Our dental health is endangered by the economic crisis. This was stated by Josep Lluís Majó, president of the College of Dentists and Stomatologists of Catalonia (COEC), during the International Dental Forum held in Barcelona on April 13.
According to the expert, visits to the dentist have been reduced by 40% in this region, causing the closure of many clinics in recent months.
No money for the dentist
- The current economic situation that Spain and the entire European area are experiencing has led citizens to live by counting every euro, including those that can be spent at the dentist.
- The most affected treatments are those for oral aesthetics, which have become “residual”, according to Majó. There has also been a decrease in periodic reviews, cleaning and preventive treatments.
Extraction instead of prevention
- On the other hand, the College of Dentists and Stomatologists of Valencia have warned of how risky it is for oral health not to go regularly to the dentist.
- According to experts, the lack of economic resources has caused many patients to only go to the specialist when there is no other solution than extraction. This situation can lead, they warn, to a return to dentures instead of following replacement treatments for fixed pieces.
The crisis and bruxism
- Another of the negative consequences of the crisis on dental health is the increase in cases of bruxism, that is, the habit of involuntary clenching of the teeth, more frequent at night.
- Stress due to the economic situation, especially in people who have either lost their job or are afraid of losing it, is one of the causes that causes the appearance of bruxism. Experts warn that this bad habit can cause headaches, jaw and earaches, as well as breakage of pieces and dangerous wear of tooth enamel.