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The dangers of skipping dental appointments

The dangers of skipping dental appointments


The dangers of skipping the dentist due to financial pressures

Many people are skipping dental appointments due to current financial pressures, but this can lead to serious oral health problems, carrying an increased risk for additional costs in the future. At Prospect Street Dental Practice we're seeing an increasing number of patients delaying their routine dental check-up and ignoring treatment requirements until they are in pain. This is concerning as regular appointments are essential to maintaining the best oral health and avoiding any problems progressing into more complex issues.

The risks of missing dental check-ups

Missing dental appointments can have serious consequences on your oral health. Without regular visits to your local dentist and hygienist, plaque and tartar and build up in those hard to reach areas, leading to decay and gum disease. In addition, many oral health problems are asymptomatic, meaning they don't cause dental pain or discomfort until they reach an advanced stage.

Delaying treatment can also lead to more expensive and invasive procedures down the line. For example a small cavity that could be easily filled will eventually require a root canal treatment or even extraction, if left untreated.

At each dental examination, your dentist will also check for signs of mouth cancer in the cheeks, palate, tongue, gums and lips. According to the latest NHS figures, around 8,300 people are diagnosed with mouth cancer in the UK each year. That's about 1 in every 50 cancers diagnosed. If mouth cancer is diagnosed early, a complete cure is often possible in up to 9 in 10 cases using surgery alone, so regular check-ups with your dentist is key.

Tips for affordable dental care

Whilst the cost of dental care can be a barrier for many people at this time, there are some options to help spread the cost of your care, making it more affordable:

  • Dental plans - signing up to a dental plan will help spread the cost of your annual routine dental care and hygienist appointments across 12 months. Many plans also offer discount on any clinically required work for plan members. Ask your local Reading  dentist about the plans they offer.
  • Employee dental insurance/plans - review your employee benefits to make sure that your not missing out on any reduced rate plans that you may be eligible for through your employer.
  • Commit to a good home oral care regime - Ensure thorough cleaning with an electric toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste for 2 minutes, twice a day, followed by mouth wash and flossing/interdental brushing, to keep any problems at bay. 
  • Take advantage of preventative care - regularly check-ups and cleaning are essential for preventing costly dental problems down the line.

Finding a local dentist in Reading 

If you are looking for a dentist in Reading, there are many resources to help you find the right one. Ask friends and family for trusted recommendations, check out patient reviews on platforms such as Google, Facebook, Trust Pilot or Yell, or search online to find a dentist that best meets your needs. 

In conclusion, skipping the dentist due to financial pressures can lead to serious oral health problems. Its important to take steps to make dental care more affordable. By finding a local dentist that you can trust and taking advantage of preventative care you can maintain good oral health and avoid costly procedures down the line.

At Prospect Street Dental Practice we have carefully built our dental practice in Reading up over many years through personal recommendation of friends and family, or on referral from their own dental practitioner; we are most grateful for this vote of confidence given to us. Check out our Google reviews below to hear more about what our patients think or us.

We commit to open and honest pricing for our patients. To view our latest fees, visit our fees page on the website.

Patient Reviews

People are talking about us

The biggest complement we receive is when our patients refer their friends and family to Prospect Street Dental Practice. In fact, we have built much of our practice on these valued, trusted recommendations over the years. Read our reviews to hear why our patients are recommending us…

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Patient reviews

1897 Reviews

5.0

26th August 2025

Dara is a fantastic dentist who explains everything throughout treatment and i feel would defiantly not do any unnecessary work or try to 'sell up' trust him 100% The hygienist i saw was extremely professional and frequently too

23rd August 2025

Fast, efficient and thorough. Everything was explained in detail.

23rd August 2025

Online booking is easy and effective for me. Dentist and nurse are professional and nice.

23rd August 2025

The staff are always welcoming the clinicians explain everything clearly and discuss alternatives if needed.

MC

Mairead Comerford

Darragh clearly showed and told me the issue which I appreciated. Jill the hygienist is fantastic - she always makes me to do better. Thanks Jill

22nd August 2025

Steph hygienist is always pleasant and professional and on time.

21st August 2025

Helpful and kind staff

21st August 2025

Both the dentist and hygienist were professional; explained what they were doing and gave me all the information I needed where required. They both helped me feel at ease which, as a nervous client, I greatly appreciated.

21st August 2025

Jill was very helpful in explaining the issue I had and also providing guidance as to my continued good oral health. Very pleased with the amount of time she spent to answer questions.

20th August 2025

The dentist explained in detail and easy to understand. Spoke directly to my daughter who was the patient which was nice to see

20th August 2025

Pleasant, courteous and highly professional, plus friendly and informative.

19th August 2025

Understanding of my anxiety

CB

Christine Bates

Great dentist and hygienist. Always quick and efficient and suitably gentle.

18th August 2025

Arrangements went smoothly and treatment was excellent.

17th August 2025

Treatment plans are always explained. Clinicians are knowledgeable and efficient.

16th August 2025

Experience, pleasant and friendly, excellent knowledge

15th August 2025

It's the first time my daughter seeing this lady dentist, which was a reschedule due to the booked dentist was too busy. But it turned out she is must more subtle, more thorough than the dentist my daughter has been seeing for many years. Definitely will book her next time.

15th August 2025

Steph is always great. Receptionist was friendly and efficient

15th August 2025

Friendly receptionist, clean and well appointed premises. Jill the hygienist was friendly and informative.

15th August 2025

Friendly recepetion and dental staff helped me feel relaxed during my appointment

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