The majority of Americans believe dental care is too expansive, according to the new “Dental Lifetime of Care” study published by Stamford-based Synchrony (NYSE: SYF).
In a survey of 1,335 adults, more than half (58%) of respondents stated that dental care is not affordable – that share was 75% for those without dental insurance.
Nine out of 10 (92%) survey respondents said they would consider delaying general dental care because of cost, while four out of five (83%) said the same about emergency dental care. More than half (54%) of surveyed consumers cited costs as the primary reason they did not visit the dentist in the last year – and nearly half of the respondents who delayed care said their decision caused additional dental issues.
“Dental health is essential to overall health, and rising out of pocket costs are preventing patients from accessing the care they want and need,” said Bete Johnson, senior vice president and general manager, dental, at Synchrony. “We conducted this research to get a clear picture of what patients can expect in dental care costs during a lifetime – to help them plan ahead and connect them with the tools and resources to manage these costs.”
