title: Down in the mouth.
abstract: Been to see the dentist lately? Probably not, if recent figures from the National Consumer Council are anything to go by. Launching a new booklet, 'You and Your Dentist - a Guide to Patients' Rights', the NCC notes that less than half the adult population in Britain has a dental check-up regularly. Fear of pain is a great deterrent, and as controversy continues to rage over the proposal to introduce charges for dental check-ups, there are suggestions that payment of a fee will discourage regular attendance.