Long-term facial pain costing the economy over £3k a year

Researchers at Newcastle University have found that around 7% of the population has persistent orofacial pain which is not caused by toothache. This costs the patients themselves around £650 annually on prescriptions and travel to appointments, and costs employers around £2.5k annually in loss of productivity. Their survey, conducted over six months, found that patients attended an average of nine healthcare appointments and took about 2 days off sick.
Justin Durham, professor of orofacial pain and deputy dean of clinical medicine, said “Our research shows that people have to go around the proverbial “mulberry bush”, visiting lots of different healthcare professionals to even get close to obtaining a diagnosis never mind beginning treatment for their condition. A better and more defined care pathway would improve care for those with persistent facial pain and help reduce their costs and those to the economy.”
BDA’s Central Committee chair for Hospital Dental Staff, Peter Dyer, said “Dentists working in hospitals will have seen patients who have failed to get priority, some on the verge of suicide in the face of unmanageable pain. This important research is a timely reminder that facial pain carries a huge personal and financial cost, and patients need not face barriers securing care. When so many people have been laid low by this condition GPs and high street dentists need a clear pathway to ensure patients can get the right treatment, when they need it.”