Treatment at the dentist? Italians cannot always afford the expense of the dentist and health funds and insurance do not always help
They cost too much, which is why more and more Italians are putting off treatment at the dentist. In the last two years, in fact, many have canceled or postponed dental visits, in most cases for economic reasons.
This is what emerges from a recent survey by Altroconsumo, conducted between May and July 2024 on a sample of over a thousand citizenswhich reveals that in the last two years 3 out of 10 people do not carry out regular checks.
The photograph taken by Altroconsumo effectively gives an idea of how expensive dental care is and is completely borne by citizens, since the National Health Service is not able to cover it or only partially supports it for the weakest segments of the population .
Our latest investigation confirms what has already been highlighted by the Gimbe report: Italian public healthcare is in difficulty due to staff shortages and lack of investments. In Italy, public health spending stands at 6.2% of GDP, below the European average of 6.8%. Additional investments are needed, more doctors and nurses: intervening is now an emergency, the numbers say it and the people testify to it, says Federico Cavallo, External Relations Manager of Altroconsumo.
Dentist, how much will it cost me? What if we started from daily hygiene?
The survey shows that in most cases it is the economic motivation that pushes Italians not to have regular check-ups at the dentist. 35% even declare that they do not consider them necessary, synonymous with the fact of how little the importance of them is understood prevention and how oral health is fundamental to the general state of health (only with regular checks can they intercept problems and resolve them without having to resort to major interventions). In short, the more you treat yourself, the less you spend, and in fact, 24% of those who postponed or canceled their visit to the dentist made the problem worse.
Related to this, oral hygiene is one of the first problems. According to data from Altroconsumo, Italians pay little attention to correct daily oral hygiene. In fact, neither the dental floss which cleans the contact point between the gum and the tooth (56% do not use it) nor the brush (73% do not use it) which is used have yet entered into the daily oral hygiene routine. to prevent periodontal problems due to the accumulation of plaque between one tooth and another where the toothbrush cannot reach. There are even 19% who use toothpicks.
Almost half of Italians are not aware of the importance of using toothpaste with fluoride: 26% don’t know if there is fluoride in what they usually use and 19% say they don’t use toothpaste with fluoride. It is a key ingredient because it reduces the demineralization process of the teeth and contributes to the remineralization process, making them more protected from the attack of tooth decay.
The Manual toothbrush remains the protagonist of Italians’ oral hygiene (72% use it), the electric one, however, is pressing (46%). Manual or electric toothbrush, the important thing is that it has a small head and soft bristles because we don’t have to abrade the tooth, but remove the plaque by brushing from the gum to the tooth. The advice is to brush your teeth at least twice a day for at least 3 minutes also using a brush and dental floss.
The insurance issue
According to the survey, 15% of respondents have insurance that covers dental care (supplementary health fund or private insurance policy), but go to the dentist more often. Maybe because the coverage is unsatisfactory (3 out of 10 Italians are not satisfied with the refunds they receive).
Not only that: insurance often requires you to go to an affiliated dentist and Italians prefer to rely on a trusted professional and, therefore, remain uncovered or are forced to pay a higher deductible. In fact, 46% of Italians choose the dentist with whom they have already had previous experience and only 4% because it has an agreement with the insurance.
Finally, there are various inconveniences reported by insured people who too often are unable to access the dental care provided by their health insurance. In fact, there are reports of failed reimbursements, complex, slow and opaque bureaucratic procedures for accessing services, impossibility of accessing the information service, and contesting medical and health diagnoses.
