Think your small cavity can wait until next year to receive treatment? Guess again. Waiting may not seem like a big deal, but delaying restorative care can lead to more serious problems and more expensive dental solutions down the road. Learn why getting a dental filling now is better, and why your smile and wallet will thank you.
Neglected Cavities: What Can Happen When You Avoid Treatment?
Your cavity may start small, but over time it can spread and worsen, causing more damage. Early treatment with a dental filling can repair and restore your smile, but waiting can lead to costlier solutions.
If you let the decay deepen, your tooth may no longer be able to support itself, requiring more than a simple filling to preserve it. Pain, tenderness, and infection can become your reality, and a dental crown, root canal, or tooth extraction may be the only options to improve your oral health.
When you compare dental fillings to these more complex services, your mouth isn’t the only thing that will wish you’d been proactive; your wallet will as well.
Why Get a Dental Filling Before the Year Ends?
To avoid spending even more on cavity treatment, consider using your dental insurance to help cover some of the cost. Coverage for basic restorative care, like tooth-colored fillings, is usually around 80%, so your out-of-pocket costs can be substantially lower when you use your available benefits. Not all plans are the same, so before you assume your portion will only be 20%, have a team member review your policy.
You can only use these savings after you meet your annual deductible. Once you do, your wallet will take less of a hit. But don’t wait to start treatment! Yearly insurance benefits only last so long (typically 12 months). They don’t roll over, so take advantage of them now instead of waiting until next year, when your deductible and annual maximum reset.
Your smile deserves to stay healthy year-round, so when a cavity strikes, a dental filling can be a more affordable way to improve your oral health. By using your dental benefits, you’ll avoid unnecessary future expenses and enjoy a beautiful, fully restored smile now instead of later.
About the Author
Dr. Shane Smith received his dental doctorate at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. After working at dental offices across Northeast Arkansas, Southeast Missouri, and Memphis, he made Jonesboro home. He and our team work with patients to keep services affordable and encourage everyone to use their dental benefits before the end of the year. If you need treatment for an unexpected cavity, visit our website or call (870) 932–2644 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Smith.