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In these tough economic times, everyone is looking for ways to cut costs and save money. While cutting back on some things makes perfect sense (think your daily trip to the coffee shop), neglecting your general dental care doesn't make sense for your health or your wallet.

By visiting your dentist twice a year for regular check-ups and cleanings, you not only take care of your oral health, you save yourself money, too.

With regular dental care, especially if your dentist has progressive diagnostic technology such as digital x-rays or intra-oral cameras, any problems can be detected much earlier than with traditional methods. This means that the problems are small and require less costly, more conservative treatment to restore them to health.

If you avoid the dentist for even a year, chances are, you will be paying more in restorative care than you would for your check-ups. If cavities progress unchecked, they may require much larger restorations, such as onlays. Larger porcelain onlays (made in a lab) cost significantly more than simple composite fillings made in the office. Had the problem been caught earlier, the cost would be less.

But there's more than money at stake. Ignore your regular dental care, and your health is at risk, too. Recent studies have linked gum disease with more serious health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, stroke, some cancers, inflammation, premature and low birth weight babies, complications in diabetes and more. With simple, regular hygiene visits, your dentist and hygienist can keep your teeth and your gums healthy, and as a result, keep you healthy too.

Make sure you choose a dentist that offers the advanced technology for the earliest diagnosis of problems, the most conservative treatment options for them and progressive hygiene to manage and even reverse the effects of gum disease. Keep yourself and your wallet healthy.