This season is often the time there is an influx of new patients being seen in dental practices. Many of the new patients I have seen this spring are people who have not been to a dentist in five or more years. Here is a list of the top ten reasons these patients say they have stayed away from the dental office:
10. Fear of pain
9. Missing work time
8. Moved and haven’t “found” a new dentist
7. Have been out of work
6. My dentist retired
5. Can’t find an office I am comfortable in
4. I don’t like the dentist
3. Economy
2. Lack of concern
And…….the #1 reason people have stayed away from the dentist – Didn’t have insurance.
One of the new patients I saw yesterday (a 40-year-old) said to me, “I haven’t been to a dentist for over five years because I didn’t have insurance. I haven’t had any problems but now I have insurance”.
After examination, this patient was very glad to hear he did not have any cavities. He was not so glad to hear that he had moderate periodontal (gum) disease. When questioned on his familial history he said, “My mother has dentures and I know my father is missing some teeth but I think he’s okay”.
Despite the fact that most people do not know the details about their familial dental history, most seem to know if their parents had/have their own teeth, go to a dentist on a regular basis, and a general knowledge of any problems they have encountered. I always ask this question because it is a good general guideline as to potential dental issues facing the person sitting in front of me.
Luckily for the new patient described above, he will be able to regain most of his dental health with appropriate non-surgical periodontal therapy. However, he was made aware that he has bone loss that will not come back, and because of his genetic pre-disposition for periodontal disease (which affects some75% of the population), life-long maintenance, including hygiene visits every 3 months will be essential to maintain his fragile periodontal status.
And……if his goal is to be healthy and keep his teeth for his life-time, this means every 3 months for the rest of his life…..regardless of whether he has insurance or not. We talked about the annual cost for this maintenance with or without insurance and he was surprised to hear how affordable it is to maintain health.
As I have predicted, due to people staying away from the dentist, dental emergencies are on the rise. I have seen more emergencies (broken teeth, pain, etc.) this spring than I can remember in the recent past. Emergency room dental visits have risen at a staggering rate…..and just so you know, the hospital cannot do anything for you other than prescribe pain medication which often helps only minimally.
I urge you not to put off dental visits. If you have any of the “excuses” listed above, I would suggest re-prioritizing and putting your health at the top of the list. Many dental offices offer complimentary….FREE…initial visits. Talk to the dentist and dental staff about your concerns. There are ways to manage any of these concerns. If the dental office you go to does not listen or does not have a solution, move on to another office. Get a plan that is manageable for YOU!