By Laura Railand, DDS
As a biological dentist, I believe that the best insurance – and the best way to keep your dental costs down – is practicing holistic prevention.
Unlike medical insurance, dental insurance has very low maximums – typically $1000 to $2000 per year. All expenditures after that are out-of-pocket. The benefits you do claim only cover a fraction of the total cost of treatment, so even patients with “good” dental insurance are often left to pay a lot on their own. At best, these plans function more like discount programs with administrative hurdles rather than anything like comprehensive coverage.
When insurance drives decision-making, you may not get the level of care you truly need. Having your treatment plan revolve around what insurance will pay for can result in recurring dental issues or even systemic health problems.
Delaying care “because insurance won’t cover it” is often the more expensive route to take. While it may cost a couple hundred dollars to treat a small cavity, if left untreated, it could turn into thousands of dollars to address the advanced decay or ultimate replacement of the tooth with a dental implant.
Beyond maintaining good oral hygiene through things like brushing and flossing, here are 5 keys to maintaining a healthy mouth that supports your whole body health:
- A nutrient-dense real food diet. Focus on mineral-rich foods containing calcium and phosphorus, along with vitamin K2 and D3. Include lots of fresh produce for the array of vitamins, antioxidants, and helpful phytochemicals they provide.
- Limit inflammatory foods. Forget the ultra-processed stuff with its refined sugars and starches. Doing so starves the harmful bacteria in your mouth that cause decay and gum disease.
- Oral microbiome support. Consider oil pulling, alcohol-free herbal rinses, and probiotic support that sustains helpful oral bacteria without disrupting your mouth’s natural ecology.
- Stress management. Chronic stress fuels chronic inflammation and leads to things like teeth grinding, jaw clenching, and other problems that can hamper oral health.
- Regular biological dental checkups and cleanings. Professional cleanings are needed to remove the hardened plaque you can’t remove at home, while exams give us an opportunity to spot any emerging issues when they’re still minor and easy to treat.
Practicing prevention gives your mouth/body health the attention it deserves now and every day, not just when insurance dictates.