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Dentists' costs 'putting people off'

Britons struggling to pay off debt are avoiding the dentist because of the perceived costs, a new survey has suggested.

The study, released yesterday by researchers TNS for insurer HSA, found that one in five adults are potentially damaging their teeth for this reason.

Questions over public confidence in NHS dentistry also emerged, with 40 per cent saying that they believed the service would disappear in the future.

Just over a quarter (27 per cent) also agreed that the government is "not doing enough" to protect children's teeth.

HSA spokesman Richard Halley said: "Our results come shortly after the NHS has revealed that half a million fewer adults are visiting the now dentist than two years ago.

"This could be down to cost, and also difficulty in accessing an NHS dentist."

TNS interviewed 1,000 UK adults over the course of its research.

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