Simplyhealth s Annual Dental Survey 2010
Simplyhealth s top tips for keeping your teeth and mouth healthy Practicing dentist and Simplyhealth s dental advisor, Michael Thomas, has put together his top tips for taking care of your oral health. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Visit your dentist on a regular basis, at a frequency they recommend is best for you. This timescale will depend on your personal dental requirements and can be three months, six months, one year or longer in some cases Invest in a quality toothpaste. It will pay for itself many times over by reducing the amount of dental treatment you are likely to need in the future Change your tooth brush regularly. When it becomes worn it is much less effective at cleaning away plaque. Many manual and electric brush heads now have indicators to help you know when it is time to change Don t let cost stop you seeking dental care. There are a number of plans available to help spread the cost of dental care and take away the financial bother of visiting the dentist Use dental floss. It s inexpensive and helps to prevent the build up of plaque on and in between your teeth. It also allows you to look after your teeth outside of your morning and evening brush If you smoke then try to give up. Smoking is an expensive habit that is linked to mouth cancers, and gum disease. The NHS provides free advice and support for those wanting to quit Don t forget that if you re struggling to find an NHS dentist then contact your local Primary Care Trust, which will have a list of NHS dentists in your area. Alternatively ask friends and colleagues as they often have the best advice for finding a good dentist. 2
Introduction 1 April marks the fourth anniversary since the Government changed the NHS dental system for both dentists and patients. The aim of these changes was to give better access to NHS dentists, and also to make the way we pay for our dental treatment simpler and more open. With a general election just around the corner, together with recommendations from an independent report, the Steele Review*, that widespread changes needed to be made to the NHS dental contracts, provided the perfect opportunity for us to look at NHS dentistry and assess what is happening to oral healthcare and our attitudes towards the cost and accessibility of dentistry. We surveyed 1,000 members of the working nation and 250 companies, and the results show striking evidence of the link between prohibitive cost and dental health issues. Providing a compelling portrait of the struggle for NHS dental care and the damage poor dental care could have on the nation. There are four types of teeth in your mouth, incisors, canines, premolars and molars Source: www.nhs.uk Moreover, the study uncovers widespread concerns that oral health has suffered as a direct result of the financial squeeze and highlights the role that employers can play in helping employees manage their dental health whilst improving morale, attendance and wellbeing. This is the fifth year we have released a dental survey in April. Where appropriate, we have referenced year on year trends. *Welsh dentistry is not subject to the Steele Review 3
Is NHS dentistry still on the decline? The latest statistics published in March by the NHS Information Centre showed that the number of people able to access NHS dental care has finally returned to the level it was at before the implementation of the 2006 NHS dental reforms. Despite this, the British Dental Association has claimed that a flawed dental contract and inconsistent commissioning of dentistry by primary care trusts are both issues that need to be addressed, while the next elected government will have to deal with an unacceptable and growing chasm in oral health inequalities (March 2010). We decided to look at what people s real experience of dental access is, in order to get a true picture. Despite the Government figures, the numbers of people struggling to find an NHS dentist has slightly worsened with 39% of adults claiming to have struggled*. In fact, 9% of people got so tired of trying to find an NHS dentist that they gave up. 24% of those with children have struggled to find an NHS dentist, which is exactly the same figure as last year. Of those, 4% gave up on their search for a dentist for their children. 16% of all workers in Cardiff struggled to find an NHS dentist and gave up, as did 11% in London suggesting that there are acute shortages in these cities. 28,163,000 patients accessed NHS dental care in the 24 months ending 31 December 2009, compared to 28,145,000 in the 24 months ending 31 March 2006 Source: NHS Information Centre 2008 2009 2010 Have you struggled 23% 35% 39% to find an NHS dentist for you Have you struggled 9% 24% 24% to find an NHS dentist for your children *According to our figures, 35% struggled in 2009 4
