Thousands Missing Out on Routine Dental Care Due to Cost
Thousands of people in Australia are missing out on routine dental care because they cannot afford the cost of treatment.
According to research carried out by the Ipsos Social Research Institute, over the last two years, almost 2 million people did not receive the treatment they needed because they did not have the money to pay for it.
The study found that even people who had private health insurance avoided going to the dentist, because the cost of treatment was too high. Ryan Williams, director of the report, said that cost was a factor for all families, not just those who live on low incomes, which is why middle class families and high earners are also visiting their dentist less frequently.
Hans Zoellner, head of oral pathology and oral medicine at the University of Sydney, said that the figures were worse when you take into account the number of people who did not require treatment urgently but would not have the money for treatment in the event that they needed emergency care. Zoellner said that the state recognises that people cannot afford dental care but they cannot afford to provide care for everyone, as the demand for discounted treatment is far too high.
The study, which was founded on a sample of 2,700 people, estimated that more than 3.5 million people had not visited a dentist over the course of the last four years and 300,000 people were on waiting lists to see a public dentist.
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