715-352-2700So we get asked this all the time and I’m sure at one time or the other YOU have wondered yourself – “Why does dental work cost so much?”. Sadly, this is not a simple question we can answer quickly, but we think if you hear us out you will better understand why the price tags aren’t “cheap” and even ways you can help reduce your cost.
First off, let’s break down the word ‘DENTIST’. You are paying for a service from an expert in the field: a Doctor, an Engineer and an Artist in their craft. Someone who went to extensive schooling to know all about your mouth. According to the American Dental Education Association, the average dental student graduates with upwards of $241,000 of student loan debt! And in many cases, such as this, when choosing your dentist you get what you pay for.
It costs A LOT to run a dental practice. A large portion, if not most, of what a patient pays goes toward the expense of running a modern dental practice. Dentists pay for rent or mortgage payments on their office space (we have multiple locations) payroll for staff, health insurance, taxes, supplies, equipment, business insurance, marketing, not to mention trying to grow the practice.
Everything is hand-made. If you think about the work you get done to your mouth – crowns, fillings, dentures, braces, implants etc. They are all hand-made and custom to each patient. This kind of attention to detail and unique work requires more time. And time is money.
Dental insurance is more of a maintenance plan than a solution to pay all of your dental bills. If you have dental insurance, it more than likely will cover cleanings and x-rays, maybe half the cost of a crown, but it will not protect you if you need a lot of work done — thus still potentially adding up a hefty bill. If you have no insurance and are paying entirely out of pocket, we offer payment plans to help you out. We are sensitive to the fact that people have different needs in fulfilling their financial obligations.
We understand that getting work done to your mouth can be a huge undertaking and cause a dent in the bank, trust us – we do, but we want you to know we are here to help! We want you to have the best and healthiest smile that you can! Sometimes the way you feel about yourself is worth the investment and especially when it comes to your health and well-being.
How to Reduce the Cost? The majority of dental costs and concerns comes down to YOU! Teeth don’t die a natural death, you kill them. Good oral hygiene and the right habits can help you avoid a great deal of expense at the dentist. Some patients also think that delaying treatment may make the problem go away. When it’s quite the opposite. The quicker you can catch a dental concern, not only is your mouth better off, but typically your pocketbook as well. Small problems left untreated turn into larger problems.