Highly expensive dental care in New Zealand is leaving an impact on the patients' pocket. Many people avoid undergoing dental surgeries as they cost highly on their budget.

As per the Consumer Institute, the country's basis dental costs are not comparable with many other nations such as Britain, where dental care is provided at free of cost to people above the age of 65 and other beneficiaries. But, in New Zealand, the dental is free only till one is 18 years of age and afterwards one has to bear the brunt on his/her own.

Last month, Ministry of Health carried out a survey, which discovered that about 50% of the adults were not taking up dental treatment for the fears of high bills. Same proportion of people expressed that they didn't get the treatment despite being suggested due to high costs only.

Only one-third of the patients in the top segment visit a dentist regularly, a third belonging to middle-income group consult dentist only when problem arises and a similar proportion at the bottom avails dental services when problem takes a bad shape.

"While oral health has improved over time, dental decay remains the most prevalent chronic and irreversible disease in New Zealand", said the ministry.