Dental care in a down economy.

Before I start, I would like to recognize that some of the materials that are mentioned may seem repetitive. This is due to the fact that various tips and recommendations are relevant to different topics and circumstances. One such recommendation is a minimally invasive approach to oral health in conjunction with a preventative and comprehensive philosophy.
In a down economy the last thing you should be doing is avoiding the dentist completely. It is very important to maximize your care by continuing all routine visits such as bi-annual cleanings and examinations. This will ensure that firstly, the status quo is maintained and any potential problem is avoided(preventative approach). Second, if a pathology is diagnosed, it can be treated in a timely manner before it progresses and require more aggressive treatment in the future(minimally invasive approach). Finally, in those instances where multiple pathologies need to be treated, seeing the whole picture will allow you and your dentist to devise an appropriate treatment plan with beneficial sequences(comprehensive approach).
Remember that just as in life in general, ignoring potential and/or existing problems will usually lead to bigger ones.