Is cost still putting people off visiting the dentist? Going to the dentist can be expensive, especially if you choose to go privately, or you re unable to find an NHS dentist in your area. For a private check-up, the average price is 44, an amalgam filling can set you back around 101 and prices for a bridge can be 568 or more (according to Whatprice.co.uk). The rising costs mean that some are neglecting their oral health. 43% of people have put off visiting the dentist as they were too worried about the cost implications, this is higher amongst females and those in their late twenties and early thirties. This figure exactly mirrors that recorded last year, indicating that people have ongoing concerns regarding affordability of dental care. Dental cost concerns I have put off visiting the dentist due to cost London Manchester Norwich Liverpool Cardiff Belfast Edinburgh Southampton I have put off taking my children to the dentist due to cost 35% of those who put off visiting a dentist due to cost have paid the price with the oral health of themselves or even their children. This is a far higher figure than the one in five recorded in 2009. Some of the results are as follows: 26% have suffered long term tooth decay 19% lost a tooth 13% suffered an abscess 2% needed extreme dental procedures 39% of those who have had to pay for a dental bill over 50 in the last year have had to pay by credit card, while one in 50 took out a loan. In debt crisis Britain, it appears that we have to resort to expensive routes to maintain our health. Figures show that the number of crowns on the NHS fell nearly 50% between 2004 and 2009. The number of root canals on the NHS fell 40% over the same period, from nearly a million Source: NHS Information Centre 5
Are cost concerns and cancellations clogging up A&E? We have established that people are put off from visiting the dentist due to cost, but does this mean that people are also cancelling their appointments? 16% of people have cancelled a dental appointment in the past year. This figure rises to one in five of 16-24 year olds and 21% in Bristol. As dentists can charge for cancellations (on average 34 according to What Price), this could mean that people are incurring even greater costs in the long term by putting off treatment. With people putting off and cancelling dental visits due to costs, with the result that some are paying the price for oral health, we wanted to investigate whether this was having an impact on A&E and on NHS Direct help lines. 15% of people have called NHS direct or gone to A&E with toothache or dental pain instead of, or before, seeing a dentist. 5% of parents have taken their child to A&E instead of going to the dentist and a further one in 20 has phoned NHS Direct on behalf of their child rather than taking them to the dentist. least 50% of children under decay due to too many sugary snacks Source: British Dental Health Foundation Have you ever rang NHS Direct or gone to A&E about tooth pain instead of or before seeing a dentist? Yes for me or my partner 15% Yes for my children 7% 6
Are we closed mouthed about cancer? Mouth cancer is one of the fasted growing cancers in the UK according to the British Dental Health Foundation. In fact cases of mouth cancer increased in the last decade by 41%. With this threat in mind, we wanted to establish whether people were aware of this disease, if they knew how to help prevent its onset, and how to spot the signs. Around 75% of mouth cancers are caused by tobacco and alcohol. Despite this, our research suggests that one in ten didn t think that smoking causes mouth cancer, and over a quarter don t cite alcohol as a cause. Poor diet is also linked to a third of cases, yet under half believe this to be true. More worryingly, one in five of the nation has suffered at least one of the possible early signs or symptoms of mouth cancer, yet as awareness of the causes of cancer is so poorly known, it is possible that these went unnoticed. As early detection increases cancer survival rates by 90% we would encourage people to visit their dentist if they have any concerns. Have you ever experienced any of the following: General mouth pain 11% Difficulty chewing or swallowing 7% Recurring ulcers that did not heal 6% Lump in mouth or throat 7% Red or white patches that did not go away 7% hours from mouth cancer in the UK Source: British Dental Health Foundation All of the statistics other than the statistics relating to our research are taken from the British Dental Health Foundation website, www.mouthcancer.org. 7
Is it just nice to have a scale and polish? Traditionally, a scale and polish has been a standard part of a trip to the dentist. However, there have been recent questions regarding the clinical need of a scale and polish, and whether this truly contributes to good oral health, or simply contributes to the cosmetic appearance of teeth. This could mean that a scale and polish will no longer be part of an NHS dental check-up unless clinically required, and would have to be funded privately, or omitted. The large majority of people disagree with this, with a third of those surveyed believing a scale and polish to be essential for keeping teeth and mouth healthy, and nearly a half considering it to be an important part of overall dental hygiene. According to www.whatprice.co.uk, the average cost of a private scale and polish is 46, which could be another cost deterrent to prevent people from going to the dentist. 8
