Statistics that have been released recently, have shown that more and more Britons are finding it tough to locate a dentist on the NHS and have considered going private.

According to Simplyhealth - a healthcare and health service provider - 35 per cent of Britons have had trouble seeing a dentist; a rise of 10 per cent in the last 12 months. Many of whom feel their hand has been forced to seek the private avenue.

Abby Bowman, of Simplyhealth, said: "The NHS dental contracts, introduced three years ago were supposed to give more people access to dentists but, as our research shows, this is only getting worse. The cost of private treatment can be up to £100 for a routine visit, so if you go every six months as recommended, it could be worth considering specialist dental cover."

Drop

The number of Britons who visit NHS dentists have dropped alarmingly over the past two years, sparking presumptions that the private insurance sector has provided families with the treatment that they require most.

The amount of NHS customers has fallen by 1.2 million since 2006, a fall, which may highlight the struggle to locate an available dentist and also reflect the increasing popularity of private medical insurance.

Sam Bhatt of Health-on-Line, the health insurance website, comments, "Regular dental check-ups provide the opportunity for early detection and treatment of anything from plaque build up to gum disease, as well as general maintenance. We all need to look after our teeth and an affordable insurance plan can help ensure this is done regularly without incurring unexpected cost."

Switch

Meanwhile a survey by Health-on-Line has revealed that the number one reason why customers may switch from their current private medical insurance provider to another is becauce of a reduced premium.

Mike Dalby of Health-on-Line comments: "Given the current economic environment that individuals and companies are operating within, it is reassuring to see that they are looking to reduce costs on their health insurance rather than cancelling their policies outright."

This means that they do not lose any of the benefits that they have accumulated over the time they have held their policy, but will make savings on their premium.

This exodus to the private market has led to a surge in customers opting for personal health insurance.

Recent figures show that private medical insurance sales are on the rise despite the credit crunch.

According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), health insurance is actually becoming more and more popular with a 2.7 per cent increase in the space of 12months, whereas other types of insurance polices have seen customers cutting back.

The director of general insurance and health at the ABI, Nick Starling, said: "PMI is good for companies and the economy because it enables employees to get back to work after illness or injury as quickly as possible."