Adults without children are far less likely to make and keep a dental appointment than are parents. But even those with kids drag the young ones to the dentist far more often than they drag themselves there.

These are among the findings of a survey by Cigna, which looked at the dental care habits of people with health and dental insurance coverage. What the study revealed was lots of lip service to good dental health, but an overall lack of commitment to do as the dentist says and come in at least twice a year for a checkup.

Those who aren't going — even when preventative care measures are fully covered by their insurance — pay a price, the survey found. By the time someone has moved into the 55-to-64-year-old category, less than a third of those who go to the dentist once a year or not at all say they have very good to excellent dental health.