Americans are more likely to skip needed dental care than any other type of health care due to cost. 
 
 Researchers examined what causes people to avoid dental care and other health services. 
 
 Nearly one I four lower income adults didn’t get needed dental care because of cost, while only five percent of adults in the highest income category avoided the dentist due to the money. 
 
 The study team notes cost was nearly three times more likely to be the reason for people not seeing the dentist in the past year than fear of the dentist. 
 
 Cost also surpassed inconvenient appointments or trouble finding a dentist that takes specific insurance. 
 
 Study authors say this self-reported data highlights the financial burdens people encounter when paying for dental care. 

 Abstract 
 
 The Affordable Care Act is improving access to and the affordability of a wide range of health care services. While dental care for children is part of the law’s essential health benefits and state Medicaid programs must cover it, coverage of dental care for adults is not guaranteed. As a result, even with the recent health insurance expansion, many Americans face financial barriers to receiving dental care that lead to unmet oral health needs. Using data from the 2014 National Health Interview Survey, we analyzed financial barriers to a wide range of health care services. We found that irrespective of age, income level, and type of insurance, more people reported financial barriers to receiving dental care, compared to any other type of health care. We discuss policy options to address financial barriers to dental care, particularly for adults.
– The biggest reason people skip out on going to the dentist isn't fear or inconvenience; it's cost, KIDY reports. A study published this month in Health Affairs found people are more likely to forego dental health because of cost than any other type of health care. And that's a problem because avoiding dental care can have other health repercussions down the road, according to Health Central. HealthDay News reports the study found that 13% of working-age adults don't go to the dentist because of the cost. And nearly 25% of low-income adults are dissuaded from the dentist by cost. Cost is more than three times more likely than fear to be the reason people skip the dentist. In fact, cost is the main reason for not seeing a dentist even among people who have private dental insurance. Study author Marko Vujicic points to maximum benefit limits and high co-pays in most dental coverage as the culprit. "Anything beyond checkups, like getting a cavity filled or a root canal and a crown, you're looking right away at 20% to 50% coinsurance," he says. Fillings can cost more than $600 and crowns more than $1,400. In 2015, 40% of dental care costs were paid out of pocket; that's compared to just 11% of total health care costs. "It seems like medical insurance is doing a better job at protecting consumers from financial hardship than dental insurance," Vujicic says. The study shows it may be time for dental insurance to move away from a "pay per procedure" model. (Studies show flossing likely a waste of time.)