February Newsletter

Over the past several decades, public opinion has been going in the right direction on the topic of routine dental visits. This has been noticeable not just at our practice, but based on polling conducted by the American Dental Association’s (ADA) Health Policy Institute. According to their 2015 report titled Oral Health and Well-Being in the United States, 95 percent of those surveyed believed regular dental visits keep them healthy.

But maintaining consistent checkups and cleanings doesn’t only reassure us that you’re taking your oral health seriously. It allows you to say with certainty that you’re reducing your risk of dental disease later in life. Considering that preventive care is the cheapest professional care you can get, it’s worth setting aside portions of your tax refund on checkups and cleanings that help you maintain a healthy smile for decades.

If you’ve been needing more than a standard checkup, such as a filling, crown or tooth replacement, your refund can help you get that treatment started or completed. It’s common for patients to start a treatment plan but then put off the rest of their necessary care. No one should be settling for a temporary crown or never receive the restoration they so desperately need.

Temporary crowns are not designed to last in the long-term. If they break, they’ll expose your tooth to harmful bacteria and increase your risk of infection. If you have missing teeth, whether it’s just one or multiple, neighboring teeth will only attempt to fill the empty space to compensate. This results in your smile and bite becoming uneven and increases your risk for developing other chronic conditions.

The sooner you start your treatment plan, the closer you’ll be to achieving optimal oral health and preventing current problems from only getting worse.

Most people don’t feel the need to visit the dentist or practice oral care if no problems are present. However, they quickly change their tune once their daily life is affected by these negative consequences. Based on the same study from the ADA, pain was noted as the number one health problem for both young and low-income individuals. Based on the data, 42 percent of low-income adults and 35 percent of young adults also noted having difficulty chewing due to the condition of their oral health.

Putting your tax refund towards necessary dental treatments does not only help you improve your quality of life. It also sets you up for oral health success in the future. If you’re one of the thousands of Columbia residents who are expecting a tax refund this year, the team members and dentists at Beck Dental Care of Columbia are more than prepared to ensure your next visit is a productive one. We hope you and your family members get a chance to stop by our office soon!