Most workers who pay for dental care find it difficult to do so, according to research from Health Shield Friendly Society.
The survey of 564 people in full- or part-time work found 56% of those paying for dental care, were encountering difficulties in meeting these costs.
Full time employees on lower salaries were found to be most likely to be struggling with dental care costs more than any other workers.
Six in 10 (60%) of those that earn under £25,000 a year said they struggle to pay for it, compared to 51% of those that earn over £25,000 who said this was the case.
Nearly half (46%) of workers who earn under £25,000 a year admitted to cancelling check-ups to save money, and 84% of workers who earn under £40,000 a year reported reducing their spending on routine health check ups such as dental appointments due to the cost of living crisis.
Matt Liggins, head of wellbeing at Health Shield Friendly Society, said: “It’s really worrying that so many UK workers feel the need to put off attending routine dental appointments, to keep teeth healthy and help prevent bigger issues, because they feel they simply can’t afford to pay for them.
“This will be causing them stress and worry and could lead to serious health issues in future.
“Unfortunately, many employees, especially those on lower salaries are feeling the impact the most when it comes to paying for these type of important healthcare check-ups.
“Financial worries, stress, and increased risk of further health issues all have a big impact on the workplace through absence, presenteeism and lost productivity.
“Employers need to be as aware as possible of the impact of the ongoing cost of living crisis on their staff, and what affordable support they can offer to help relieve some of this burden and stress.
“Solutions such as health cash plans that cover the costs of essential health check-ups like dental appointments can create a solid foundation for building better workplace health.”
