Some area dentists say they are seeing more patients coming in these days asking – can that procedure wait?

Well, the answer quite frankly, is no.

"The problem with dental issues is they usually only get worse and they can't heal themselves,” said Dr. Ben Quirt of Quirt Family Dentistry. “So what we try to do here is educate people that if we leave some of these issues too long, they turn into some pretty bad things such as root canals and extractions."

According to Quirt, the answer to avoiding expensive procedures all together is prevention through routine cleanings.

“Cleanings are the cheapest way to go,” Quirt said. “Usually we get the teeth nice and clean, then we don't develop big problems that are more costly, more time consuming."

Cleaning on your own time is just as important and it doesn’t have to be expensive. A dollar toothbrush will work just as well as a hundred dollar one.

"Toothbrushes to me, as long as you brush your teeth, you're doing a good job,” Quirt said. "Toothpaste - they're all about the same. As long as you have fluoride in it, they all work."

Another suggestion for saving on dental care is to shop around. Procedure prices can vary drastically depending on who you have check your teeth.