WHY DO YOUNG PEOPLE AVOID SEEING A DENTIST?
The results of a recent Australian Dental Association Consumer Study are in and it makes concerning reading for 18-25 year olds in particular.
The survey highlights that younger Australians are delaying a visit to the dentist due to cost pressures. Young people might be living away from home for the first time, not yet in full time employment and possibly no longer covered by their family’s private health insurance. This is particularly concerning when you consider painful wisdom teeth eruption which is a common issue in the 18-25 age bracket.
What is more troubling is young people being swayed by social media influence when it comes to dental health and their priorities. Fashion driven treatment such as whitening and veneers garner much attention and can be seen to be more desirable than basic preventive care.
The question of dental care being covered under a National Oral Health Plan is often discussed by political parties and The Australian Dental Association. Until such time as this comes into being, the best message dentists (such as your team at Brookfield Road Dental at Kenmore) can communicate is PREVENTION IS EVERYTHING! Just like a custom fitting mouthguard is not cheap, but it IS cheap insurance compared with the cost of traumatic dental injuries from playing sport. What you prioritise in life will shape your future!
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