While it is impossible to estimate the total amount of money people will spend on average for dental work, one thing is certain: Those who have dental work done while young will have to do at least that much and likely more when older. The problem is, dental work does not last forever. Fillings, crowns and other dental work have a very finite lifespan that runs anywhere from five years up to about 30. So when dental work is done as a youth, such as fillings, that work will come back later in life at least as another filling needed and could turn into a root canal and crown if not an entire extraction with an implant needed to replace the tooth.
Metallic Substances Wear Out Fastest
Many fillings and some crown contain metallic substances that eventually degrade and need to be replaced. They last the least of all types of dental work substances and can go bad in as little as five years when part of a crown. Metallic fillings will last longer than five years, but they ultimately will need replacing. When they are replaced, newer composite materials that irritate the body less and last longer will be used, but even they have limitations on how long they can last. The simple fact is, when people have dental work done while in their teens or earlier, that work likely will be repeated at least twice during the average lifespan of a U.S. resident.
Poor Oral Hygiene Can Be Deadly
When dental work goes bad the potential for an abscessed tooth or other type of infection to set in rises by a great degree. An infection of any kind is very bad, and one located in or near the mouth quickly can spread to other parts of the body and become very deadly. So keeping teeth in good health when young can stave off health problems and a lot of dental work and cost when older.
Do your gums bleed when brushing each day?