The latest findings released by the Adult Dental Health Survey, undertaken every 10 years, reveal just over a quarter (26 per cent) of adults said the type of dental treatment they opted for was influenced by cost, while nearly one in five (19 per cent) said they had delayed having treatment for financial reasons.
Household budgets are already under pressure with the highest levels of inflation for 20 years, low pay rises and high unemployment. With NHS dental prices set to increase from April 1, 2011, the first rise for two years, there is growing concern dental health will be increasingly seen by many as a low priority. Chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Nigel Carter, believes the news further reinforces the need for the general public to have wider access to information on how their oral health can affect their general health.
Nigel said: ‘Dental care should not be viewed as a luxury. It has been proven that looking after your oral health can reduce the risk of getting infections which in turn can spread to other parts of the body. For instance, heart disease, strokes, diabetes, lung disease and premature and low-birth-weight babies are all problems made worse or even caused by poor dental health, and in particular gum disease. Although the findings of the survey results points to a quarter of adults taking the financial side of going to the dentist into consideration, the foundation still considers the charges in England, even after the planned increase this week, to be good value for money. Ensuring you go for regular check-ups can detect early signs of gum disease, oral cancer and other oral health related problems, and delays could lead to more extensive treatment, even loss of teeth and higher costs.’
NHS dental care in England is subsidised by the health department but patients do still pay towards their care. There are three price bands ranging from £16.50 for a basic check-up in band one to £198 for complex procedures in band three. Pregnant women, those on low incomes and children are exempt from paying. Affordability was mentioned by 63 per cent of the participants, along with location and recommendation when it comes to accessing their NHS dentist. Extreme dental anxiety, estimated to affect 12 per cent of adults, was also a barrier.