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Oh gums!

Higher dental charges are putting people off going to the dentist, according to a survey published in Which?magazine.

Charges for dental treatment went up in January 1989, with the introduction of a payment for check-ups that had previously been free.

The Which? survey found that one-in-three people said that they went to the dentist less often than they did five years ago, the main reason being the cost of treatment; one-in-six people had put off going for a check-up in 1989.

A quarter of dentists surveyed said that there had been a drop in the number of patients having treatment in the last five years, and 40% said that attendances had fallen since January last year — despite the relaxation of regulations governing advertising, and more flexible surgery hours.