Data from the 8th edition of the Oral Health Barometer 2023, carried out by the Order of Dentists (OMD), reveal that only 41.1% of the 1,102 respondents aged 15 or over have complete teeth, with the exception of wisdom teeth, although this value represents a positive evolution compared to previous years.

According to the study, 22.8% of respondents do not have six or more teeth, a number considered a reference for affecting the quality of chewing and oral health, and of these, 18.2% do not have any teeth, 1.8 percentage points (pp) more compared to 2022, but 5.6 pp less compared to 2018.

“Although around 59% are missing at least one natural tooth, it is a significant decrease when compared to data from the last barometer, minus 8.8 percentage points”, says the barometer, according to which 6.2% of respondents have All teeth are missing, a value identical to that in 2022 (6.4%).

For the president of the OMD, Miguel Pavão, these numbers “are worrying” and “demonstrate the urgency of implementing measures long presented by the Order, such as the creation of the prosthesis dentist check and the creation of a special career in the SNS capable of attracting these professionals.”

The barometer, which is released today at the OMD congress, reveals that 64.4% of Portuguese people go to the dentist at least once a year, fewer percentage points than in 2022, in contrast to what has been happening in recent years.

It also indicates that the number of Portuguese people who never visit the dentist (10.3%) or only do so in urgent situations (30.8%) increased by 2.4 pp, noting that, of those who miss six or more natural teeth, only 46.2% go to an appointment at least once a year, 0.3 pp more than in 2022.

“It is the elderly who most say they have never been to the dentist. Among Portuguese people aged 65 or over, 9.9% have never been”, says the study, highlighting that “tendically, the lower the level of education, the less regularity” of going to an appointment.

Analyzing by region, it appears that Greater Lisbon (10.3%) and Litoral Centro (8.2%) are the places where more people say they have never been to the dentist, unlike Greater Porto (0.9% ), North Coast (0.5%) and Madeira (0%).

As for children under six years of age who have never been to the dentist, the percentage fell for the second year in a row. In 2021 it was 73.4%, in 2022 it rose to 65.2% and, this year, it dropped to 53.5%.

The weight of respondents who say they do not need to go to the dentist rose to 71.3% (21.1 pp more compared to 2022), returning to values ​​identical to those of the 2021 edition. In turn, the number of those who say no having money to go to an appointment (24.4%) decreased by 5.1 percentage points.

According to the barometer, only 2% of the population accesses a dental appointment through the National Health Service or via Check Dentist.

The overwhelming majority (98%) turn to the private sector, via insurance and health plans or health subsystems.

“One of the reasons that help explain this difference lies in the fact that 66.8% of the population is unaware that the NHS provides dental medicine services, a figure that has worsened considerably, when compared to 55.9% in 2022”, he highlights. in a statement to OMD.

Miguel Pavão says in the statement that “dental medicine has been presented as a flagship in the health sector, but the truth is that there is no strategy for oral health”.

“It is enough to mention that the amount allocated in the State Budget for Oral Health is 30 million euros, for a total of 15 billion”, he observes.

Regarding oral health habits, the barometer indicates that 78.8% guarantee to brush their teeth at least twice a day, 5.7 pp more than in 2022.