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

2186 Reviews

5.0

20th May 2025

I’m was put at ease after explaining that I have a fear of dentist from my childhood experiences. I was given a different option to my treatment that made it easier for me to attend and was able to continue my treatments even though I was petrified of having treatment for new denture’s .

18th May 2025

Everyone is so friendly and helpful. The hygienist was thorough and efficient. The dentist Mike was wonderful as always.

18th May 2025

Very professional k8nd and caring. Excellent.I had experienced problems booking , I called on Monday explained my situation and was told they would call back with an appointment but they didn't. I had to call again and was g8ven an appointment speedily. As a dental phobic it added to the stress and was unusual for this practice.

18th May 2025

Excellent care, friendly professional staff. Time to listen and understand.Great customer care.

17th May 2025

Friendly clean professional clinical environment

17th May 2025

Friendly knowledgeable staff. Well organised

16th May 2025

I have been coming to this practice for years and the staff know me and treat me as a person not just a patient

15th May 2025

I am nervous patient. The dentist went out of her way to put me at ease. Explained everything thoroughly.

15th May 2025

All staff are very friendly, knowledgeable & efficient, whilst providing personalised services to meet individual needs - thank-you & keep up the great work!

15th May 2025

The service was very efficient and Sophie explained the treatment and next steps very clearly.

14th May 2025

Staff are very friendly and informative. The site is very clean and well maintained.

13th May 2025

I felt well looked after and communication was very patient orientated

13th May 2025

Helpful and professional staff

13th May 2025

Thorough and knowledgeable

11th May 2025

Responsive staff. Becky listened to what I have to say and prioritised how I felt throughout my visit.

MC

Matt Crossland

After not been to a dentist for over 30 years, has Bank dental care made me feel very welcome and explained my treatment thoroughly and made me feel at ease during the treatment I’ve had

10th May 2025

I.only had to get to the surgery. After that I was just looked after so well. So frightened but so looked after.

10th May 2025

Nice friendly staff have not been to a dentist after over 30 years they made me feel very calm and explained everything that we were going to do during most of my treatment

9th May 2025

I was given a thorough examination by the clinician and some very good advice. \My teeth were given a thorough cleaning by the hygienist and again some good advice. At all times I was treated with care and courtesy.

9th May 2025

Everyone was friendly and efficient and clearly knew what they were doing. They wanted you to understand that too!

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