Up to one in five put off dentist trip due to costs

As many as one in five consumers are putting their teeth at risk by not going to the dentist due to the cost, new research shows.

Findings from the health plan provider HSA found that over a quarter of consumers believe that looking after their oral health is unaffordable.

Spokesperson for HSA, Richard Halley, said that the results of the study arrive shortly after the NHS has revealed that half a million fewer adults are visiting the now dentist than two years ago.

He said: “This could be down to cost, and also difficulty in accessing an NHS dentist. Indeed 27 per cent of those surveyed claim that they have struggled to find an NHS dentist.”

The study also showed that over two fifths of people think NHS dentistry will disappear altogether in the future while 28 per cent think it will exist in the future, but will only be available to a few.

Meanwhile, more research from the HAS showed that 65 per cent of firms believed their employees would most value dental benefits.

Tags: provider, risk, new research shows, Richard Halley, nhs dentist, spokesperson, plan