An increasing number of Brits are neglecting dental care, according to new research which shows that dental attendance has fallen to its lowest level for 8 years.
An online survey carried out by YouGov for dental payment plan specialist, Denplan Limited found that just over two-thirds of UK adults (69 per cent) visit the dentist regularly – the lowest figure since 2001.
It also revealed that the proportion of people who get their teeth checked every six months has dropped from 59 per cent to 43 per cent in the past year.
Cost was found to be the biggest factor for not visiting the dentist, with 41 per cent of those who don’t attend saying they can’t afford the cost of dental care .
A further 28 per cent said fear of the dentist or fear of pain prevents them from undergoing routine check-ups, while a quarter said they do not have access to an NHS dentist .
Commenting on the findings, Roger Matthews, chief dental officer at Denplan, said: "It is clear that patients are finding cost an issue in the current economic climate."
'While this may not be a surprise, it is important that the dental team focuses on retaining their patients by offering a range of payment options."
"Our own internal research indicates that those patients using a payment plan are least likely to cancel or delay routine dental checkups, while they provide the practice the peace of mind from a regular form of income.
