Frequent dental checks are important way of maintaining healthy teeth and in many cases maintaining a healthy bank balance, it has been suggested.

According to Jason Buglass, who has been a qualified dentist for the past 21 years, it is a mistake to think that ignoring a dental health problem will save money.

In the long-term, a problem with a teeth and gums can often prove more expensive to deal with if it has been left unattended to by a dentist for a period of time than if it had been seen to at an early stage.

Mr Buglass said: "It is important to see a dentist regularly because if treatment is administered early it's generally a lot more effective and a lot more cost-effective."

He went on to suggest that by explaining their circumstances to their dentist, people of "limited means" can find a way to solve their dental concerns without over-stretching themselves financially.

Research by the dental implant training surgery Dentale discovered recently that a majority of people aged between 16 and 64 have at least one missing tooth.