The government's endeavour to develop and expand NHS dentistry has apparently been a priority for over a decade if not since its establishment, however statistics continually display disappointing attendance figures. On the one hand this could be seen as a positive for the government, after all the fewer people using the NHS dentists the less they have to spend on care, freeing up funds for other projects, like arms development.

Unfortunately this is not the case, as by placing one's dental care on the backburner the likelihood of a relatively minor issue develop into a full blown traumatic, agonising condition is greatly increased. We have all heard that ‘prevention is better than cure', when it comes to dentistry that statement is gospel. Regular dental check-ups help prevent conditions not only with technology but also with education.

If when you visit your dentist you feel more like cattle being shuffled in, examined and sent on your merry way with a forced smile and a funky taste in your mouth, then chances are you won't be returning in a hurry. This has been one of the contributing factors for decreasing dental attendance figures and led Peter Ward, the chief executive of the British Dental Association to comment on the NHS' multiple failures. He felt that the new contract denied “long-term continuing relationships”, something that both “dentists and their patients value”.

Add to that the fact that “over 300,000 people lost their dentist in three months” following the reform stated shadow health minister Mike Penning. While he casts blame on “Labour's appalling management of NHS dentistry” the reality is the average ‘Joe' continues to suffer. The suffering will only get worse when one looks to alleviate the malaise in their mouth and realise they cannot find an NHS dentist. Suddenly the patient wishes they had taken up the offer of dental cover when they purchased their private medical insurance.

Dental and optical cover is usually an add-on feature offered by most private medical insurers, if taken out in conjunction with this type of cover you will usually save money than if you were to take it out as a stand-alone product. That said, purchasing dental cover alone will undoubtedly save you plenty of money as the cost of dental care continue to rise.

As it stands, the cost of a simple crown will set you back a costly £194,that is, if you have been fortunate enough to find an NHS dentist. If you haven't then the cost will be a more gut wrenching £341, an almost impossible amount to find if you are already strapped for cash as the average Brit is. With costs of dental care being that ugly it becomes easier to understand those that would much rather self medicate with over the counter pain killers than attempting to find the money needed to fix their mouths.

Peter Ward went on to comment that the NHS' supposedly ‘reformed' approach to dental care has in fact “failed to improve access to care for patients”, such news is both sad and sour. It does however place the onus on the individual to source their own form of affordable dental care. For most this can be done with a few clicks of the mouse. By simply directing your browser to a comparison site you will be able to compare and contrast the various providers of dental insurance and select the one that is best suited to your needs.

By doing this you are not only covering the costs of any necessary dental treatment but also purchasing peace of mind. The peace of mind comes from the fact that you will have purchased a policy that will cover you for regular check-ups as well as any procedures.