Brits Putting Off Dental Treatment Due To Financial Concerns

Thu, 03 Mar 2011

An increasing number of patients in England are cancelling check-ups with their dentist and deferring necessary treatment because of concerns about their finances.

A survey of 251 dentists in England, carried out by the British Dental Association (BDA), revealed that 59 per cent had seen their patients cancel appointments due to money worries, while 68 per cent had experienced patients postponing dental treatment for the same reason.

As a result, more than a third of the practitioners polled said they had seen an increase in the number of patients requiring emergency treatment over the past twelve months.

Commenting on the figures, Dr Susie Sanderson, Chair of the BDA's Executive Board, said: "It's understandable that, at a time when there is widespread concern about household finances, some patients' financial anxieties are leading them to defer dental appointments and treatment ."

"Achieving short-term money savings at the expense of longer-term health problems really isn't wise though. Neglecting your oral health can increase both the complexity of the problems you face and the cost of the treatment you must eventually have."

"As well, visiting the dentist at appropriate intervals will ensure that you get the help you need to maintain good oral health ."
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