"Is it worth the $$$?"

August 19th, 2021

In short, it really is. But why? I wish it was that easy to understand everything with a simple yes or no answer. The unfortunate reality is, we live in a world where everyone is different. Nobody lives the same life as the person next to them, and money is a major inclusion to that subject.

So let’s break it down. Why is said treatment really worth the dip into your bank account? For starters, our health should always be taken into the utmost highest priority. The only reason we walk this earth is because we have bodies that are so miraculously complex, and we rely on every single functionality to live. So why not live by the motto, “Treat your body like a temple”? If one brick comes loose on a house, the whole structure risks crumbling. And that goes the same for our bodies.

Before I entered the world of Dentistry, I didn’t have an ounce of knowledge when it came to caring for my smile. We all know the basics, brush, floss, rinse and repeat. But at least for me, that was all I paid attention to. As a kid, I didn’t practice oral hygiene the way I do now, and let me tell you what. If I knew then what I know now.

So often I come across all kinds of people saying, “I have this cavity, I need a root canal, I need this tooth taken out.” Etc. And sometimes I go home asking myself, “If I would have taken better care of myself, would I still have all this work that needs to be done? If I would have taken the time to really understand how important my health is, would I be in this position?” When I have those thoughts, I wonder if others feel the same way. I’m sure at least some do. Naturally, the first thought on our mind goes straight to the bank. Sadly, it’s a swaying factor we all have to consider. Is my oral health really THAT much of a priority?

Let me ask you this, if your knee was on the brink of catastrophe, you wouldn’t hesitate to exhaust every opportunity you had to make sure you could prevent the worst case scenario, right? Well, the same thing goes for your smile. If your teeth are removed, there's no going back. Those baby teeth, that's a one time thing. Just like your knee, we don’t get another one. The ever so unfortunate reality that we all wish we could ignore, but can’t. And just like the Doctor you would see for anything else, you want to make sure you go to the person who is going to do it right the first time.

Dental Specialists, especially the best ones, do cost money. Sure, it’s never a fun moment when you see the piece of paper with all the commas and dollar signs after you’ve been told you need that crown or that surgery. But let’s look at the picture where you leave the Dentist, taking that deep sigh of relief because you’ve just crossed one health related concern off your To-Do list. On top of that, you feel relieved because the person who took care of you, spent years developing the knowledge and skill required to keep you at your best level of health. At the end of the day, any Doctor chooses their profession because they want to help you.

Now let’s take a dive into another touchy subject. I don’t know about you, but I am a quality over quantity kind of gal. And I LOVE my shoes! When I shop for a pair of shoes, I want to make sure they are going to last. I need to be reassured that they are going to live through all the rough tumbles, and wear and tear for a hot minute. It's all about comfort and durability. When I look at the price tag, I always shiver a little just like anyone in my position would. At least I think they would. But then, I turn to the pair that might be cheaper, and highly consider the lesser purchase. That purchase always turns into a domino effect for me. Because one cheaper pair, turns into the purchase of another cheaper pair, and another. Until I end up spending the same amount of money sifting through unreliability, when I could have been using the same pair I decided against in the first place. Simply because I questioned, “Was it really worth it?” Turns out, it was.

Same goes for the most important matters when it comes to money. I don’t blame you one bit for shopping around for the better deal. I do it all the time. However, nowadays in my mind, the better deal is the bag that is going to last forever. The bank account might cry a little, but that’s temporary. What isn’t, is our health. We all deserve a smile we are confident to show off. Most importantly, we all deserve a one thousand percent HEALTHY smile. Next time those thoughts and contemplations come to mind, instead of asking, “Is it worth the money I will be spending?”

Ask yourself this, “Is my health really worth risking the cheaper pair of shoes?”

With Love and Health,

- Haylee Grosvenor