The sound of a dentist’s drill creates anxiety, but the sound of the receptionist’s voice when the bill is read sends shivers down patients’ spines and into their bank account.
With the cost of dental care increasing faster than normal inflation, it’s no wonder that the sentiment of fear reigns supreme at the dental office check out window. According to a report by Price Index Communication, the five-year inflation (2002–2006) for dental care was 27 percent.
The rise in dental care prices is coupled with the statistic in a recent Employee Benefit News article that only 46% of workers get assistance from their employers via a dental benefit package.
Some patients who are obviously more afraid of the dentist’s bill than the drill opt for dental tourism – traveling abroad to countries where dental practices are just as advanced, but dental costs are much lower.
According to an article by U.S. News, in 2007 more than 180,000 Americans participated in the medical tourism trend for operations ranging from heart valve replacements in Thailand to restorative dentistry in Mexico. Proof that this is a growing trend; health travelers can receive medical care in at least 28 countries spanning four continents.
While medical tourism may work for some, there is still a domestic alternative for those without dental insurance or the means to pay for full-priced dental care: discount dental plans. DentalPlans.com offers a variety of discount dental plans that allow patients to visit participating dentists and save 10% to 60% on most dental care services.
DentalPlans.com members can choose from more than 30 discount dental plans and over 100,000 participating dentist listings in combined networks nationwide.
Ready to start saving on your dental care today? Visit DentalPlans.com and enter your ZIP code or give us a call at 888-632-5353.
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