van der Pol M, Boyers D, Marashdeh M M, Loria-Rebolledo L E. UK general population's willingness to pay for dental check-ups. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2023; DOI: 10.1111/cdoe.12911.

What monetary value do patients put on a check-up?

Using data from an online survey of the UK general population, participants were asked: ‘What is the maximum amount of money you would be willing to pay out of pocket for a dental check-up?'

In contrast to the 2009 Adult Dental Health survey, 90.5% of respondents reported having a dental check-up within the last year. More than half of respondents preferred six-monthly check-ups. Ten respondents were willing to pay more than £100. Excluding the £100+ outliers and protest answers, the mean (95% confidence interval) amount respondents were willing to pay was £33.25 (£29.14-£33.90).

The data were collected in 2016 and the value placed on a dental check-up may have changed post-COVID. As 90% of the respondents reported a check-up in the past year, the individuals surveyed may place a higher value on dentistry than less regular attenders.