By Guest Blogger Dr. Michael Dickerson, Managing Clinical Director, Aspen Dental in Troy, Ohio

As clinical director of the Aspen Dental office in Troy, Ohio, I was recently interviewed by the Dayton Daily News for an article focusing on the recession’s impact on dental care. Our state’s Department of Health has identified dental care as, “the No. 1 unmet health care need among low-income adults, and especially for older adults.”

We welcome our state’s recognition of this serious public health issue and want to be part of the solution. Our purpose and commitment at Aspen Dental is to help patients get the dental care they need. So we have programs in place to assist families juggling the demands of household budgets and the costs of regular dental care.

In this difficult economic environment, keeping up with dentist visits is often the first health care decision delayed. Most people just don’t consider staying up with their dental care to be a life or death situation. Unfortunately, falling behind on your regular visits to the dentist can turn out to be both an expensive and unhealthy mistake. Preventive care costs so much less than reconstructive treatment, and decaying teeth can dramatically affect a person’s quality of life. Tooth decay can hurt your appearance, is a major cause of bad breath, and along with gum disease has been linked to heart disease and stroke.

Here in the Buckeye State, for example, where the recession is still a reality, about 39 percent of our residents don’t have dental insurance. That discourages a lot of people from making an appointment to see their dentist. In fact, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation survey, which the article cited, “one third of Americans skipped dental care check-ups in the past year because of cost.”

Aspen Dental offices like mine in Troy, Ohio offer convenient payment plans in addition to working all insurance plans. As we explain to our patients, many of whom are struggling with financial challenges, a little financial planning now can help you avoid much higher costs and medical problems down the road. The best decision to make is to come in for an exam - - for patients without insurance the initial exam at Aspen Dental locations is free at many locations- - and discuss the care you need for your long-term health.. At the same time, you can consider the payment options available to make care affordable.

We all understand that changing the oil in our automobile’s engine at recommended intervals makes great sense, for our cars and our wallets. Your mouth deserves no less attention. Let your dentist help you get you back on track today.

© 2011, Guest Blogger. All rights reserved.