Many older people struggle to meet the cost of dental care as their incomes decrease and their needs increase. Root canal problems may develop as gums recede and the roots of the teeth become exposed and vulnerable to decay. Some people may take medications that make the mouth dry. Ingredients in saliva help fight bacteria and maintain healthy tooth enamel, so this important protection against tooth decay and gum disease is reduced.
Struggling with costs
A paper published in the New Zealand Medical Journal shows the challenges facing a group of 19 people aged between 65 and 87. Barbara McKenzie-Green, senior lecturer in the School of Health Care Practice at AUT University, was one of the paper's co-authors. She says all the participants in the study really did try to persist with dental treatment but they struggled to meet the costs.
Participants had to decide whether to spend money on regular dentistry visits to maintain their teeth or to save and wait until a problem occurred. For some it meant deciding between root canal work or having a tooth pulled out. They adopted strategies such as visiting a dental hygienist or a dental technician instead of a dentist, or negotiating payment with their dentist.
Living with damaged, diseased or missing teeth affects your quality of life. You may be in pain because you can't afford to have an abscessed tooth fixed; you may not be able to chew food or have a nice smile. Participants spoke of their embarrassment at the state of their teeth and felt that others judged them for it.
Public funding
Barbara McKenzie-Green says public funding of dental treatments for older people is urgently needed. Is it likely to happen? We asked the Ministry of Health.
The ministry told us that children and teenagers have been identified as priorities for its "oral health vision". In future programmes the ministry plans to focus on preventive strategies and access to care for low-income adults, older adults and people with special needs. At present low-income adults who need emergency dental treatment can apply for a Special Needs Grant from Work and Income. The grant is a one-off payment.
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