{"id":22925,"date":"2026-04-15T10:49:59","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T10:49:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aclinicadrpedromota.pt\/going-to-the-dentist-only-when-it-hurts-can-be-costing-you-a-lot-more-than-you-realize\/"},"modified":"2026-04-15T17:12:24","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T17:12:24","slug":"going-to-the-dentist-only-when-it-hurts-can-be-costing-you-a-lot-more-than-you-realize","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aclinicadrpedromota.pt\/en\/going-to-the-dentist-only-when-it-hurts-can-be-costing-you-a-lot-more-than-you-realize\/","title":{"rendered":"Going to the dentist only when it hurts can be costing you a lot more than you realize"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"22925\" class=\"elementor elementor-22925 elementor-22883\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-69ccd57 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"69ccd57\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-extended\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-66 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-cf49ef5\" data-id=\"cf49ef5\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8d3780c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8d3780c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Going to the dentist only when it hurts can be costing you a lot more than you realize<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b4f9103 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b4f9103\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/aclinicadrpedromota.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Imagens_Blogue_abril2026_dentista-so-quando-doi-1024x450.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-22924\" alt=\"go to the dentist only when it hurts becomes more expensive\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aclinicadrpedromota.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Imagens_Blogue_abril2026_dentista-so-quando-doi-1024x450.webp 1024w, https:\/\/aclinicadrpedromota.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Imagens_Blogue_abril2026_dentista-so-quando-doi-300x132.webp 300w, https:\/\/aclinicadrpedromota.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Imagens_Blogue_abril2026_dentista-so-quando-doi-768x337.webp 768w, https:\/\/aclinicadrpedromota.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Imagens_Blogue_abril2026_dentista-so-quando-doi.webp 1366w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-785a59d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"785a59d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"999\" data-end=\"1100\">What if your biggest mistake with your oral health is not the lack of care&#8230; but rather the moment you decide to act? Going to the dentist only when it hurts remains a common behavior in Portugal. <\/p><p data-start=\"999\" data-end=\"1100\">According to the<strong data-start=\"1194\" data-end=\"1258\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.omd.pt\/2025\/11\/barometro-omd-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Oral Health Barometer 2025<\/a> of the Order of Dentists (OMD)<\/strong>, about <strong>26% of Portuguese turn to the dentist only in emergency.<\/strong><\/p><p data-start=\"1346\" data-end=\"1511\">This fact reflects not just a habit, but rather a pattern of decision. As such, it has a direct impact on the complexity, cost and prognosis of treatments. <\/p><p data-start=\"1346\" data-end=\"1511\">Read this blog article and find out why you should not delay any longer and how expensive that decision might be. <strong>Many problems start without pain, but they don\u2019t stay that way.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c405c81 elementor-toc--minimized-on-tablet elementor-widget elementor-widget-table-of-contents\" data-id=\"c405c81\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;headings_by_tags&quot;:[&quot;h2&quot;,&quot;h3&quot;,&quot;h5&quot;],&quot;exclude_headings_by_selector&quot;:[],&quot;no_headings_message&quot;:&quot;No headings were found on this page.&quot;,&quot;marker_view&quot;:&quot;numbers&quot;,&quot;minimize_box&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;minimized_on&quot;:&quot;tablet&quot;,&quot;hierarchical_view&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;min_height&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"table-of-contents.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__header\">\n\t\t\t<h5 class=\"elementor-toc__header-title\">\n\t\t\t\tContents approached\t\t\t<\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--expand\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__c405c81\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Open table of contents\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-down\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M207.029 381.476L12.686 187.132c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941l22.667-22.667c9.357-9.357 24.522-9.375 33.901-.04L224 284.505l154.745-154.021c9.379-9.335 24.544-9.317 33.901.04l22.667 22.667c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941L240.971 381.476c-9.373 9.372-24.569 9.372-33.942 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--collapse\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__c405c81\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Close table of contents\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-up\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M240.971 130.524l194.343 194.343c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941l-22.667 22.667c-9.357 9.357-24.522 9.375-33.901.04L224 227.495 69.255 381.516c-9.379 9.335-24.544 9.317-33.901-.04l-22.667-22.667c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941L207.03 130.525c9.372-9.373 24.568-9.373 33.941-.001z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div id=\"elementor-toc__c405c81\" class=\"elementor-toc__body\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__spinner-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"elementor-toc__spinner eicon-animation-spin e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-loading\" aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M500 975V858C696 858 858 696 858 500S696 142 500 142 142 304 142 500H25C25 237 238 25 500 25S975 237 975 500 763 975 500 975Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e922187 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e922187\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The problem doesn\u2019t start with pain<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-222941a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"222941a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"1556\" data-end=\"1647\">Most <a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/fact-sheets\/detail\/oral-health\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">oral diseases <\/a>develop progressively and often silently.