Level 2- Routine/ Foundational care

What's So Great About Routine Care?

     If you have a regular dental checkup once or twice a year then you're probably safely in level 2, a state of routine and foundational care. If you're in level one, this is where you want to be. What's so great about level 2? Well, for starters, it proves that the old saying "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" is as true in dentistry as just about anywhere else. In level 2 you regain control over your dental health, making emergency visits a much rarer occurrence. Together, you and your dentist regularly review your current condition and your future goals. You dentist can alert you to developing problems at their earliest stages so they can be addressed as conservatively as possibly. Since decay and gum problems hardly ever produce any noticeable symptoms in their early stages, these regular visits allow your dentist can find them before they turn into major issues. As older dental work begins to wear out, your dentist will help you prioritize how to replace it before it breaks so your chance of dealing with a broken tooth while on vacation goes down dramatically. 
    This type of routine care builds a strong foundation for keeping your teeth for a lifetime. The economic benefits are twofold: not only does regular care keep your overall dental costs down, but because most of your work will be done preventatively (rather than as a reaction to some emergency), you can schedule it to work best with your finances and insurance limits. 

What Would I Be Signing Up For?

     Some people's mouths require more upkeep than others, but in addition to regular cleanings this stage commonly involves occasional fillings, crowns, or gum therapy. If a tooth is ever lost then implants, bridgework, and removable options exist. Those with extensive grinding issues can be fitted for mouthguards to slow down tooth wear and fluoride can be used to strengthen your teeth if you're prone to decay. Are you missing several teeth? Then for you this stage would involve making sure any full or partial dentures that you wear are functioning well. You'll also benefit from having a dentist monitor your situation so you can pursue dental implants before bone loss makes that option harder to obtain. The focus here is on achieving and keeping up a strong foundation so that if you ever want or need to go up to Level 3 (complete dentistry and elective/cosmetic care) you can. This is where the advances made in modern dentistry really shine. We'll discuss some of the exciting options available to you at level 3 in the next post!

Level 1- Urgent/ Emergency Care Only: Damage Control

A Downward Spiral?

    Much of the population falls into this category. The typical picture here involves a number of worsening dental problems throughout a person's mouth. This stage can be depressing, frightening, and emotionally draining. People in this situation can see that things are getting worse but often feel helpless and doomed to stay at this level until they lose all their teeth. Often fear, finances, or both keep a person out of the dental office except for painful emergencies. These happen less often at first but then they start to pick up speed as small problems become big ones in many different areas of a person's mouth at the same time. It's no surprise that when a person at level one makes it into a dental office with a painful problem that the dentist has to do something invasive to relieve the pain. Often this means an extraction or a root canal; while these procedures have become a lot more comfortable over the years, they still aren't entirely pleasant. It's no wonder that folks at level 1 associate going to the dentist with pain and expense, and they start to think "This is why I hate going to the dentist in the first place!". 

What's a person to do?

Frustration and doubt are normal feelings that result from getting pulled deeper and deeper into this vicious cycle. My advice for those stuck at level 1 is to make an appointment for a non-emergency visit and for about the cost of an extraction the dentist can help you by making a complete list of the problems you're facing (from most urgent to less urgent) so you can start to get some control over the situation. Fear of the known is always easier to handle than fear of the unknown. Maybe you can't afford to tackle all of your dental issues right now, but knowing which problems are likely to be the next emergencies can put you in a position to take care of some of them beforehand and break the cycle. Since planned dental work is easier on you than urgent, unplanned work and fillings often cost less than difficult extractions, this path can be less expensive, more comfortable for you, and can allow you to save teeth while they can still be saved. There is no shame in losing teeth or not being able to go through with all your dentist's recommendations right away. What we can do at this stage is keep you comfortable and help you avoid emergencies as your finances will permit while keeping your options open for the future. As your feelings about dentistry and your circumstances change, you'll be in a great position to move up to the next level (which we'll discuss in the next post): routine, foundational care.

Are there different levels of dental care?

There sure are. You can receive quality dental care from just about any licensed dentist, but there are different levels of dental health that our profession can help you can achieve depending on your goals, motivation, and finances. While it would be great if everyone could have a picture-perfect white smile the reality is that many people would be happy if they could just break the cycle of going from one toothache to another or could just chew solid foods again. There are a number of different steps on the ladder from a mouthful of lingering dental problems to a state of confidence-building, worry-free, long-lasting dental health. No matter your current place on the ladder, there is some way that regular dental visits can benefit you. When you're ready and able to move up on that ladder, there's a world of possibilities available to you!

We'll explore the levels of dental care in the next few posts. The main levels of care are:

  1. Urgent/ Emergency care only

  2. Basic, Foundational care

  3. Complete Dentistry and Elective/Cosmetic care

While it's a great goal to get and stay in the highest level of care, depending on what's going on in your life moving around from level to level is sometimes unavoidable; that's reality. Your dentist can serve and help you no matter what level you're starting at, so find a dentist you trust to be on your side today.