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 Hest Bank Dental Care 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 Lancaster  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 Lancaster 

If you are looking for a dentist in Lancaster, 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 Hest Bank Dental Care we have carefully built our dental practice in Lancaster 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 compliment we receive is when our patients refer their friends and family to Hest Bank Dental Care. 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…

Patient reviews

2154 Reviews

5.0

1st May 2025

My dentist is very helpful in advising me and takes very good care of the patient with me

30th April 2025

Friendly, thorough, professional staff, clean premises. Can never fault any of them, which is why I use them.

27th April 2025

. The atmosphere within the surgery is friendly and all the staff seem to work together so well as a team thus ensuring a much more relaxed patient experience. The staff are also professional and knowledgeable.

27th April 2025

Brilliant service

26th April 2025

I am fortunate to be under the care of a highly skilled professional in whom I have complete confidence

26th April 2025

Lovely staff and welcoming. Didn't wait long for my appointments with dentist and hygienist.Both put me at ease and told me what they were doing. Dentist gave me options on some further treatment.

26th April 2025

The staff all make you feel comfortable and happy before any work commences, the customer is always the first thought

25th April 2025

Stewart is a fabulous dentist and the rest of the team are brilliant too

25th April 2025

Everyone extremely pleasant, and all listened to my comments.

25th April 2025

Staff are lovely, the practice is always clean and welcoming

24th April 2025

Friendly staff dentist puts you at ease

24th April 2025

I had no problems with the hygienist at all, he introduced himself, explained exactly what he was going to do.

23rd April 2025

I am always confident that they have an excellent level of skill which means that my teeth are receiving the best possible care. I was not always confident of that with previous dentists.Everything about their service could not be better.

23rd April 2025

The staff are great and actually make a trip to the dentist enjoyable or as enjoyable as possible

23rd April 2025

Brilliant, professional but friendly staff who listened to queries and provided comprehensive answers. The best dentists I have ever used. You even get to have a laugh :)

23rd April 2025

Experienced friendly staff, every thing went wctly as planned.

16th April 2025

The receptionist Leah was really professional but also very friendly. Jake my hygienist was fantastic very informative and did a great job. The dental nurse was very friendly also. Very happy with all the staff interactions I had at my appointment.

16th April 2025

I have always been completely satisfied with my treatment at Hest Bank . The staff are pleasant and friendly but still very professional. The cleanliness everywhere is second to none

15th April 2025

After losing a filling I rang and was given an appointment for the next day. I waited less than 5 mins before being seen and the dentist was very friendly and put me at ease. My filling was repaired very quickly so I was on my way home in about 30 mins. The dental nurse was very friendly and helpful too.

13th April 2025

Very professional, friendly and knowledgeable staff

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