foremost, they damage patient health outcomes.
Because most dental diseases are preventable, irregular oral health care can exacerbate
minor issues.
Incipient caries appropriately diagnosed at a recall dental visit can be addressed
with fluoride treatment or a simple restoration; left undetected, the caries can fester
and require endodontic treatment with a crown or even deteriorate to the point of
being unrestorable. Chronic poor oral health resulting from irregular oral health
care can lead to a large increase in the economic cost of future dental treatments.
Found to be one of the most cost-prohibitive forms of health care in the United States,
extensive dental services can incur out-of-pocket costs ranging from hundreds to tens
of thousands of dollars.
Receiving extensive restorative treatment can also be time intensive, which can be
a substantial cost especially for people who work full-time. Broken appointments also
decrease provider productivity, potentially leading to tens of thousands of dollars
in losses each year.
Ineffective use of provider time can exacerbate already limited access to oral health
care in certain geographic regions and among certain populations.
Finally, missed appointments can strain the patient-provider relationship by eroding
trust. In short, broken appointments can have substantial negative effects on patients,
providers, and society.
