Dental is still a sought after benefit – why it’s important to put a smile on employees’ faces
Since childhood, we’re taught that brushing our teeth twice a day and visiting the dentist regularly will result in a beautiful smile. Yet we often don’t learn about the links between our oral health and overall health.
Warning signs for other health conditions
Gum disease in particular is known to increase the risk of many other health complications, including stroke, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and heart disease. Gum disease has even been linked to problems in pregnancy and dementia.
However, gum disease can be prevented with a good oral health regime and regular visits to the dentist.
Focussing on prevention is at the heart of what we do. We aim to protect the UK’s oral health by encouraging people to take a preventive approach to looking after their teeth and gums – which in turn, benefits their overall physical health.
And we aren’t alone in our belief in the importance of prevention. Our Professionals Consumer Oral Health Survey (2018) found 91 per cent of adults agree that the better they look after their teeth and gums, the better chance they have of avoiding future costly and invasive dental treatment.
The risks of not visiting the dentist
The survey also suggests the rising costs of dental treatment are a concern for many. We found that 39 per cent of people cite the cost of visiting as the main reason why they don’t attend the dentist regularly; with more than half (51 per cent) saying they would cancel a dental appointment if they had financial worries.
For employers, a lack of dental visits can lead to increased staff absence, presenteeism – with employees coming into work despite being in pain, and reduced productivity due to the distraction of an oral health problem and financial worries.
Introducing a dental plan enables employees to look after their oral health. It’s more than just a ‘nice to have’ benefit; it helps staff look after their oral health, helping them feel well and perform well at work.
The benefits of a dental plan
Dental plans provide money back on dental visits, including treatment and hygienist visits. This means employees are more likely to take care of their teeth and gums – with 82 per cent of employers who offer a dental plan agreeing it enhances overall employee wellbeing, found our Health and Wellbeing Benefits Guide (2017).
To make it easier to introduce a dental plan in your organisation, we’ve worked with the Reward & Employee Benefits Association to produce a comprehensive guide: How to implement a dental insurance plan that you can download for free.
This article was provided by Simplyhealth.
Supplied by REBA Associate Member, Simplyhealth
Our health plans make it easy for people to maintain their health&wellbeing.
