Turid Kristoffersen is director of dental health and prevention in Vestfold and Telemark county council. In her own county alone, there are over one million kroner outstanding in dental bills this year. – It shows how difficult this is, says Kristoffersen to news. She cannot understand why dental health is not equated with other types of treatment covered by the public sector. incomprehensible: – To me, it is completely incomprehensible that dental health should be outside of general health, says Turid Kristoffersen, director of dental health and prevention in Vestfold and Telemark county council. Photo: Gry Eirin Skjelbred / news There are no national figures that show outstanding dental bills from public and private dentists, the Directorate of Health informs, but a round of calls made by news shows that patients owe a lot of money in unpaid dental bills around the country. In the Trøndelag county dental health service, there are almost NOK 930,000 in unpaid invoices for dental treatment this year. For the Finnmark part of Troms and Finnmark county municipality and for Viken county municipality, the figures are NOK 190,000 and NOK 370,000 respectively. Negative effect on mental health Earlier this week, news told about students who drop follow-up visits to the dentist for financial reasons. This can lead to greater damage to the teeth, and often solid bills. Kristoffersen thinks it is strange that nothing is being done about the situation. – For me, it is completely incomprehensible that dental health should be outside of general health, she says. She points out that poor dental health has many negative effects, also outside the teeth. It increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and, not least, mental illness. – Saying that dental health is just teeth is completely wrong. It has to do with all of life. Bad teeth are stigmatizing. – Are you worried about our dental health? – Yes, I am. – Young people have for more than 15 years been summoned for regular check-ups and necessary treatment. She adds that the young people have also learned good dental health habits. – And then they get to the point where they have to pay themselves, and then it becomes so expensive that they think “No, I have to postpone this”. Then a small hole can end up with a root canal, and then the bill can eventually be big. The fact that people are struggling to pay their bills is well felt. Also in public. – So far this year, we have outstanding bills for over one million kroner. We have also had large sums outstanding in previous years. With the current system, there is little they can do to help ill-advised patients. – We cannot reduce our prices for paying patients. Then we use tax money and subsidize our offers compared to private practitioners. They must also have something to live on. We have to follow the consumer price index, she says. More affordable for the youngest group She reminds, however, that discounts have been introduced for the youngest adults. – When you are 19 and 20 years old, you get a 75 percent discount. Both for the examination, the treatment and any dental technical expenses. In January 2022, the government decided that those aged 21 and 22 will also receive a 50 per cent discount. – It includes both examinations, treatment and dental technical work. It has probably come into the shadows a bit, but it is a new offer that has only worked for nine months, she says. Better support for those with the least means The fact that many people think the dentist is too expensive and do not get help is very worrying, says dental policy spokesperson in Ap, Even Røed. – We see large social health differences in this area, he says. WORTHY OF WORRY: Spokesperson for dental policy in Ap, Even Røed, believes it is very worrying that many people do not get help because they think the dentist is too expensive. Photo: Caroline Bækkelund Hauge / news Ap believes that the public dental health service must be expanded, and that dental health should be equated with the other health services in the long term, which is confirmed by the Hurdal platform, the government platform for Jonas Gahr Støre’s government. – In the first instance, this means that we must improve support for those with the poorest income and diseases that cause poor dental health, he says. Dental health in the Hurdal platform The new government refers to dental health in four points. Work on preventive dental health must be strengthened. Those who are entitled to free, public dental health should receive a better offer. Support schemes must be strengthened and reimbursement schemes must be reviewed. Introduce free dental health services for those aged between 19 and 21. Half price for those between 22 and 25 years old. Fully equating dental health with general health would be a very large expense, and the party cannot find money for that in the budget now, Røed states. An expert committee has been set up to review the entire dental health field and come up with proposals that can ensure equality, he points out.
ttn-69
Owes millions in unpaid dental bills – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
