2010 Simplyhealth Dental Survey: Accessibility and Cost
Due to the amount of dental insurance claims during 2009 and NHS dental contract changes prompted by the Steele Review, Simplyhealth, private dental insurers, published a 2010 Dental Survey in November 2010 providing information on accessibility of UK dentistry and views on dental costs.
The survey reveals that during years 2007-2008 and 2009, 28 million patients accessed NHS dental services. Of those surveyed, there was a 4 percent increase in 2009 of patients finding it hard to access NHS dental care, including those for children. The survey also suggests that espondents generally lack awareness of the connection between alcohol and tobacco consumption and oral cancer, with only 20 percent having received assessment for early detection of oral or mouth cancer.
Although the cost of private dental treatment is viewed as high by respondents, less patients accessed treatment for crowns and root canals via NHS dental care between 2004 to 2009. There was also a rise in patients from 2009 who needed more complex and expensive dental treatment, and paid for treatment through loans rather than insurance, because they opted to delay treatment as a result of cost concerns. Approximately, 15 percent of these patients needing emergency treatment sought NHS services.
Of companies surveyed, 66 percent reported that dental benefits for employees helped to lower absenteeism due to illness, boosting morale and productivity. As people become more aware of the benefits of dental plans, more are opting for dental insurance to avoid the need for loans and costly emergency dental care.
Simplyhealth’s dental advisor, Michael Thomas, suggests the following tips for improving dental health:
- Have regular dental visits
- Use quality toothpaste
- Change toothbrush regularly
- Spread cost of oral care through a dental plan
- Floss regularly
- Avoid smoking that leads to gum disease and cancer
