Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Dentist?

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DENTAL NEWS
If the prospect of a painful dental experience makes you cringe, fear not because the good news is that the Consumer Reports' survey found that serious dental pain is rare. Perhaps even more surprising is that the survey found that those who put off needed dental treatment were less satisfied with the outcome than those who bit the bullet.

"Not going to your dental appointments may lead to more extensive and more costly dental treatment in the long run", said Nancy Metcalf of Consumer Reports'. "Only 5% of people who had a root canal said the procedure was severely painful, and only 6% of people who had a tooth pulled. So if you're worried about pain, that's really not a good reason to avoid the dentist."

Fearing The High Cost Of Dental Care
However, the cost of dental care was a top concern as it was the most frequent reason cited for delaying dental treatment while the second biggest concern was that their insurance wouldn't cover said treatment. Nevertheless, the survey found good news on that front as well; "Our survey found that you can negotiate for a better price. Among our readers who tried it for costly procedures - like an implant or a full denture - more than half were successful at getting the price reduced" said Metcalf.

You can also reduce your dental bills by doing some research before making a dental. Websites like FairHealthConsumer.org and HealthCareBlueBook.com claim to give the typical cost of both dental and medical procedures in your area.

Additionally, there are other ways to save one dental care. "Many people don't realize that community health centers often provide dental care for fees based on your ability to pay," says Nancy Metcalf. "And it turns out, people who brush twice a day and floss every day were more likely to be happy with their smiles than those who don't."