The number of Portuguese who have not been to the dentist for more than two years is growing and the percentage of people who have not been to an appointment for more than a year is 41,6%. 3,6% of the population has never entered a dental office.
These are some of the conclusions of the National Oral Health Barometer, prepared by the independent consultant QSP for the Ordem dos Médicos Dentists (OMD).
The data collected in the four editions of the study reveal that, «in matters of oral health, we live in a country at two speeds», according to Orlando Monteiro da Silva, president of the OMD.
“Those who have the possibility of accessing dental appointments understand the advantages of regular visits and maintain regularity. The others, whether for lack of resources or information, look at oral health as something secondary and the result is in sight: 11% of the Portuguese population lives with a lack of more than six teeth and without replacements, which substantially harms oral health . The absence of so many teeth affects the quality of chewing, conditioning the intake of certain foods and jeopardizing general health», he explained.
It is this reality that leads 30% of respondents – 3% more than in 2017 – to say that they never go to the dentist or that they only go in an emergency.
«53,6% of respondents say they do not need to go to dental appointments, a figure that rose from 44,5% in the previous edition of the Barometer. 31,7% say they have no money, a figure that contrasts with the 42,8% registered last year. There are still 11,6% who consider not to have teeth problems», found the study, whose results were made public by the OMD.
Even so, «70% of Portuguese people lack natural teeth (except for wisdom teeth) and, of these, 35% have already lost six or more teeth. There are still 8,2% of the Portuguese population that do not have any natural teeth. And, among those who lack teeth, 55,5% have nothing to replace».
“There is still a lot to be done in this area. It is crucial to integrate more dentists in health centers and hospitals and establish an agreement between the State and private practices and clinics for the financing of oral health consultations. What currently exists is short for the needs of the Portuguese, only a few more disadvantaged fringes are covered by public oral health care, leaving out the vast majority of the population», considered Orlando Monteiro da Silva.
The fact is that, although there is already an offer of dental services in the National Health Service – a project that has been implemented by the Government since 2016 -, «63% of respondents are unaware of the existence of dental consultations in some dental centers. health".
«In the last 12 months, only 10% of the Portuguese went to the hospital or health center when they had oral health problems», according to the Ordem dos Médicos Dentists.
But there are also positive numbers, as the Portuguese show good habits with regard to oral hygiene. «96,2% of Portuguese people, especially women, who brush their teeth regularly. Even so, this is the lowest value recorded in the four editions of the Barómetro».
"In the oral health care of children, the fourth edition of the Barometer concludes that about 63% of Portuguese families under the age of six in the household never visit the dentist, although they admit to being aware that baby teeth need treatment" , added the OMD.
«On the other hand, there is an increase in the use of dental checks. Among the respondents who claimed to have taken children under six years of age to a dental appointment, 64% resorted to the dental check», he concluded.
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