Fear of the bill pushing millions off dental care

Nearly one in eleven people in Britain say they are living with dental pain because they cannot get treatment, according to research by banking app thinkmoney.

The data showed that while 11% of people say they avoid the dentist as they are scared of the drill, almost as many – nearly one in ten (9%) – report that they have been living with dental pain for some time because they cannot access NHS care or afford private treatment.

Among people aged 25 to 34, the figure rises to 12%, indicating that untreated dental problems are particularly affecting younger working adults.

The findings suggest that dental anxiety is no longer simply about needles or procedures. For many households, the fear surrounding dentistry is becoming just as much financial as it is medical.

The research shows that people are not abandoning dental care altogether, but making difficult choices about who gets treatment and when. More than one in nine adults (12%) say they make sure children in their household attend regular dental appointments while putting off their own care, rising to over one in five (21%) of people aged 35 to 44.

Together, these figures suggest that dental care is increasingly being managed as a household resource, rather than treated as a routine part of personal healthcare.

Vix Leyton, Consumer Expert at thinkmoney, said “For years, the biggest barrier to going to the dentist was seen as fear of the drill. What we are seeing now is the rise of a new kind of anxiety. People are still nervous about treatment, but they are just as worried about whether they can afford it, or whether they will even be able to get an appointment in the first place. When nearly as many people are living with dental pain for financial reasons as are scared of the dentist, it tells you something fundamental has changed. Dentistry is no longer just a health decision, it has become a budget one.”

Geography is emerging as another decisive factor in whether people can get treatment. In the East Midlands, 20% of people say they cannot access NHS dentistry due to their location. Similar challenges are reported in Wales, where 18% say they struggle to find NHS appointments.

By contrast, in London, the figure falls to just 5%, highlighting a widening gap between areas where dental care remains relatively accessible and those where securing an appointment has become increasingly difficult.

15% of people aged 18 to 24 say they avoid the dentist because they believe their teeth are already too bad to fix. Younger adults are also more likely to take matters into their own hands. One in ten (10%) of those aged 25 to 34 report carrying out some form of DIY dentistry on themselves or a family member.

Leyton continued “One of the biggest risks we see is people leaving dental problems and hoping they will settle down on their own. Unfortunately, teeth rarely fix themselves, and small issues can quickly turn into much bigger and more expensive ones. Delaying treatment might feel like saving money in the short term, but it often ends up costing more later. A simple filling today can become a root canal or an extraction if it is left too long.

“The good news is that it is very rarely too late for something to be done. Modern dentistry has moved on enormously, and dentists have more tools than ever to repair, restore and manage dental problems.

“Private dentistry can feel intimidating from a cost point of view, but many treatments are more manageable than people expect, especially when you catch problems early. Many practices now offer payment plans or staged treatment options that spread the cost, so you do not have to pay everything up front. The most important step is simply to have a conversation. A dentist can assess the situation, explain the options, and help people understand what is urgent and what can wait.”