In a survey of 11,000 people, conducted by the National Health Service (NHS) Information Centre and the Office for National Statistics, 26 percent of adults said the dental treatment they opted for was influenced by cost, and 19 percent delayed treatment for the same reason, according to the Daily Mail.

People say the expense affects their choice of treatment. Some opt to have teeth removed rather than pay for costlier preservation methods such as root canals.

A similar research for the British Dental Association said the economic climate led to a surge in cancelled or deferred appointments and a rise in emergency treatment.