Cost of Dental Treatment causing Patients to miss Appointments
The full results of the 2009 Adult Dental Survey have now been published and figures show that one in five people are delaying dental treatment due to cost.
The survey, which is carried out every ten years, also found that a significant proportion of people selected treatments based on their cost; the figures show that 22 percent of dental patients in Wales said that the cost of treatments influenced their decision.
Dental fees have been frozen for the last few years in Wales but this has not stopped patients from delaying treatment or cancelling appointments; the results of the survey show that people are not just put off by the higher costs of complex treatments; they are delaying cheaper routine treatments and regular dental check ups.
The results of the survey confirm the fears of the British Dental Association; the BDA carried out research at the beginning of the year and the results showed that a large proportion of people were cancelling appointments and putting off routine treatment in a bid to save money.
Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Association, said that it was worrying that many people seemed to view dental care as a luxury; he said that people must keep an eye on their oral health because delaying treatment and avoiding regular check-ups would lead to dental health problems in the future. Check-ups and simple treatments are much cheaper than complex treatments and putting off treatment may end up costing a lot more money in the long-run.
Dr Carter also said that it was important that people realised how important oral health is; many studies have now linked poor oral health to an increased risk of heart disease, strokes and diabetes, as well as risks associated with complications during labour and childbirth.
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