Why does dental work costs so much?

There are so many people suffering with bad teeth because dental work is not affordable. What happens when you ignore teeth and gums problems because you can not afford to have things taken care of? For example teeth are loose (gum disease) and neck and chest hurts not a lot but enough to make you feel bad daily. What are the health risks?
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Dental work is affordable, there are credit plans (like Care Credit) and most offices take credit cards... A Check-up, x-rays and cleanings are usually under $200 in most areas of the country.....and that is not expensive. Neglect is what is expensive, and then instead of a simple filling (for $150)a root canal is needed and then a crown $1000 and up). Problems are much more reasonable in cost and treatment when they are caught while small.
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