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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…

Leave a Google Review

Patient reviews

1652 Reviews

5.0

24th December 2024

I'm a long time patient of Dr Peter Lindholm. He is excellent. I was first to come to him, now family members also come to him, including a nervous daughter!

JD

Justin Dean

Lifelong patient and intend to keep it that way! I have always received excellent care here. I was worried when my brilliant dentist Dr E. Buckley retired, but since then I have switched to Dr D. Buckley and have been equally impressed. They treat patients with great care and understanding and have always had my best interests in mind. I've also had very good experiences with hygienist appointments. It's worth knowing that the practice doesn't take adult NHS patients (as far as I understand), but they provide top quality care that I'm happy to pay for. The clinic and waiting areas are pleasant and clean and the place has a general feeling of being highly organised. I would strongly recommend them to anyone.

21st December 2024

I get excellent advice from Gill my hygienist on how to maintain my teeth and gum health. Please tell her Pat and I have already purchased IO electric tooth brushes! They are amazing!

20th December 2024

The staff are all welcoming friendly and helpful .

17th December 2024

Very professional very friendly reception team .

CF

Claire Finch

I recently had an implant fitted by Denis Zenon. I can't speak highly enough of the care and attention given, the quality of the treatment and the end result. Would highly recommend this professional, who has years of experience and will take the time to explain and ensure that the care given is of the highest quality.

14th December 2024

Quality of dentistry.Attention to patient's needs/Punctuality of appointments.

12th December 2024

Friendly, courteous, helpful, understanding staff

11th December 2024

I have been there for many years and always had very good treatment and are all the staff are very courteous and professional. .most of the staff have been there for years. I think that speaks for itself! A happy team !

10th December 2024

Friendly team, concise explanation. Good experience.

10th December 2024

I have been registered with this dentist for years and have never had a problem, very nice staff, very happy with all the services I have received over the years.

9th December 2024

Dara does a great job of being calm, friendly and understanding with my autistic children. Talking to other parents in similar situations, it's unusual to find a dentist who is so unthreatening and who autistic children who struggle with dental hygiene are happy to visit.

7th December 2024

My appointment was a good experience overall. From arranging the appointment beforehand to when I left .Thankyou

6th December 2024

Always treated with respect and sensitivity Everything explained well. Sense of humour

4th December 2024

I have been with the practice for decades and seen it improve, change and expand. It’s good to see this, it shows you care about your work.

4th December 2024

All the staff are very friendly and highly professional

3rd December 2024

- Friendly service- Clean environment- Satisfied with dental care

3rd December 2024

I have been have been happy for 27 years

28th November 2024

Simply because Dr Josephine and Dr Darragh are not only the best in their field, they are incredibly skilled to deal with nervous patients such as me with kindness and humanity I have never found in this profession anywhere else in this country or in the world.

26th November 2024

Professional staff, caring attitudes and all very proficient.

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