ActionStation’s Kayli Taylor details her research into how unaffordable and inaccessible dental care damages the daily lives of so many, and why dental care should be available for all
I realise in the UK basic dentistry is part funded though there aren’t enough dentists. But “cosmetic” treatments such as crowns are not covered and have to be paid for by the patient. From personal experieysuch work is
We must demand a public, state-funded health service for everyone that is free, accessible, timely, and comprehensive, including dental care, and eye and hearing care.
The state health service might outsource work to private enterprises, but that must be irrelevant to us, the recipients.
It might be worth looking into the cost & who gains from fluoridating water for all. It might be that this cost is better spent on providing free preventative dental care.
Huge issue, not least because of the physical and mental health impacts of poor dental health. Bacteria from dental disease can enter the bloodstream and cause heart disease, stroke and dementia. Not in the least trivial, although I suspect people just go, ‘extract them all and get dentures’, which are not cheap these days. Another big problem that’s long overdue for at least the same funding as medical health.
I realise in the UK basic dentistry is part funded though there aren’t enough dentists. But “cosmetic” treatments such as crowns are not covered and have to be paid for by the patient. From personal experieysuch work is
We must demand a public, state-funded health service for everyone that is free, accessible, timely, and comprehensive, including dental care, and eye and hearing care.
The state health service might outsource work to private enterprises, but that must be irrelevant to us, the recipients.
It needs to be irrelevant to the tax payer too, which is easily done by having a fair tax system.
Great discussion Bernard and Kayli. And a good indicator of where we're heading with privatised health are generally. Thanks for what you both do.
More than four times more expensive in NZ. I don’t think it costs $5000 to import a dental implant?
It might be worth looking into the cost & who gains from fluoridating water for all. It might be that this cost is better spent on providing free preventative dental care.
Huge issue, not least because of the physical and mental health impacts of poor dental health. Bacteria from dental disease can enter the bloodstream and cause heart disease, stroke and dementia. Not in the least trivial, although I suspect people just go, ‘extract them all and get dentures’, which are not cheap these days. Another big problem that’s long overdue for at least the same funding as medical health.