How to find the best dental deals

A visit to a private dentist can put a huge hole in your pocket. So it's no surprise that, as the credit crunch bites, fewer and fewer of us are having regular check-ups. Here, Ruth Jackson looks at how to save money on dental costs, and how to find an NHS dentist.

"He hasn't got the best teeth in the world, but you can afford to go and get them done now if you like." Claire Balding's remarks to the Grand National's winning jockey Liam Treadwell drew a collective gasp of horror and quite a few complaints from BBC viewers earlier this month. But aside from marring Treadwell's moment of glory, Balding's comment drew attention to the sad fact that a bright, white smile can cost a lot in this country.

As the credit crunch continues to bite it seems we Brits are sacrificing dental hygiene to cut costs. A survey by Simplyhealth has revealed that a million fewer Brits have an NHS dentist now compared to 2006. This, combined with cost-cutting in the recession, has resulted in 43% of us putting off visiting the dentist so far this year compared with 19% in 2008.

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Ruth Jackson-Kirby

Ruth Jackson-Kirby is a freelance personal finance journalist with 17 years’ experience, writing about everything from savings accounts and credit cards to pensions, property and pet insurance.

Ruth started her career at MoneyWeek after graduating with an MA from the University of St Andrews, and she continues to contribute regular articles to our personal finance section. After leaving MoneyWeek she went on to become deputy editor of Moneywise before becoming a freelance journalist.

Ruth writes regularly for national publications including The Sunday Times, The Times, The Mail on Sunday and Good Housekeeping, among many other titles both online and offline.