Fewer UK children visiting the dentist

Health insurance provider Simplyhealth has raised concerns over the falling numbers of UK children getting regular dental treatment.

Statistics from the NHS Information Centre have revealed that compared to the 24 months leading up to March 2006, 26,000 fewer children visited the dentist in the period from 2008 to 2011.

Abbey Bowman from Simplyhealth said: "It's vital that parents take their children for regular check-ups to ensure good oral health into adulthood.

"Guidance states that children should be taken to the dentist as soon as their first teeth appear, yet our research found that almost half of parents in the UK are taking their children for their first dental visit too late."

Meanwhile, the NHS Information Centre's report shows that adults who do not pay for NHS dental treatment account for a bigger proportion of complex dental treatments. Experts believe this may be due to a lower standard of dental health among adults who are entitled to free NHS dental treatment.

Private dental cover can be taken out to help meet the costs of regular dental visits and any emergency treatment. Many health insurers offer dental cover as an additional option on your health insurance policy.

Compare health insurance policies online with ActiveQuote now to choose a health insurance policy with dental cover.