5 Right Steps to Get Your Money's Worth On Your Dental Treatment

I can understand that times are tough and money are difficult to come by easily. Thus, we end up concentrating more on the price rather than the value or quality on what we are buying. This is the same thing we do when we choose where to go for our dental treatment. Your first question more often than not to your dentist is how much. It is not what’s my diagnosis nor the treatment. We rather state what we want done and its price. Well, I have nothing against being decisive and prudent with your money but I am against putting price first before your well-being. If that is the case, then, you don’t value much yourself. Having said that, I do empathized with your worry about the ability to afford good dental treatment. You might be surprised if I tell you that there are a lot of good dentists that do provide affordable dental services, you just need to know if the price of the treatment will give your money’s worth. So, how will you know that?

1. Don’t ask the price first but state your problem. If you have an idea of what’s wrong with your tooth/teeth because you google it, then, isn’t it much better to use that knowledge you have to test if the dentist do know what he/she is talking about? If it is contradictory, then, you have a start to understand better of what’s really wrong with your tooth/teeth and can asks further questions for clarifications. Knowing what’s your diagnosis is the first step to know whether you do need to spend more or less money for your treatment or even if your dentist is the right person to treat you.

2. Always asks for options on the suggested treatment. As a patient the final decisions is yours. Do not put that responsibility to your dentists. You might think they know better but they don’t because only you know you better. Your dentists only knows the treatment but whether it suits you or not, it is you who knows that. After all you got to pay and live with it.

3. Asks the pros and cons of each treatment options. It is best to know rather than not know what the treatment entails for you. Know the following answers to these questions:

- How long the treatment will take?
- How long will the end result lasts?
- Will there be possible complications?
- Will there be much tooth destruction?
- What do you need to do for its maintenance?
- What will your dentist choose for the treatments given if he/she is in your shoes?

4. Weigh your options and choose first your desired treatment without knowing the price. This blind decision on the cost will allow you to be honest in choosing the best treatment option for yourself. My only unsolicited advised for you is always choose the minimally invasive treatment. If you can save your tooth or have it done with less destruction of your tooth/teeth, the better option it is. Why? Because your natural teeth ALWAYS beats anything that’s artificial.

5. Finally, asks the price. Only and only after you’ve chosen what you consider as the best treatment for yourself should you asks your dentist for the price. Why? Because by deciding first what you believe is the best treatment for you is generally is the best treatment for you. Knowing the cost of the treatment prior to deciding which one you believe is good for you will affect your decision. So, decide first, then, finally asks the patient’s favorite question, how much?

I must be honest, most of the treatments that provides minimal invasion to your tooth/teeth are generally more expensive than those that are not. Most dentists will work with you in order that you can afford it and can suggests payment schemes that can allow you to stretch your budget. I can guarantee you, you will regret the decision to pull out your tooth/teeth or have a treatment that entails to reduced your tooth structure more than it is necessary because once your tooth/teeth is gone you can never really get it back. At the end of the day, saving your natural tooth whenever or as much as possible is the best way to truly get your money’s worth.