With access and affordability remaining key issues for UK workers, this could mean that dental benefits have an increasing role in the workplace. We therefore wanted to get a better understanding of how the issues around dental access are impacting the provision of dental benefits to employees. The demand for stand alone Dental Insurance Plans continues to grow, it is up by 10.5%. This means the number of people covered is at 3,325,000 Source: Laing and Buisson Healthcare Cover Report 2009 If we compare the results from the last few years dental surveys, dental benefits are increasingly important in the minds of HR professionals. Oral health is a much more important element of wellbeing strategies, as dental benefits become more of a desired benefit and help with morale and retention. For example, the percentage of companies that believe dental benefits improve employee morale has risen from 51% in 2008 to 67% in 2010. Similarly, the fact that employees might not be able to afford to maintain their oral health is increasingly a concern to companies, as this has risen from 41% in 2008 to 49% in 2010. Finally, the number of companies that believe dental benefits help to reduce sickness absence has risen from 30% in 2008 to 66% in 2010. 2008 2009 2010 Percentage of companies that 51% 64% 67% believe dental benefits improve employee morale Percentage of HR managers 41% 48% 49% who would implement dental benefits out of concern for oral health of employees Percentage of companies who 30% 56% 66% believe dental benefits reduce sickness adsence With this all in mind, and given that dental care appears to be more important to employees and employer alike, are companies becoming more flexible when allowing dental visits during work time. The answer is a resounding no, and in fact, companies are becoming much stricter with monitoring this. One in ten of companies now discourage any visits to the dentist during working hours compared to 4% last year. Only 37% of companies believe it is up to the individual when they choose to visit the dentist compared to 53% last year. This could be a reflection of the increasing pressure on workplaces to keep people at work during these difficult financial times, and a further indication of the need for benefits such as dental to enable employees the option of visiting private dentists during out of office hours. 9
About our research The research was conducted by Opinion Matters using an online fieldwork methodology. Opinion Matters surveyed 250 HR Managers and 1,005 working adults between 24 February and 4 March 2010. Respondents were invited to participate from a nationally representative online access panel. All research carried out adhered to the latest Market Research Society Codes of Conduct and is fully compliant with the Data Protection Act 1998, ensuring respondent anonymity. Simplyhealth paid 1.6 million dental claims in 2009 10
About Simplyhealth At Simplyhealth, we believe that health is the most important thing of all. We believe in putting our customers first and always take the time to do the right thing, not the easy thing. In a world where so many people can t be bothered, we re proud to say we can. We have 140 years experience of making healthcare accessible and affordable for individuals, families and companies. This is why we offer a range of health products ands services, such as dental plans, cash plans, private medical insurance and daily living aids that can help people feel better everyday. Dental benefits help encourage individuals to attend regular visits to the dentist, to maintain good oral health and take a pro-active approach to looking after themselves. This in turn should help prevent health issues occurring or developing. Suitable for NHS or private access, cash plans and dental plans from Simplyhealth provide cover for check-ups, treatment and emergencies. Claims are usually turned around within a few working days of receipt. You might have previously known us as HSA, BCWA, LHF, HealthSure, LHF and Totally Active. Our name may have changed, but our commitment to helping people hasn t. Our team can be bothered to do the ordinary things we know make a difference to you. If you re someone that can be bothered to help others, why not join our community of botheredness at www.wecanbebothered.co.uk. Simplyhealth, we can be bothered. The cost of visiting the dentist *As we went to print, the 2010 price bands had not been announced NHS price bands 16.50 This charge includes an examination, diagnosis and preventative advice. If necessary, it also includes a scale and polish, x-rays and planning for further treatment 45.60 This charge includes all the necessary treatment covered by the 16.50 charge, plus additional treatment, such as fillings, root canal or extractions 198 This charge includes all the necessary treatment covered by the 16.50 and 45.60 charges, plus more complex procedures, such as crowns, dentures and bridges Private dental charges The table below demonstrates typical costs of dental procedures at private dentists as at 1 April 2010 Bridge 568 Cancellation 34 Crown - composite 386 Examination 43 First consultation 53 Hygiene clean 63 Large tooth filling white 108 Small tooth filling white 76 Root canal 365 Sedated tooth removal 141 Tooth extraction 94 Scale and polish 46 Wisdom tooth extraction 178 X-ray 28 Source: www.whatprice.co.uk 11
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