Smiling in business is as important as getting paid, maybe even more so. If you have bad oral health, you may end up not only broke, but even sick or dead. Many Americans don’t see the dentist unless something is wrong, and 56 percent of those without dental insurance skip preventive treatment altogether.
Their reasons for delaying or forgoing care: high costs and lack of price transparency, according to the "2013 U.S. Survey of Dental Care Affordability and Accessibility." But like forgoing health care, neglecting oral health could be a costly exercise in denial. Preventive care can be expensive (unless you have a dental discount plan or go to a dental school for treatment), but it comes at a far lesser price than treatment after something goes wrong.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that more than 27 percent of U.S. adults ages 20 to 44 have untreated cavities. Minor cavities can turn into major problems, and what would have only required a filling can eventually require a root canal or extraction if left untreated. In addition to financial costs, pain and embarrassment often accompany dental problems, as well.
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