Only 34 per cent of oral health professionals always offer preventative care advice to patients, says research

Preventative care is defined as proactive dental care and advice that helps a patient to take action to maintain a healthy mouth, protecting against tooth decay, gum disease and more serious issues such as tooth loss and negative impacts on general health.

Yet, the survey of UK consumers and dental health professionals reveals that preventative oral care advice is not being offered consistently to patients. That’s despite a high incidence of tooth decay - with 70,000 people treated in UK emergency departments for the disease last year alone. Just one third (34 per cent) of oral health professionals said they always offer preventative care advice to patients, while one in four (25 per cent) patients said they weren’t given preventative advice during their last dental appointment.