Medpedia

Why are your patients hesitant to seek dental treatment? According to Consumer Reports, the high cost of oral care is one of the largest reasons patients avoid going to the dentist.

The article, Consumer Reports Survey: Consumers Delaying Dental Care Due To Cost asked readers to describe the dental health and cosmetic treatments they received in the last 5 years, only to discover price has been a big treatment barrier. “CR subscribers tend to have better insurance coverage than Americans on average, but cost was still cited as a barrier by 43 percent of readers who delayed.”

The article explains that while consumers are delaying necessary treatments to combat pain, some are paying for treatments they do not need. Nancy Metcalf, senior program editor, Consumer Reports, said “Because cost is an issue, consumers need to be clear about the line between dental care that is necessary and the procedures they can live without.  Many dentists are trained to push for procedures, both cosmetic and non cosmetic, that will boost their bottom line,” said Metcalf.  “We were struck by the finding that nearly a half of those who had had a cosmetic procedure had been prompted to do so by their dentist.”

When it comes to necessary treatments, even those with insurance put it off. Twenty-three percent of patients did so because insurance wouldn’t cover the procedure and twenty-four percent because they already reached maximum insurance coverage for the year. According to Metcalf, there are several ways consumers can keep costs down or get by without insurance:

• Shop around and bargain.
• Consider free and low-cost clinics and health centers.
• Look into dental and dental-hygienist schools.
• Investigate dental discount plans.

Are you working to help your patients find a way to get the treatment they need?