In 2016, the oldest Baby Boomers turned 70. Unlike older generations in decades past, Baby Boomers can expect to live well into their 80s and maintain a relatively healthy and active lifestyle.
While that’s exciting news across the board, it does bring with it some new challenges that previous generations haven’t faced, including how to afford adequate dental care over time on what, for so many, is often a fixed retirement budget.
Of course, the Baby Boomer generation is used to taking on challenging situations and overcoming them in style. So how can they find affordable dental care in the months and years to come?
Affordable dental care starts at home
The first step in finding affordable dental care involves establishing and maintaining excellent oral health habits at home.
Brushing properly twice a day, flossing at least once, and using an antibacterial mouthwash are all simple, inexpensive habits to get into, but they work wonders in limiting the eventual cost of professional dental care at any age. Strong, healthy teeth and gums are less likely to succumb to decay, infection, or other common dental issues, reducing the need for expensive - sometimes emergency - procedures.
The semi annual dental visit is the cheapest and most effective
"Brushing properly twice a day, flossing at least once, and using an antibacterial mouthwash are all simple, inexpensive habits to get into, but they work wonders in limiting the eventual cost of professional dental care at any age."
Whether an individual is insured for dental care or not, the regular cleaning and examination the dentist recommends every six months is generally one of the least expensive dental services offered.
Under most dental insurance plans, the service is completely covered due to its preventative nature. Even paying the full amount out-of-pocket, the average cost across the United States (including bitewing x-rays, which are usually only required once a year) is less than $300 with local prices ranging as low as $150 or less outside of major metropolitan areas.
Sticking to an affordable biannual cleaning and exam schedule can help prevent many painful and expensive dental conditions, or allow for early enough diagnosis and treatment for far less than it would be with complications down the road.
Dental discounts offer additional help
Even with the best home care habits in place, the chance of facing serious dental issues increases as we get older. At the same time, many aging Baby Boomers on fixed incomes find it difficult to afford the regular biannual cleaning and examination, and many are also dismayed to learn that Medicare health coverage doesn’t include dental coverage, so insurance can be an expensive add-on as well.
One option many Baby Boomers have found extremely helpful is the use of a dental discount card like Dental Solutions. For a small monthly fee of $9.95, the entire household can receive 20%-50% off of both standard and advanced dental services through a nationwide network of participating dentists.
In many cases, this kind of discount fills the gap, bringing adequate dental care within reach for older Americans on fixed retirement budgets. If that describes you or your loved ones, learn more about Dental Solutions by clicking the button below.
