Letters of complaint regarding the high cost of dentistry are not foreign to my mailbox. I get a lot of them. Here is one I received recently:

"My daughter-in-law had two teeth worked on. She paid $900 before her insurance kicked in. This dentist requires immediate payment. She had no choice but to pay with a credit card. A $900 hit is outrageous as far as I'm concerned.

"Are only rich people supposed to have good teeth?

"I am facing some routine dental work, also, which will cost more than $1,000. In the past, I turned down a root canal because of the cost: $1,400 for 1 1/2 hours of work. This charge was after I would have paid $140 for a consultation. I said no to that, too. I then would need a crown for $900. Is this affordable for anyone?"

I understand the outrage of readers who are facing big dental bills. But dental care is not a luxury. It is an essential life expense that should be anticipated the way you anticipate paying taxes, mortgage payments and food.

A dentist is a professional, with a great deal of schooling and preparation behind those injections and drills. That "1 1/2 hours of work" involved lab costs, materials and related costs. A $900 or $1,400 charge for extensive work is not out of line and should be seen as far more important than a new big-screen TV or cell phones for every member of the family. Dentistry is neither optional nor an entitlement, and a dentist should require immediate payment. The dental profession is not a charitable, nonprofit industry, nor should it be.

That being said, there are ways to keep those costs of good dental care to a minimum.

—Avoid big dental bills by practicing preventive care, thus avoiding emergency care. Most dental problems are preventable by restricting sugar for children, using a fluoride rinse, having fluoride in the water supply, having sealants applied when necessary, brushing and flossing daily, and having regular checkups.

—Find a dental hygiene school or dental college that operates a clinic in your area. All treatments performed by students are under the careful supervision of instructors. Fees are typically 50 to 75 percent less than treatment by private practitioners.

—Many dentists are willing to work with families in setting up financial arrangements that can work with the family budget. This does, however, represent a new debt and should be considered carefully.

—Try to find a dentist who is just starting out. Explain your situation. Because the dentist is trying to build the practice, you could be offered a reduced fee as the dentist's way of building a loyal following.

There is no doubt that when it comes to dental care, prevention is the cheapest way to go. When dental work cannot be prevented, the cost needs to be seen as a mandatory life expense.

Mary Hunt is the founder of DebtProofLiving.com and author of 17 books, including "Debt-Proof Living." You can e-mail her at [email protected], or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2135, Paramount, CA 90723. To find out more about Mary Hunt and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.