Dentists are having a hard time
How is your practice doing? If the answer to this question is ‘fine’, chances are high that you are living in a part of the world where people still visit their dentist on a regular basis. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for all members of the profession. Latest reports suggest that more and more patients around the world are postponing their dental visits due to recession-related financial problems. In the UK, for example, almost one million less people have had their teeth checked since 2006. More than 60 per cent of 1,000 adults in the US have also cut back on dental visits (see also Americans cut down on dental visits) and similar reports are now coming from Australia. These numbers are of significant proportions. They not only indicate a considerable loss of income for dentists and perhaps even the closing of some dental offices, they are also a setback for those who are constantly fighting to bring the oral health message into the minds and attitudes of people. Whether these reports are drawing a realistic picture or not, they certainly demonstrate that many people do not consider their oral health as something to watch over at the moment. Organisations like the World Dental Federation or the WHO have tried to raise awareness for the need of dental care to be an essential part of primary health care services in the last few years. Unfortunately, their achievements could be in vain since governments are changing their priorities and leaving health behind in order to balance national budgets. Therefore, joint efforts of politicians, health care professionals and, up and foremost, dentists are necessary to convince people to invest in their oral health again. Free dental missions may be a good tool to help a few people but they are like giving lessons to a child that doesn’t want to learn. Out of sight is out of mind.