<\/p><p data-start=\"1649\" data-end=\"1772\">As we have already seen <a href=\"https:\/\/aclinicadrpedromota.pt\/prevenir-caries\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>, an early stage cavity may not cause any symptoms. At that point, the treatment is simple, quick and conservative. <\/p><p data-start=\"1774\" data-end=\"1819\">However, without adequate and timely intervention, it tends to evolve:<\/p><ul data-start=\"1820\" data-end=\"1920\"><li data-section-id=\"si3rjg\" data-start=\"1820\" data-end=\"1856\"><strong>reaches deeper structures<\/strong><\/li><li data-section-id=\"1sbm5bx\" data-start=\"1857\" data-end=\"1882\"><strong>can cause infection<\/strong><\/li><li data-section-id=\"7wpe2z\" data-start=\"1883\" data-end=\"1920\"><strong>may compromise the tooth nerve<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p data-start=\"1922\" data-end=\"2144\">According to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.afro.who.int\/pt\/countries\/angola\/news\/fortalecer-os-cuidados-preventivos-para-promover-saude-oral\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong data-start=\"1938\" data-end=\"1976\">World Health Organization (WHO)<\/strong><\/a>, oral diseases affect an estimated <strong data-start=\"2011\" data-end=\"2057\">3.5 billion people worldwide<\/strong> (with a disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable populations), and are often neglected in the early stages due to lack of symptoms. <\/p><p data-start=\"2146\" data-end=\"2259\">When <a href=\"https:\/\/aclinicadrpedromota.pt\/dor-de-dentes-causas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">discomfort <\/a>arises and doubts about toothache arise when going to the dentist, in most cases, the problem has already evolved.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-37b1a7e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"37b1a7e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Relationship between intervention time and treatment cost when the thought is to go to the dentist only when it hurts<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-26f517c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"26f517c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"2331\" data-end=\"2396\">In fact, there is a direct relationship between the intervention time and the cost of <a href=\"https:\/\/aclinicadrpedromota.pt\/en\/specialties\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">dental treatments.<\/a><\/p><p data-start=\"2398\" data-end=\"2462\">As a rule, the earlier you act, the simpler treatment tends to be.<\/p><p data-start=\"2464\" data-end=\"2486\">Look at this common clinical example that we often have at A Cl\u00ednica:<\/p><p data-start=\"2702\" data-end=\"2849\">According to <strong data-start=\"2712\" data-end=\"2719\">OMD<\/strong>, the lack of dental prevention is directly associated with the increased need for more complex and expensive treatments.<\/p><p data-start=\"2702\" data-end=\"2849\">That is why a significant amount of expensive dental treatments result not from the initial complexity, but from the delay in intervention and patients only consulting the dentist when they have a dental emergency.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4132207 elementor-widget elementor-widget-accordion\" data-id=\"4132207\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"accordion.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-6831\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-6831\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><svg class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-plus\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M416 208H272V64c0-17.67-14.33-32-32-32h-32c-17.67 0-32 14.33-32 32v144H32c-17.67 0-32 14.33-32 32v32c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h144v144c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h32c17.67 0 32-14.33 32-32V304h144c17.67 0 32-14.33 32-32v-32c0-17.67-14.33-32-32-32z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><svg class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-minus\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M416 208H32c-17.67 0-32 14.33-32 32v32c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h384c17.67 0 32-14.33 32-32v-32c0-17.67-14.33-32-32-32z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Early stage<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-6831\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-6831\"><ul>\n<li>Conservative treatment\n<ul>\n<li>Simple restore<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-6832\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-6832\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><svg class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-plus\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M416 208H272V64c0-17.67-14.33-32-32-32h-32c-17.67 0-32 14.33-32 32v144H32c-17.67 0-32 14.33-32 32v32c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h144v144c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h32c17.67 0 32-14.33 32-32V304h144c17.67 0 32-14.33 32-32v-32c0-17.67-14.33-32-32-32z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><svg class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-minus\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M416 208H32c-17.67 0-32 14.33-32 32v32c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h384c17.67 