Some 82% of employers that provide a dental plan for staff believe that this enhances employee wellbeing, according to the Corporate decision maker’s survey, published by Denplan in xx 2016. The survey also showed that the number of organisations offering dental insurance as an employee benefit has also been steadily increasing since 2010 and dental plans being offered as an employee benefit have increased to 40% in 2016.
So with myriad options available for employers when it comes to formulating a health and wellbeing strategy, how can giving staff access to dental healthcare help boost their general wellbeing?
Regular oral health check-ups promote good oral health
First, providing employees with a regular oral health assessment through their dental benefits should help staff keep their teeth healthy and clean to maintain good oral health. At a check-up, a dentist will usually assess a patient’s current oral health, any risk of future disease, and advise them on the care and treatment required to secure good oral health. With 77% of UK adults visiting the dentists on a regular basis, according to a YouGov Health and wellbeing survey, published in xx 2016, it should be a benefit that will be well used by employees. Furthermore, 90% of UK adults agree that the better they look after their teeth and gums, the better chance they have of avoiding costly and invasive dental treatment in the future.
The wider health risks of neglecting oral health
A dentist may also ask about a patient’s general health and any specific problems they have had with their teeth, mouth or gums since the last visit. There has been a great deal of research published about the impact poor oral health can have on a person’s overall health and a dentist will be looking out for signs of serious diseases and illnesses that can be detected in the mouth.
Research by scientists at the University of Birmingham, published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology in February 2016, which analysed data from more than 13,000 participants in the US-based Third national health and nutrition examination study, revealed that patients with chronic kidney disease and severe gum disease have a higher mortality rate than those with chronic kidney disease alone. Gum disease is an infection of the tissues that support the teeth, caused mainly by bacteria which results from plaque build-up. If the plaque is not effectively removed by brushing and flossing, the bacteria can irritate the gums causing swelling, bleeding and soreness.
In some patients who are susceptible to gum disease, the body overreacts to the bacteria around the gums and causes too much inflammation. If this inflammation does not clear up properly it can lead to inflammation throughout the body, which can be an underlying issue in diseases including heart disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Dentists can diagnose gum disease and help advise people on measures to treat the condition and prevent it from re-occuring. While routine dental checks cannot diagnose systemic disease, these can help patients to be aware of their risk of developing inflammation in the body so that, if necessary, they can seek medical guidance and take preventive action.
In this way, dental benefits can contribute towards a preventive approach by encouraging employees to look after their oral health, forming part of a longer-term strategy to positively influence their overall general health. Three-quarters of organisations have a health and wellbeing strategy, with a bias towards a planned preventive approach, according to the aforementioned Corporate decision maker's survey. So, in light of such research and information, it is a good idea to highlight the wider health benefits of a regular oral health check when communicating the dental benefits available to a workforce.
Implementing change
Communication plays an essential role in the promotion of oral healthcare, and it would be worthwhile for employers to concentrate some of their efforts in communicating to staff the value of dentistry as a wider healthcare benefit. A dental plan provider should also be able to help with this.
By moving away from the perception that dentistry is focused solely on the mouth and educating staff about the wider benefits of being dentally fit, a dental plan can become an important part of an employer’s overall health and wellbeing strategy.
It’s interesting to note that 64% of employees that do not receive a dental plan would consider one if their employer offered it and 60% of employees without a dental plan believe dental is a tangible, usable benefit, according to the YouGov Health and wellbeing survey.
Byline to come
