In 2008, a national research firm reported that the oldest Canadians reduced their visits to the dentist significantly (Chart 1). About 1 in 4 stopped going to the dentist past the age of 70, and fewer than 5 in 100 visited frequently.
Much of this is explained by a loss of dental insurance for older Canadian workers, and by competing demands for fixed income.
Chart 1
Source: Ipsos Reid, Dental Attitudes Omnibus Survey, 2008
When this survey was conducted, the world was right-side-up. But in September 2008, the financial crisis hit and the perceptions and needs of many older Canadians changed significantly.
How so?
Chart 2 says a lot. Those who expected to retire at age 65 dropped from 51% in 2008 to 27% in 2012. Those who expect to work full time past age 65 rose from 16% in 2008 to 26% in 2012. Another 32% expect to work part-time – the guy or gal who helps you at Home Depot or Walmart.
Chart 2
Canadians’ retirement expectations have changed profoundly. The top reasons Canadians gave for working past 65 in 2008 and 2009 were about enjoying their work and wanting to stay mentally active. That changed in 2010. Since then, the top reason has been “to earn enough money to pay basic living expenses.” Back in 2008, just 11% cited that reason for working at 66. This year, one-quarter of the Canadians who expect to be working at 66 say it’s so that they will be able to cover the basics.
How might this new phenomenon of “un-retiring” impact dental visits in Canada? Those who work past age 65 could gain some basic dental insurance offered by their employer. In this sense, it would encourage dental visits. But overall, when you are worried about meeting basic living expenses, dental visits most often suffer. Just look at how American adults responded to reduced incomes over the recession (Chart 3). One in three skipped dental care.
Chart 3
So, on balance, the strong un-retiring sentiment in Canada is a challenge to business as usual in Canadian dental practices. Dental professionals are dealing with a patient who is far less certain about the world and their economic position therein.
By: Ross Perry
Source: Prevora Blog
