October is Dental Hygiene Month – the ideal time to shine the spotlight on how you could use your benefits package to brighten employees’ smiles.

The statistics behind UK smiles paint an unhappy picture
 
According to health company Haleon, 75% (41 million UK adults) don’t regularly visit their dentist or hygienist, even though two-fifths of respondents reported that they were concerned about their oral health.

And yet, 78% of UK adults believe their oral health plays a significant role in their overall physical health and mental wellbeing. [1]
 
NHS dentist appointments are as rare as hens’ teeth

Though the NHS recommends that those over the age of 18 should have a dental check-up at least once every 12 to 24 months, securing an appointment to see a dentist is harder than ever.

In October 2024, the British Dental Association (BDA) reported that 97% of new patients were unable to access NHS dentist appointments. [2]
 
The stress of booking an appointment to see a dentist is bad enough, but the health implications of not doing so could have long-standing consequences.

Your employees might be chomping at the bit for better dental care

YuLife reports that 50% of employees would visit the dentist more regularly if it were funded by their employer. [3]
 
Beyond preventing tooth decay or gum disease, dentists play a crucial role in spotting early signs of serious medical conditions.
 
For example, mouth cancer causes more deaths in the UK each year than road traffic accidents. Early detection significantly improves treatment outcomes, but less frequent dentist visits mean problems are more likely to go unnoticed. [4]
 
And, according to statistics from Mouth Cancer Foundation, incidence has risen by 49% over the last decade. [5]
 
Poor dental hygiene has also been linked to wider health issues, including heart disease, strokes, diabetes, and lung infections.

Bite-sized benefits – two ways to support your employees’ dental health

Supporting your employees’ dental health through workplace perks could help prevent more serious health issues and reduce absenteeism.
 
There are two effective ways to provide oral health support to your team:

• Group dental insurance covers regular check-ups, hygiene appointments, and emergency care. After receiving treatment, employees will need to submit the receipt to the insurance provider to reclaim the costs.
• Health cash plans enable employees pay for their dental appointments and receive a refund (cashback) for the costs incurred. These plans typically cover routine appointments up to a specified amount each year and sometimes include additional cover for emergency treatment.

In each case, you could also extend the benefit to include immediate family members.

Providing dental support to your team members and their loved ones could lead to:

• Improved health – Easier access to dental appointments could encourage employees to get regular check-ups and maintain their health, helping to prevent or reduce the risk of future health issues.
• Early diagnosis of serious health issues – Regular appointments with a dentist and/or hygienist could help identify potentially major health issues early, which could increase the chances of a successful outcome and reduce time away from work.

Meanwhile, your business could benefit by:

• Reducing absenteeism – Healthy employees are less likely to take time off work, reducing sickness absence.
• Attracting and retaining talent – For some, dental insurance can be a deciding factor in choosing to join or stay with your company.

Bite the bullet and bring all your workplace perks into line with Titan’s Bionic Benefits platform

The Bionic Benefits platform allows you to mix and match a wide range of workplace benefits to suit your budget. 

Along with dental insurance or health cash plans, you could include group protection (such as life insurance or critical illness cover), access to financial or tax planning advice, and cycle-to-work schemes.

Get in touch

We’re here to design, implement, and manage benefits for your employees. To find out more about how we can help you, please get in touch.

Email [email protected] or call us on 0800 048 0150.

Please note
The information contained in this article is based on the opinion of Titan Wealth Planning and does not constitute financial advice or a recommendation for any investment or retirement strategy.

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