Dental Treatments Too Pricey For Many Greeks
A growing number of people in Greece are putting off having dental care as a result of cost, it has been revealed.
Economic problems in the country have forced many to cut back on spending on general living costs and dental care has become an unaffordable luxury for many. The situation is so bad that many dentists have also decided to move abroad for job security and increased income.
Figures also suggest that dental tourism is becoming more popular, with an increasing number of Greek dental patients visiting Balkan states to save money on treatment.
President of the Thessaloniki Dentists’ Association, Athanasios Devliotis, said that the situation is alarming, as dental hygiene is an indicator of how advanced a nation is, as the focus is on prevention, rather than cure.
To add to the problem, many people have lost support from social security funds, which makes it even more difficult to afford treatment.
According to Athanasios Yfantis, president of the Attica Dental Association, said that there have been significant reductions in the amount of work for dentists in both urban and rural areas; dentists offering prosthetic services have seen the biggest decline, with some carrying out 80 per cent less work. Young dentists have also suffered and this is part of the reason so many dentists are choosing to leave Greece to practice abroad.
Join this Discussion