New research has looked into the global cost of oral health diseases. The research has also examined the difference in spending between different countries. The findings have contributed towards the World Health Organization’s ongoing efforts to improve oral health around the world. The findings underline the impact of oral diseases, and the importance of prevention.
Recent research has looked into the worldwide cost of oral diseases [1]. The figures involved underline the scale of oral health problems around the world.
Moreover, the research shows how spending in different countries compare, which provides very interesting insights into oral health problems across each nation.
The findings have contributed to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Oral Health Action Plan 2023-2030, which seeks to improve oral health around the world [2].
About Oral Diseases
Oral diseases are very common, and affect the majority of adults around the world. This results in money being spent on getting check-ups and treatment.
Common oral health diseases include the development of cavities through tooth decay, tooth loss, gum disease, and more. All of these conditions are challenging to cope with.
The impact of these conditions can cause problems for adults in their working lives. For example, one study found that in Canada alone, over 40 million hours are potentially lost annually in the workplace due to dental problems and treatments [2].
The Research
A research team from Heidelberg University in Germany carried out the research. Their findings have been published in the Journal of Dental Research [1].
The team evaluated oral health data from 194 countries [1]. Therefore, this research provides information on both the wealthiest and poorest countries.
To determine the costs involved, the team considered both direct and indirect costs. Direct costs refer to the cost of dental care. Moreover, indirect costs refer to productivity losses due to oral diseases [1].
Remarkably, the total costs determined for 2019 came to approximately $710 billion worldwide [1]. This equates to approximately $3.8 billion per nation.
In terms of breaking this down, direct costs came to approximately $387 billion, while indirect costs resulted in approximately $323 billion [1].
With the indirect costs, the researchers found that productivity losses were mainly caused by tooth loss and periodontitis. In fact, almost 75% of total productivity losses were caused by these two conditions alone [1].
However, the disparity between nations was stark. For example, the researchers found that low-income countries spent an average of $0.52 per person in 2019 on dental care, while high-income countries spent an average of $260 per person [1].
Moreover, the ten nations with the highest expenditure per person were Monaco, Bahamas, Switzerland, Iceland, the United States, Norway, Germany, Luxembourg, Canada and Sweden respectively [1].
Central African nations and some south-eastern Asian nations were among the lowest spenders. The five lowest spending nations were Cambodia, Niger, Kenya, Ethiopia and Iraq [1].
The findings show the impact that oral diseases have, with productivity being hampered significantly. This has an economic impact on both individuals and society.
Interestingly, the researchers also found that treatment costs for oral diseases rank third in the European Union, trailing only to cardiovascular diseases and diabetes [1].
Summary
The findings are certainly interesting, and underline the amount of expenditure on oral diseases. However, disparities certainly exist from country-to-country.
As discussed earlier, the importance of the data is underscored by its inclusion in the WHO’s Global Oral Health Action Plan 2023-2030 [3]. The data has helped the WHO to put together an action plan to tackle oral health difficulties.
Among these difficulties is the lack of equity in oral health policies from country to country. The WHO will hope that the implementation of their action plan creates positive change.
Overall, the impact of oral health problems is clear to see. There are significant costs involved, while pain and discomfort for patients are common.
There are certainly areas for improvement in terms of preventing oral health problems, and then creating positive treatment outcomes.
Thinking points…
[1] In an effort to save money, it can be tempting to skip check-ups at the dentist. However, this is not advisable! If problems are left undetected and untreated, longer-term problems can develop. Instead, make sure you go to the dentist for a check-up regularly. If you are due an appointment, why not book now?
[2] Unsurprisingly, some of the highest costs per person were in western nations like Canada and the United States. However, dental care doesn’t have to cost huge amounts! Instead, you can look for dentists with more competitive prices, like here at Taradale Dental! At our Calgary based dental clinic, our fees are set in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide. We’d love to see you visit soon, take a look at our website for more – https://taradaledental.ca/!
What we offer at Taradale Dental
Taradale Dental is a dental clinic based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. At our Calgary dental clinic, we provide a range of services for our patients.
We advise our patients to attend our Calgary dental clinic at least twice per year for a regular dental check-up. At these check-ups, we provide a comprehensive review of a patient’s oral health. If any problems are detected, we have many treatments available. For example, these include cavity fillings and root canals. To strengthen your oral health, we recommend brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing regularly.
Here at Taradale Dental, we also have some cosmetic treatments available! These include dental implants, teeth whitening and Invisalign™! Our patients find that these treatments have a positive impact on their appearance, confidence and self-esteem.
Moreover, the fees of our treatments at our Calgary dental clinic Taradale Dental are set in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide. This ensures transparent and fair pricing, with no hidden costs.
We hope to see you soon at our Taradale Dental clinic in Calgary! You can find out more about us by visiting our website https://taradaledental.ca/!
References
[1] Jevdjevic, M., & Listl, S. (2024). Global, Regional, and Country-Level Economic Impacts of Oral Conditions in 2019. Journal of Dental Research. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/00220345241281698.
[2] Hayes, A., Azarpazhooh, A., Dempster, L., Ravaghi, V., & Quinonez, C. (2013). Time loss due to dental problems and treatment in the Canadian population: analysis of a nationwide cross-sectional survey. BMC Oral Health. 13 (17). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6831-13-17.
[3] Facius, A. (2024). Oral diseases cost the world $710 billion annually, study says. Available: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-11-oral-diseases-world-billion-annually.html. Last accessed: 22nd November 2024.
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