8 Great Reasons to Celebrate Dentist’s Day from DentalPlans.com

Dentist's Day is celebrated every year on March 6, and it is the perfect occasion to show your dentist a little appreciation for helping you to maintain your health and your smile. DentalPlans.com provides eight reasons why dentists should be celebrated.

Here are eight reasons to celebrate the day:

1: Dentists help keep your whole body healthy – moderate or advanced gum disease has been linked to heart disease, strokes, respiratory and digestive problems among other health conditions.

2: Dentists have amazing skill sets – before being accepted into dental school a would-be dentist needs to pass the dental aptitude test (DAT). This requires a strong knowledge of biology, chemistry, scientific reading comprehension, advanced math, and perceptual ability/spatial visualization skills, among other topics.

3: Dentists relieve pain – we may think that a dental appointment is bound to be an uncomfortable experience, but dentists actually relieve pain. The discomfort that can be experienced during dental treatment is often due to underlying infections and decay, not the procedures the dentist is performing.

4: Dentists can enhance your appearance – from tooth whitening to a complete smile makeover, cosmetic dental treatments can really boost your self-esteem and confidence.

5: Dentists encourage a healthy lifestyle – what's good for your teeth is good for your body. Limiting sugar, sticky treats and simple carbs from your diet will keep your smile and body strong and healthy. Ask your dentist about nutrition.

6: Dentists are patient – they know most patients are not flossing regularly, brushing for 3-minutes twice a day, or getting regular cleanings. But good dentists do not make us feel bad about the consequences of our less-than-excellent dental hygiene.

7: Dentists can prevent problems – tooth decay is the prevalent chronic disease in both children and adults and – with good oral hygiene and regular dental care - it is almost entirely preventable, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.

8: Dentists can give you back your smile – while it will cost much more to have your teeth fixed than to keep them healthy with regular checkups and cleanings, dentists can restore your smile to health.

"Along with saying thank you to your dentist, the best way to celebrate Dentist's Day is to make an appointment for a dental checkup," said Bill Chase, senior vice president of marketing for DentalPlans.com. “We all know how important it is to take good care of your teeth, but far too many people can't fit dental checkups into their budgets. Unfortunately, dental problems don't go away – your oral and overall health just gets worse and problems become much more expensive to fix the longer care is delayed."

Dental savings plans, an affordable alternative to traditional dental insurance, makes dental care affordable. Members receive discounts on dental care from a nationwide network of thousands of participating dentists. Savings range from 10%-60%, depending on the plan and the dental procedure.

To learn more about the advantages of dental savings plans visit www.dentalplans.com.

"The future of dental care is really exciting," said Chase. "But to me, the most thrilling news of all would be that every American finally has access to quality, affordable dental care. Great, new treatments, as well as the best of modern dentistry, to prevent dental disease and restore smiles, need to be within everyone's budget."