When Financial Constraints Lead People to Forgo Dental Treatments: Conference Aims to Improve Access to Dentistry

For people living on the poverty line, it can be challenging to pay for necessary dental treatments, even though support options exist. However, those most in need of help are often the least aware of their rights. It's not only about the lack of money but also about the lack of direction: Who is responsible? What support is available? How do social services, aid organisations, and dental practices collaborate?

This is where the first coordination conference on social dentistry comes into play, organised by the Swiss Dental Association SSO and Winterhilfe Switzerland in Bern today. The conference aims to contribute to better collaboration, so that people at risk of poverty can more quickly and easily find the right place and receive the support they are entitled to.

SSO President Dr. Jean-Philippe Haesler says: "We are here today because there are people in Switzerland who forgo dental treatments for financial reasons. The SSO supports its sections and dental practices to provide concrete support on-site within the framework of our project 'Oral Health for Everyone'."

Prof. Dr. Thierry Carrel, President of Winterhilfe Switzerland, emphasises: "Oral health should not be a matter of income. Unexpected bills for dental treatments push people with little money to their limits. Those who forgo necessary (dental) medical treatments risk health and social consequences. Together with the SSO, we are working to improve access to dentistry for all."

Markus Kaufmann of the Swiss Conference for Social Assistance (SKOS) clarifies under which conditions social assistance can provide one-time or long-term support for high, unforeseen expenses like dental treatments. He also explains why municipalities and cantons implement the SKOS guidelines differently.

Peter Suter, from the Association of Cantonal Dentists of Switzerland (VKZS), demonstrates how cases can be assessed more clearly and uniformly in practice: with understandable processes and a professional assessment as a basis for decisions.

The conference is aimed at professionals and responsible parties in dentistry, the social sector, and aid organisations. It aims to strengthen the exchange between cantonal and local actors and enable further steps.

About the Organisers:

The Swiss Dental Association SSO and Winterhilfe Switzerland, in collaboration with the Association of Cantonal Dentists of Switzerland (VKZS) and the Swiss Conference for Social Assistance (SKOS), are working to improve access to dentistry for people at risk of poverty.

The SSO provides information on social dentistry and help for people at risk of poverty on www.mundgesundheit-fuer-alle.ch.

Press contact:

Esther Güdel, Communications Winterhilfe Switzerland

044 251 20 69, medien@winterhilfe.ch

Andrea Renggli, Communications SSO

031 310 20 80, kommunikation@sso.ch

Editor's note: Image rights belong to the respective publisher. Image rights: Zahnärzte-Gesellschaft SSO / Photographer: Monika Flückiger