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Going to the Dentist - What is involved in a normal dental check up?We all know that going to the dentist is not high on anyones list of "must do" activities. A big percentage of adults (and kids) don't even have their regular dentist visit every 6 months as recommended by the ADA. Many of us are fearful of the pain involved with dental care and a large portion of us have no dental insurance which only adds to the problem. I have personally gone to the dentist for the past 35 years and had my ups and downs, but taking care of my teeth has been a priority of mine. I was lucky that my parents had dental insurance when I was growing up so I always went. Now, I'm self employed and getting dental insurance just doesn't make sense. I pay all my dental expenses out of pocket which is a real eye opener to those that have never done so. We will cover dental insurance in another article, but for now we will focus on the teeth cleaning by the dental hygienist and the oral exam done by the dentist.
Teeth Cleaning - Dental Hygienist:Having your teeth cleaned isn't all that bad. The hygienist takes about 20 to 30 minutes to work on not only your teeth but your gums. Periodontal disease refers to problems with your gums and the issues include gingivitis and periodontitis. These are infections that eventually can lead to tooth decay and loss. When I was 16 I had a bad case of gingivitis that caused massive swelling in my gums due to excessive plaque build up. I was the typical teenage boy who left my hygiene on autopilot and paid for it. Flossing my teeth regularly has since helped fight any gum problems I once had and now my teeth (and gums) are in great shape. Back to the dental exam. The dental hygienist cleans your teeth with a variety of tools - picks that get plaque off hard to reach areas and then floss followed by a solid brushing with a special electric toothbrush and toothpaste. The whole procedure is over fairly fast and there is not any real pain associated with a typical tooth cleaning by your hygienist. You may experience some swelling of your gums if they were in bad shape and perhaps a little soreness since gums can be tender if not cared for properly. I know my gums and teeth feel much healthier after a good teeth cleaning. Usually before the tooth cleaning portion of the visit the dental assistant or hygienist will take dental x-rays of your teeth. Now I would say these aren't always necessary but most dentists would argue with me on that point. I agree that most kids need to get them since their teeth are coming in at various stages and it's good to be able to see into their jaw and look at how things are growing. Often dentists can prevent problems in the future by taking x-rays on children. My only problem is that the adult x-rays seem less necessary. The process only takes about 2 minutes and they want to charge you $45 to $120 for it. The one benefit of getting x-rays is so that the dentist can see what is happening in between your teeth (an area otherwise not seen during a normal dental visit). Kids will also get a fluoride treatment before seeing the dentist and this is done by the hygienist or dental assistant. Usually takes about 5 minutes and is not painful, just a bit uncomfortably for some children as they have the fluoride in their mouth for a little while.
Dental Exam - Seeing the Dentist:After you have your teeth professional cleaned by the hygienist the next part of the exam is pretty straightforward and takes only a few minutes. The dentist comes into the room and looks at any x-rays that were taken of your teeth and then does an exam of your teeth. He's looking for soft spots on teeth, holes, cracks, chips, etc. - anything that may lead to a cavity or perhaps already is. You will hear them say things like "put a watch on the back left molar" or something similar. The dentist does some prodding around your mouth and then his service is done. I'm not necessarily saying that dentists are overpaid, but it seems like $55 for 5 minutes of work is pretty good. At this point you will know if you have any cavities that need to be filled or need major work like tooth crowns or teeth pulled. All this dental work will be done at a later time at your choosing. I think the reason why people are so apprehensive about dental check ups is that they are afraid to hear what might really be wrong with their teeth and gums. If they avoid it long enough the problem may go away they think. I find dental exams to be straightforward, certainly not painful, and worth the piece of mind. As an adult I would say once a year is probably fine unless you have pain, soreness, etc, associated with your teeth or gums. Kids should see the dentist every 6 months starting at about age 3. The first few dental exams for kids are basic and just a preventive measure so that they get started on a good routine of flossing and brushing regularly.
Dental Costs - How much does it cost to see the Dentist?:The biggest question that people want to know is - How much is a dental visit? For a basic cleaning and check up, pricing ranges from about $100 for kids to about $130 for adults. The teeth cleaning by the dental hygienist typically cost about $50 for kids and closer to $80 for an adult. The dentist charges roughly $55 for the exam of a child and about the same for adults. If your child gets a fluoride treatment that is going to be an additional $35 and x-rays are roughly $45 for 4 films (bitewing). I know there are new digital x-ray machines in our dentists office and my next trip I will be getting those. I will find out the price and post it on the website. You can understand how dental costs for a family of 4 can add up over a year. If you go twice a year you are looking at a minimum of about $1000 and potentially more if there are cavities that need to be filled or crowns that need to be put on bad teeth. We found a reasonable dental cost calculator located online HERE. Choose the city nearest to your location and click on the "choose a service" box - something like preventive care, and see what the average cost of a dentist in your area charges. We know that rates vary from state to state.
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