People who avoid attending regular dental appointments are more likely to have decaying teeth which could lead to emergency dentistry, a report has suggested.

Research conducted by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) found that people who did not visit the dentist had more than three times the level of tooth decay than those who attend regular check-ups, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Entitled Dental Attendance Patterns and Oral Health Status, the report also revealed those participants who avoided dental health visits had on average 1.6 more missing teeth due to decay.

The chances of contracting gum disease were also significantly increased by people who do not attend oral health check-ups – which could result in emergency dentistry procedures.

Professor John Spencer of AIHW's dental statistics and research unit said: "Those seeking regular dental check-ups were more likely to have dental decay treated promptly, which led to less untreated decay, fewer extractions and more teeth restored."

About Dental Care advises people to attend regular dental appointments to prevent oral cancer and avoid tooth loss.