0 32-14.33 32-32v-32c0-17.67-14.33-32-32-32z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Intermediate stage<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-6832\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-6832\"><ul>\n<li>Need for <a href=\"https:\/\/aclinicadrpedromota.pt\/tratamento-endodontico\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">endodontics<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li>Canal treatment<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-6833\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-6833\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><svg class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-plus\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M416 208H272V64c0-17.67-14.33-32-32-32h-32c-17.67 0-32 14.33-32 32v144H32c-17.67 0-32 14.33-32 32v32c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h144v144c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h32c17.67 0 32-14.33 32-32V304h144c17.67 0 32-14.33 32-32v-32c0-17.67-14.33-32-32-32z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><svg class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-minus\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M416 208H32c-17.67 0-32 14.33-32 32v32c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h384c17.67 0 32-14.33 32-32v-32c0-17.67-14.33-32-32-32z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Advanced stage<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-6833\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-6833\"><ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/aclinicadrpedromota.pt\/en\/toothlessness-have-you-ever-stopped-being-able-to-crack-an-apple\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tooth loss<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Need for rehabilitation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e40f8f4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e40f8f4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"2702\" data-end=\"2849\">According to OMD, <strong>the lack of dental prevention is directly associated with the increased need for more complex and expensive treatments.<\/strong><\/p><p data-start=\"2702\" data-end=\"2849\"> That is why many expensive dental treatments result not from initial complexity, but from the delay in assessment and intervention.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d5ba0ba elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d5ba0ba\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The false feeling of \"not having problems\"<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-effad54 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"effad54\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"3027\" data-end=\"3102\">One of the main factors in postponing dental appointments is the perception that &#8220;everything is fine&#8221;.<\/p><p data-start=\"3104\" data-end=\"3158\">No pain, no discomfort and apparently no problem.<\/p><p data-start=\"3160\" data-end=\"3214\">But this perception does not correspond to the clinical reality.<\/p><p data-start=\"3216\" data-end=\"3373\">It is no wonder that various health organizations such as the WHO warn that <strong>many oral pathologies develop asymptomatically at an early stage<\/strong>, which makes early diagnosis difficult without regular follow-up.<\/p><p data-start=\"3375\" data-end=\"3434\"><strong>Remember, the absence of symptoms does not mean absence of disease.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3b74de6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3b74de6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Fear of the dentist as a delay factor<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-579c9aa elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"579c9aa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"3490\" data-end=\"3521\">Another relevant factor for continuing to postpone the visit to the dentist is fear.<\/p><p data-start=\"3523\" data-end=\"3687\">According to data from the Order of Dentists, anxiety associated with dental consultation remains one of the main reasons for avoiding or postponing consultations.<\/p><p data-start=\"3689\" data-end=\"3763\">Today, however, there are in A Cl\u00ednica ways to overcome this barrier.<\/p><p data-start=\"3765\" data-end=\"3911\"><a href=\"https:\/\/aclinicadrpedromota.pt\/en\/specialties\/conscious-sedation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong data-start=\"3767\" data-end=\"3789\">Conscious sedation <\/strong><\/a>enables treatments to be performed more comfortably and in a controlled manner, significantly reducing anxiety.<\/p><p data-start=\"3960\" data-end=\"4080\">For many patients, this approach finally <a href=\"https:\/\/aclinicadrpedromota.pt\/medo-do-dentista\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">allows them to stop avoiding the dentist<\/a> and resume regular follow-up.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0da1c13 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0da1c13\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Impact of disease progression on tooth loss<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-11dc08d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"11dc08d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"4145\" data-end=\"4243\">When not treated in time, dental problems can evolve into irreversible situations.<\/p><p data-start=\"4245\" data-end=\"4335\">It is a fact that<strong> tooth loss remains a frequent consequence of uncontrolled oral disease.<\/strong><\/p><p data-start=\"4337\" data-end=\"4448\">As we have already discussed, severe <a href=\"https:\/\/aclinicadrpedromota.pt\/en\/specialties\/periodontology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">periodontal diseases <\/a>are one of the main causes of tooth loss in adults.