I’m American and in addition to our messed up healthcare system. Teeth are simultaneously so important that I have to see a specialist (dentist) for routine care, but so unimportant that it’s not included in my healthcare coverage. Is it like that elsewhere?
In Spain, where we have medical care for almost everyone, we do have dentists on the public payroll. However, they are limited in what they can do. For example, they extract teeth in preparation for surgeries. Public health dentists are also available for other types of extractions if the tooth can’t be saved and they are available to examine patients who went to a private dentist and something went wrong. It’s very limited. If you want a root canal, a crown, a cavity filled, etc. you have to pay a private dentist. Basically, if the public health system considers a dental procedure elective, you have to go to a private dentist for the procedure. The public health system considers pretty much 90% of dental procedures elective. Personally, I think this is unfair. I don’t think a root canal should be considered an elective procedure. It saves a person’s tooth, which is necessary for eating. Then again, imagine how complicated things would get. You’d probably have to wait on a waiting list for a root canal, then go to a private dentist for the crown.
Also, it’s important to note that private dentists are not nearly as expensive as American one (I’m originally from the USA), My last recent root canal with crown included cost me about 300 euros. We don’t rely as heavily on dental insurance here, so the prices are reasonable. When I get my teeth cleaned with a checkup, I pay 70 euros. It’s wonderful.
In Spain, only if you have a mental disability above or equal 65%, or if you need a wisdom teeth removal. Otherwise, it’s almost a luxury.
Japan: yes. Most dentist appointments are quite cheap.
Even healthcare in the US isn’t healthcare. I’m in the US.
In Australia we also consider teeth to be luxury bones, so they aren’t included in our health care
It’s a miracle the emergency department is still free with the way our country has been going.
I had a lipoma removed for free under Medicare a couple of years back, much to the shock of at least three doctors who insisted that it couldn’t be done.
Mind you, now I’m 20 months into a 90-day waiting period to have my gallbladder removed…
I feel you. I’m near that for three protruding discs in my neck with one pushing on my spinal cord.
12 months to see a hospital physio who got me in front a surgeon the next day, he wondered how I was still walking. 9 months later, im still waiting for something to happen next.
