[SPONSORED CONTENT]
Access to timely dental care has never been more important. Close to 40 million appointments have been lost as a result of the pandemic and, in England alone, four million people can no longer access NHS care.
Patients living in what have been called ‘dental deserts’ are waiting up to three years to see a dentist, however each missed appointment could cause problems down the line.
This crisis in dental care provides an opportunity for businesses to gain an edge in the increasingly intense competition to attract and retain talent.
There are now more than 1.3 million job vacancies — a record high — and the recent Talent Retention 2022 report from employee engagement platform Seenit points out: “Now more than ever, companies must listen, care, and support their people.”
The latest Bupa Global Executive Wellbeing Index confirms this.
One in five UK managers believes an increased emphasis on workplace wellbeing will be key to attracting top talent going forward and 24% of executives aged 18 to 34 confirm the pandemic has made them prioritise their own wellbeing.
Neil Sikka, Chief Dental Officer at Bupa, says: “In response to this growing demand, and feedback from our customers, we are enhancing our cover and making it simpler and easier to use and access dental care.”
Gum disease danger
Ensuring timely access to expert dental care will also deliver wider benefits.
Analysis of 822 clinical trials identified a clear link between gum disease and an increased risk of 57 systemic diseases including cardiovascular problems, immune system disorders and metabolic conditions.
Based on analysis of GP records of more than 64,000 people, researchers from Birmingham University estimate that gum disease increases the odds of mental health problems by 37%, autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis by 33%, type-2 diabetes by 26% and cardiovascular disease by 18%.
Growing awareness of the importance of dental health is reflected in the 2022 Bupa Wellbeing Index, with almost one in five (18%) of the more than 8,000 people surveyed reporting dental health is their biggest wellbeing worry.
This is in line with concerns around cancer (18%) and ahead of heart health worries (15%).
Declines in oral health
One in four (25%) believe their oral health has declined during the pandemic and more than a third (37%) have not had a dental check-up for three years or more.
Given the scale of missed appointments, it’s not surprising the data suggests there are now worrying levels of gum disease.
Only 13% of respondents had sought dental treatment in the previous three months, yet 3% — almost one in four of those who did – were diagnosed with gum disease.
Enhanced cover
Working in partnership with our 470 practices, The Bupa Dental Care support line ensures insurance customers can access treatment when needed and our enhanced cover includes:
No wait period for oral cancer cover on business products. Bupa is also the only leading insurer to offer unlimited oral cancer treatment, including diagnosis and restorative dental treatment, when using a fee-assured consultant in a partnership facility.
Separating fillings and root canal benefits on the Dental Plan product to allow customers to claim more cash-back towards their treatment: between £150 to £375 per policy year according to the level of cover for fillings and 80% towards the cost of a root canal ranging from £275 and £3,000 per policy year according to the level of cover.
Increased limits on 32 benefits on Dental Choice and introducing a top level of cover, Choice 5.
Extending cover to include hospital dental treatment.
Wider benefits
As more employees rethink their work-life balance and prioritise their health and wellbeing, ensuring access to dental care is a simple and effective way to support teams and help to recruit and retain the best talent.
Neil says: “As a clinician, I am proud our B2B products will give customers added reassurance that we’re going to be there when they need us most.”
For more details on Bupa’s B2B dental insurance changes, click here