<\/p><p data-start=\"4450\" data-end=\"4489\">This loss does not only affect aesthetics. It can compromise: <\/p><ul data-start=\"4509\" data-end=\"4589\"><li data-section-id=\"1xdxhyf\" data-start=\"4509\" data-end=\"4532\">masticatory function<\/li><li data-section-id=\"1er952a\" data-start=\"4533\" data-end=\"4541\">talk<\/li><li data-section-id=\"1eis0c8\" data-start=\"4542\" data-end=\"4567\">equilibrium of the occlusion<\/li><li data-section-id=\"1i0ghne\" data-start=\"4568\" data-end=\"4589\">global oral health<\/li><\/ul><p data-start=\"4591\" data-end=\"4676\">That is to say, avoiding dental problems means largely intervening before reaching this point.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5778c61 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5778c61\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Importance of dental prevention<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fb7247c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fb7247c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"4725\" data-end=\"4781\">From what we have already discussed, he easily understands that dental prevention is the most effective factor to reduce:<\/p><ul data-start=\"4782\" data-end=\"4887\"><li data-section-id=\"frrn3d\" data-start=\"4782\" data-end=\"4806\"><strong>incidence of disease<\/strong><\/li><li data-section-id=\"5oc7ah\" data-start=\"4807\" data-end=\"4847\"><strong>need for complex treatments<\/strong><\/li><li data-section-id=\"1k38ct8\" data-start=\"4848\" data-end=\"4887\"><strong>costs accrued over time<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p data-start=\"4889\" data-end=\"4918\">Thus, regular consultations allow, in addition to an early diagnosis, monitoring and carrying out minimal interventions.<\/p><p data-start=\"4889\" data-end=\"4918\">In short: <strong>prevention and monitoring are essential for good oral health!<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e0f33b9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e0f33b9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Trust and recommendation lead to choose A Cl\u00ednica Dr. Pedro Mota<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6f2be93 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6f2be93\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"5162\" data-end=\"5247\">The decision to maintain regular follow-up is also linked to the <strong>trust placed in A Cl\u00ednica Dr. Pedro Mota<\/strong>, with more than <a href=\"https:\/\/aclinicadrpedromota.pt\/en\/clinic\/history-of-the-clinic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">20 years of experience<\/a> in dental medicine.<\/p><p data-start=\"5249\" data-end=\"5262\">Our patients often highlight as decisive factors for this choice: clarity of communication; accessibility and location (just 20m from Lisbon); predictability of treatments; payment facilities; comfort during the consultation, among others that directly influence the adherence and <a href=\"https:\/\/share.google\/vAp9qiUGX4mJsNawd\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">opinion <\/a>of our patients.<\/p><p data-start=\"5406\" data-end=\"5495\">It is on the basis of a relationship of trust that we seek to reduce deferral of appointments and increase the likelihood of effective prevention.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-39a370a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"39a370a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"5520\" data-end=\"5607\">Going to the dentist only when it hurts can seem like a way to avoid unnecessary appointments. In practice, it is often the opposite. <\/p><p data-start=\"5649\" data-end=\"5748\"><strong>Procrastination turns simple problems into more complex, time-consuming and costly situations.<\/strong><\/p><p data-start=\"5750\" data-end=\"5815\">Take note of this: it\u2019s not just a matter of pain, it\u2019s a matter of timing.<\/p><p data-start=\"5817\" data-end=\"5937\">Taking care at the right time allows you to keep treatments simple and avoid consequences that could have been prevented.<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/aclinicadrpedromota.pt\/en\/information\/\">Schedule your assessment <\/a>appointment in the clinic. You can be sure that you are deciding at the right time and the best for your oral health. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-151aa7d\" data-id=\"151aa7d\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e163e4b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e163e4b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>You may be interested in:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>26% of Portuguese people still insist on going to the dentist only when it hurts, in urgency. Learn how postponing can increase costs and lead to tooth loss. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":22924,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[125],"tags":[235,234,221],"class_list":["post-22925","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog-posts","tag-oral-health-baby","tag-oral-health-child","tag-oral-health-of-children"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aclinicadrpedromota.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22925","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aclinicadrpedromota.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aclinicadrpedromota.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aclinicadrpedromota.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aclinicadrpedromota.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22925"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/aclinicadrpedromota.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22925\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22926,"href":"https:\/\/aclinicadrpedromota.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22925\/revisions\/22926"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aclinicadrpedromota.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22924"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aclinicadrpedromota.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22925"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aclinicadrpedromota.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22925"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aclinicadrpedromota.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22925"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}