The Evolution of Dental Impacts and Prosthetics: Why it underlines the Need for Patient Education

The dental industry has evolved considerably in recent times, as technological advancement has influenced both the conception and delivery of treatments. Given the strong links between oral and general health, the advancements have been key on encouraging patients back into the dentist waiting room.

At the heart of this has been the development of dental implants and prosthetics, which now represent a significant market in the field of dentistry. Bridging the gap between the lucrative cosmetic market and standard dental treatments, it is also set to experience further growth during the next five years.

Portents for the Future: How Will the Dental Implant and Prosthetic Market Continue to Grow?

According to a recently released ‘Dental Implants and Prosthetics Market’ report, this sector is set to experience a healthy rate of growth between now and 2018. On a global scale, the value of the current market stands at an impressive $6.4 million, although this is forecasted to expand at a steep CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 7.3% during the next five years. There are numerous reasons behind this growth, with rising demand and the development of advanced dental procedures among the most prominent.

In addition to this, the fall-out from the Great Recession has also had a significant impact on developed economies such as the U.S., which has in turn created a generation of adults who are either unable or unwilling to prioritise regular dental care. In a bid to save money by not investing in preventative dental care, however, patients are now more likely to develop oral disease and significant tooth loss as a result. The result of this is that patients are subsequently being forced to spend more on advanced dental solutions as their conditions worsen, leading to a rising demand for implants and prosthetic work.

The Importance of Patient Education

While the middle classes may no longer have access to significant amounts of disposable income, however, the vast majority can afford to visit their local practitioner on a regular basis. The fact that they do not is due primarily to a lack of education on the importance of good dental care, which creates gaps in knowledge and a failure to appreciate the long-term consequences of oral disease. In age where economic uncertainty and under-employment characterises the Western world, citizens are simply not given enough information to prioritise a visit to the local dental practitioner.

So while practitioners such as the Colorado Springs based Andrew Hall DMD place a strong emphasis on educating their patients and reinforcing the importance of preventative care, there is a lack of government backed financial incentive for them to reconsider their financial priorities. In fact, with a provision for adult dental care noticeable absent from the controversial Affordable Care Act, it appears as though the opposite message is being sent to citizens in the U.S.

The Last Word: The Financial Implications of Ignoring Preventative Care

While educating patients on the medical consequences of oral disease and tooth loss is one thing, however, it means little if they are being forced to give greater consideration to their spending. With this in mind, it may also be prudent to educate them on the financial implications of failing to invest in preventative care, emphasising the cost of dental implants and advanced prosthetic work. It is undoubtedly a false economy to neglect preventive dental care and avoid regular check-ups as methods of saving money, as this is far more likely to incur heavy financial penalties in later life.
 
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