Bad Breath: You Don't Have to Live with It

Regular dental care will allow you to keep your teeth healthy and strong throughout your life. However, many people face real and perceived barriers to receiving dental care. Many dentists strive to minimize these barriers so everyone can have clean, healthy teeth. Here are some services that dentists offer to ensure that every patient can get the treatment they need:

1. Extended Hours 

Many doctors' offices are open during normal business hours, which can make it difficult for people to find time to receive care. Fortunately, many dentists offer extended treatment hours for busy professionals. You can find a dentist's office that is open early in the morning or late at night so you can receive dental care before or after your normal workday. Extended hours can be especially beneficial for parents who must care for their families in addition to fulfilling their professional duties. 

2. Financing Options

Dental care can be expensive, especially if you need extensive dental work. Dental implants, orthodontic appliances, and root canal therapy are significant investments that can improve a person's quality of life. Luckily, some dentists offer financing services to their patients. Financing will allow you to pay for your dental work in installments so you can get the treatment you need as soon as possible without saving up in advance. Even if your dentist doesn't offer financing services directly, they may be able to direct you to dental financing companies that can help you pay for your treatment.

3. Professional Advice

Some patients return to their dentist after foregoing dental care for several years. These patients may require many restorative treatments to address tooth decay and gum disease. In these situations, dentists can provide patients with expert advice. If you're unable or unwilling to undergo all of the treatments that your dentist recommends right away, your dentist can help you prioritize. Choosing the treatments that offer the most benefit can make restorative dental treatment less overwhelming.

4. Sedation Dentistry

Some people avoid going to the dentist because they're afraid of experiencing pain or anxiety during their visit. Sedation dentistry is a technique that can be used to reduce patients' dental anxiety. Dentists can offer a number of anxiety treatments for patients, including nitrous oxide, oral sedatives, IV sedatives, and full sedation. Dental sedation isn't always covered by dental insurance, so if you're interested in this treatment, you may want to check with your insurance provider to find out if it can be subsidized.