ONE in four parents in the North-East are unaware that routine dental check-ups are free for under 18s, according to research from the British Dental Association (BDA).

It said 40 per cent of parents had delayed a routine check-up for themselves because of the potential cost involved and six per cent had done the same for one or more of their children for the same reason.

The BDA said children and vulnerable patients risked losing out on access to free NHS dental treatment because of poor promotion and signposting of exemptions from NHS charges.

NHS dental charges for those who do pay went up by five per cent from April 1.

Official figures show that 37.4 per cent of children in the North did not visit a dentist in the 12 months to June last year.

Henrik Overgaard-Nielsen, the BDA’s chair of general dental practice said: "Tooth decay is the number one reason for hospital admission in Britain, so it is vital parents across the North-East realise all dental treatment for their children comes free of charge.

“Nearly two in five children in the North of England are failing to attend an NHS dentist each year and extractions are surging.”

He claimed NHS charges were designed to discourage patients seeking care and they needed to change so no-one in real need had reason to avoid visiting the dentist.