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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 Whiteley Dental Practice 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 Fareham  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 Fareham 

If you are looking for a dentist in Fareham, 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 Whiteley Dental Practice we have carefully built our dental practice in Fareham 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 complement we receive is when our patients refer their friends and family to Whiteley Dental Practice. 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

190 Reviews

5.0
JM

john Ian Laird Morrison

It was my wife who visited but good visit

CM

Colin Martin

Very friendly and courteous staff. Professional…seen on time…always looked after very well

NF

nicky FR

Professional yet very friendly at the same time. Very gentle too

EC

Eddie Cob

Saw the hygienist today and what a good experience it was. Very thorough, gentle and supportive!! Highly recommend.

SC

Steve Carr

Amazing friendly dental practice.

AJ

Andy Jones

Excellent fantastic experience. Such friendly staff.

GJ

Gill Jacobs

Everyone always friendly

AG

Anne Goodwin

As always, excellent, experienced, professional work from Jenny who always makes me smile! Thank you.

CW

Claire W

Always a warm and friendly welcome from the minute you walk through the door. All staff are efficiency, polite and put you at ease throughout.

ES

Ede Scott

Professional and friendly service as always. Always explain treatment step by step and put you at ease. I'm never nervous visiting the dental surgery as I've been going to Whiteley for many years and have always received excellent treatment.

DB

Derek Burnell

The treatment was very good and on time.

9th April 2025

Friendly staff

LM

Lu Marsh

Excellent and professional treatment received today from both Zaneta & Sharon. They are both extremely kind, caring and thorough. Please send my thanks.

LB

Lisa Bhumbra

I am always nervous going to the hygienist however, Sharon was very gentle. My teeth feel nice and clean.

SG

Stuart Gentles

I have been with Whiteley dental practice for a number of years. Staff are always friendly and very helpful and all the work I have had done has been very well done and a pleasant experience.

28th March 2025

The staff are very friendly and accommodating.

K

kingoftyre

Lovely hygienist well done. Large pay rise for both

LH

Lea Ann Higson

Highly recommend the professionalism of Whiteley Dental Practice. Very efficient and a very warm client waiting area. Thank you Whiteley Dental Practice.

25th March 2025

Everyone is very punctual and polite

25th March 2025

A great dental surgery with a team that have great customer service.

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