6.3m employees have avoided the dentist due to cost-of-living fears

It said the findings demonstrate that the cost-of-living crisis remains a key concern, even for important healthcare such as dentistry. It also reinforces the significant financial barriers for many seeking essential dental care, with many forced to forego routine check-ups and treatments to make ends meet.

The four per cent rise in NHS dental charges in England, effective April 1, 2024, could increase this added Unum UK.

Four in five dentists are now taking only private patients. So patients have looked to other solutions to cover the costs, be that from insurers, employers or healthcare providers.

Unum UK is a provider of employee benefits with over 40 years of experience. Its dental division saw a strong surge in claims paid in 2023 — up by 29 per cent in monetary terms to £31m and also by 29 per cent in the number of claims paid from 2022.