31% of dental patients delay treatment despite knowing risks: Study

Nearly one-third of patients will delay getting dental treatment when experiencing pain or will ignore the pain altogether despite knowing the risks of oral health diseases, according to a study by VideaHealth.

The dental artificial intelligence company partnered with Directions Research to conduct a study on oral health habits and the acceptance of AI in dentistry. The survey was done from Oct. 12 until Oct. 16 with 1,047 U.S. adults.

The study found that 94% of people agreed that untreated oral issues directly impact overall health and risk of disease. The top reasons for questioning or hesitating to commit to a suggested treatment included cost, fear or pain and because the problem does not seem too painful or problematic.

Nearly half of the survey participants indicated they are open to the use of dental AI if it could help catch issues early or if it could reduce the need for more invasive treatment, according to a Dec. 11 news release.

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