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Dentist Dipali Chokshi says dental patients are turning down treatment because of the cost.

Speaking to 5 Live Breakfast, she said people are being 鈥渇orced鈥� to turn to private healthcare because NHS dental care is 鈥渟imply inaccessible鈥�.

She was responding to Jess, a 34-year-old listener to the radio station, who has been suffering from toothache and has opted to have a tooth removed instead of paying for root canal surgery.

Dr Chokshi said Jess鈥� decision isn鈥檛 uncommon among dental patients, 鈥淚 have young people coming to me and saying, 鈥榯ake out my front tooth鈥�,鈥� she explained.

鈥淵ou can see why somebody who doesn鈥檛 have a lot of money or is choosing between food and their tooth is probably going to choose to have food and have their tooth out.鈥�

This clip is originally from 5 Live Breakfast on Thursday 9 June 2022.