Amidst the ongoing cost of living crisis, and the devastating effects the pandemic has had on the NHS, an unprecedented number of patients are having to wait months for a routine check-up, and shockingly 9 out of 10 NHS dental practices are refusing to take new patients.
Sadly, this looks like it’s only going to get worse; the number of NHS dentists is the lowest its been in 10 years due to disputes over pay, and it is estimated that 40 million appointments have been lost since March 2020. In other words, it seems like patient care simply isn’t there.
In this guide, we will explain why group dental insurance is one of the best ways to redress these issues, and how it can positively affect your business and workforce.
- A healthy and productive workforce
Regular dental check-ups and treatments prevent not just bad oral hygiene but can prevent heart disease and strokes. If your workforce is healthy, then it goes without saying that they are going to be more productive.
- It engenders less absenteeism
Employees are more likely to attend a dental check-up if the care is employer-funded. This means that employees are likely to be more healthy, which will ultimately result in them taking less sick time off work.
- It shows your employees that you care
By providing group dental insurance to your employees, it shows them that you care about their overall health and wellbeing, and don’t just consider them to be part of the workforce machine. This will create an overall positive atmosphere at work and increase productivity.
- Support for employees’ families
Group dental insurance policies typically cover the whole family, meaning an employee will not need to take time off work to nurse a sick child or loved one back to health. This is just another way the policy will reduce absenteeism and increase employee productivity.
- Productive employees favour it
Many employers recognise that having a dental insurance policy in place attracts the best type of employee; employees are more likely to be loyal to the company and truly put in the work if they recognise that their employer has their best interests at heart.
- It’s a life saver
Mouth cancer kills thousands of people every year in the UK, and this number can be dramatically reduced if people attended regular dental check-ups. Regular check-ups can assist in identifying any problems early, and getting them treated before they become potentially fatal.
The best level of care for your employees
Whilst the importance of oral hygiene is sometimes overlooked in the workforce, its necessity can not be overstated when it comes to overall individual health. With more and more patients simply not going to the dentist anymore due to the cost-of-living crisis and NHS waiting times exacerbated by the pandemic, now has never been a better time to adopt group dental insurance.
As we have seen, not only does it ensure the health of your employees, but its knock-on effect will also ensure that they are happier and more productive at work – with the potential to even save lives.