A dentist in Purley said some patients walk out of the door without paying, with it being suggested the introduction of the rent-relief scheme saw some think they did not have to pay for anything.
NHS 111 staff say they are regularly contacted by patients with tooth pain, meaning that doctors on the helpline take longer to get to patients with life-threatening symptoms such as chest pain.
The spiralling crisis in dental care has led to a startling rise in the number of Britons who end up seeking emergency treatment, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.