CATEGORY AUSTRALASIAN DENTIST 121 COLUMNISTS Heath Fraser Australia has the 11th highest cost of living in the world1 and dental healthcare is no exception, in 2019-2020 alone, almost $10 billion was spent on dental services.2 High prices are creating a dental healthcare crisis, as more than 70 per cent of Australians would delay dental treatment for at least 12 months due to cost.3 A developed nation such as Australia shouldn’t force patients to value money saved from delaying dental treatment over the prevention of serious health conditions. A survey commissioned by AirSmile in 2022 found that approximately 31.3 per cent of Australians had not visited a dentist in at least 12 months, with a third (32 per cent) giving the reason that they were not experiencing dental issues. A major barrier to access dental care is the unaffordability of treatment, with 30 per cent of respondents admitting they had not seen a dentist regularly due to high cost of dental treatment. Increased education around the value of dental preventative healthcare is also critical to encouraging Australians back into the dental chair. The latest research indicates that one in three Australians aged over 15 has untreated tooth decay,4 and the same is identified in children aged 5-6. Alarmingly, the prevalence rate of tooth decay goes up to one in two for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.5 These staggering figures can undoubtedly be attributed to the lack of dentalcare access due to affordability. It is expected that more Australians will face cost as an obstacle to receiving dental care, as a potential economic downturn in Are our fees the reason Australians avoid the dentist? 2023 continues to exacerbate the current cost of living crisis. Dental professionals eager to attract new patients and remain competitive in the market should keep this inmind when pricing dental services. There are a number of ways dentists can keep prices reasonable to help reduce the cost of treatment barrier for patients in need. 1. Outsourcing treatments to lower-cost staff. Utilising highly trained dental hygienists, therapists and assistants – rather than dentists themselves – on a variety of treatments such as cleans, x-rays, general health assessments and preventative care can help keep costs down for patients. 2. Partner with healthcare insurance providers. Dentists can partner with insurance providers to offer insurance memberswithbetterdealsontreatment. Insurance providers such as Bupa6,7 offer cover for expensive endodontic and orthodontic treatments. Around 59 percent of respondents with private health insurance report that the rebates offered on dental treatment make a difference in the affordability of their dental care.8 3. Offer buy now, pay later services. Implementing digital payment plan options for treatments can offer some relief for patients and encourage them into the dental chair. Many Australians are already registered to buy now pay later services such as AfterPay Humm or Zip Pay. An AirSmile survey found that 62 per cent would use a buy now, pay later service to pay for dental care. Patients can locate dental surgeries that offer these payment plans using dental comparison sites such as, AirSmile. 4. Become confident with discussing treatment costs. Most dentists will admit to lacking the skills and confidence in facilitating a discussion around the cost of treatment and often refer this task to the front office team. However, this removes the opportunity to work ‘with’ the patient on finding a solution not only to their oral health needs but also their budget concerns. In most cases there is a work around and a patient will value any dentist that takes the time to find it. For example, treatment can be staged out over time, a less ideal but less expensive option could be done now while the patient saves up for the permanent solution or a payment plan can be agreed upon to suit the family budget. u For a complete list of references email gapmagazines@gmail.com Dr Fraser is a dental surgeon and cosmetic dentist. He is founder of AirSmile, a national comparison and booking portal for dental services, and Avenue Dental Kawana and Fresh Breath Clinic in Queensland. A passionate advocate for accessible, affordable and quality dental care for all Australians, Heath founded AirSmile in 2019 to enable more Australians to access these benefits. By Dr Heath Fraser
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