Nearly 20 percent of young Danes are so frightened by the cost of having their teeth fixed that they visit the dentist less than once every other year or not at all.
The dentistry habits of young people was revealed in a study by CEM Institute/Voxmeter that showed that the high cost of dentistry was the main reason why young people don’t get their teeth checked.
But according to Freddie Sloth-Lisbjerg, the chairman of the national dentists' association, not going to the dentist can actually be an expensive decision.
“Two-thirds of young people have cavities in various stages of development,” Sloth-Lisbjerg told metroxpress newspaper. “These can be sealed and young people can also be taught that there are a lot of things that they can do so that the early-stage cavities do not develop into problems that require drilling. Both are far cheaper in the long run for the individual and for society.”
Sloth-Lisbjerg was surprised, however, that a fear of dentists was not a major reason that young people aged 18-25 chose to stay away.
“I think it is because of the work that was done with children’s dentistry that had that effect. It’s incredibly good for the future of healthy teeth that there is a whole generation who are no longer afraid [to go to the dentist].”
Dentistry is free in Denmark until age 18, after which point residents have to pay for themselves.
