What happens to patients who put off their recall appointments?

For what ever reason, I have noticed an increasing number of patients who have put off going to the dentist for their regualarly scheduled cleanings and check ups. I am not sure why this has happened but increased anxiety about t jobs and finances may have something to do with this trend.

Although some appear to have suffered no apparent consequences others do present with problems more severe than I am used to seeing in their mouths such as a reoccurance of gum disease, moderate to large carious lesions, and teeth that needed root canals or extractions.

Since I "preach" preventive dentistry this both reefirms my commitmnent to prevention and I have started emphasizing the need for pre-appointing my patients recall appointments before they leave the office. They will get a notification of their upcoming check up and cleaning appointment and the onus will be on them to cancel or reappoint this visit.

Any apparent savings on their cleaning visit will surely be wiped out by any significant dental expendature involved with and extraction, root canal or an implant restoration that may result due to putting off their check up and 'waiting' until something is bothering them.