like your smile, or you say no to dinner invitations because your denture is falling out.
Don't let age alone stop you from finding out what your options are. Get that quality of life back. Get that smile and function back. I have patients who are 100 years old, and they tell me, "I wish I did it when I was 80," because that was 20 years ago for them. Please come in and let us evaluate your individual situation rather than assuming you're too old for treatment.
What if I don't have time for dental treatment?
Another concern I commonly see is, "I don't have time." Neither do I. I am a dentist. I am a business owner. I'm a wife. I'm a mom of two little kids. I get it. But we do make time for the things that matter, and your dental health should matter to you.
Please make it a priority and make time. We'll work with you and try to accommodate your schedule.
Can I talk to my spouse before deciding on dental treatment?
Another concern I commonly hear is, "Let me talk to my spouse." And I get it. A lot of us can't make certain financial decisions without talking to our spouses, and I respect that.
Bring your spouse with you or get them on the phone. I spend time explaining the treatment and the reasons behind my recommendations, and it can be difficult to take in all that information during an appointment and then comfortably summarize everything afterward. We're more than happy to include your spouse in that conversation.
If you're here for something like a smile makeover, you can also bring your spouse with you. They may have different ideas about your smile, and it's always nice to have another perspective there with you.
Do I need dental treatment if nothing hurts?
Another concern I commonly hear is, "It doesn't hurt, so I don't need treatment." Just because something doesn't hurt doesn't mean there isn't a problem. By the time some dental problems become painful, they may require more extensive treatment.
I come from the preventive side of dentistry. I'd rather be a little more proactive than reactive, but I'm also very conservative. The biggest goal for me is to educate you and tell you the different ways you can prevent issues or, if you already have an issue, help prevent it from becoming a bigger one. Just because it doesn't hurt doesn't necessarily mean it's not a problem.
If you’re ready to schedule an exam or would like to learn more about our services, we’d love to hear from you. Call us at (586) 203-3057 or email [email protected]. We look forward to caring for your smile.