High Costs Driving Patients Away From The Dentist In Australia
A survey has revealed that a growing number of Australians are avoiding the dentist due to high costs.
The survey, which was conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, revealed that one in five people who had symptoms of dental health problems put off going to see their dentist because they could not afford treatment.
The survey showed that young people aged between 25 and 34 were most likely to avoid going to the dentist; 31 per cent of people aged between 25 and 34 surveyed said that they did not go to the dentist last year, compared to just 5 per cent of participants aged over 75 years old.
The statistics showed that 49 per cent of Australians aged 15 or over visited a dentist last year; of those participants, 90 per cent visited a private dentist.
Director of health statistics at the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Louise Gates, said that information was gathered on access to dental services and also barriers to dental care. Information was also collected on other health services, including GP services and specialist medical care.
The survey showed that more than 80 per cent of people aged over 15 years old saw a GP within the last 12 months.
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