More than one in 20 Brits headed abroad for dental care last year amid soaring treatment costs in UK

MORE than one in 20 Brits headed abroad for dental care in the past year, a poll shows.

Most of the six per cent who looked overseas hoped to cut the cost of treatment.

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Others said they had tried and failed to find a dental practice at home or had been unable to get an appointment here.

One man in his 50s, who had treatment in his native Greece, spoke to the General Dental Council pollsters.

“The cost here in the UK is double or triple compared to Greece.

"Some of us can ­afford to pay but there are people who can’t and they can’t book an appointment.”

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The survey showed treatment was sought in 30 countries, including as far afield as India.

The rate of those going abroad was highest among 18 to 34-year-olds at nearly one in five.

But not one retired person had done so. One in five patients said they had been unable to find a dentist in Britain.

Nearly a third said they had not sought treatment because of the cost.

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British Dental Association chairman Eddie Crouch said: “Some are heading abroad for care but many more are simply going without.”