The hidden impact of oral health on the workplace

Across the UK, many people struggle to access dental care. Long waiting times, rising treatment costs and limited availability mean that routine check-ups are sometimes delayed, and problems can go untreated for too long. Yet we know that oral health plays a crucial role in our overall wellbeing.

The impact of poor oral health on workforces can be significant. Two fifths of UK employees have taken time off work due to dental pain and one fifth said dental pain made it difficult to concentrate at work and reduced their productivity.

If dental problems go untreated, it can lead to increases in pain severity and time off work. Delayed check-ups also mean missed opportunities to identify and treat problems early, including serious conditions like oral cancer. Early diagnosis of oral cancer is important as it can mean improved treatment outcomes.

It’s also well known that oral health is closely linked to wider physical health, with poor dental even being linked to conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and even Alzheimer’s.

How oral health affects the workplace

Poor oral health can impact workplace performance in several ways:

• Absence, due to acute dental pain or emergency procedures
• Presenteeism, when employees work while distracted or uncomfortable
• Longer term performance decline, as chronic issues go untreated

Together, these factors can create a significant hidden productivity challenge.

Helping employees access dental care is therefore not only about preventing toothache. It supports overall wellbeing, attendance and long-term performance.

When routine care is postponed, the likelihood of developing more complex or urgent dental issues increases. This can lead to unexpected absences, emergency treatment and avoidable disruption for both employees and employers.

The opportunity for employers is to support their teams by offering dental cover as part of their benefits package.

The opportunity for employers

Employers are increasingly looking for ways to enhance their benefits package to support their workforce, and dental insurance is emerging as a practical solution.

Bupa Dental Insurance for example can help employees get the care they need. It provides cashback on treatment up to benefit allowances. And with a network of over 360 Bupa Dental Care practices, employees can find a practice that’s convenient for them and book an appointment using our online Finder Tool.

How Bupa dental insurance helps protect productivity

Using Bupa dental insurance at a Bupa Dental Care practice unlocks additional benefits.

1. Instant Claiming
   At Bupa Dental Care practices, members can take advantage of our Instant Claim service. We liaise with the receptionist to process claims there and then, up to their benefit allowances. No paperwork, no receipts to keep track of - just a simple, fast experience that helps employees get back to their day quicker.


2. Simple online booking
   With more than 360 practices across the UK, employees can choose a location that fits their schedule and book in just a few clicks. Whether they prefer a lunchtime appointment near work or a weekend slot close to home, Bupa Dental Care offers flexible, convenient access. They can easily search for and schedule appointments using our online Finder tool.


3. Fully covered routine treatments
   Depending on their level of cover and remaining benefit allowance, some everyday treatments — like check-ups or scale and polish appointments — may be fully covered at Bupa Dental Care practices. Employees can view exactly what their policy includes by logging into the My Bupa app.


4. Member-only discounts
   At selected practices, dental insurance members can enjoy exclusive savings of up to 20% on a wide range of general dental treatments^*, helping to lower personal costs and make care more affordable.


5. Care from trusted experts
   Our teams use modern techniques, up-to-date technology and ongoing clinical training to support early detection and help patients make confident decisions about their treatment. Bupa Dental Care is also highly rated by customers, with an excellent Trustpilot score of 4.8.


6. Quick phone support with our Oral Healthline
   Employees can contact Bupa Dental Care’s Oral Healthline on 0808 159 0526 for guidance, help with booking or support finding the right practice.^** It’s an extra layer of reassurance between appointments.


7. Support for dental anxiety
   We understand that visiting the dentist can make some people feel uneasy. Our teams are trained to help reduce anxiety by creating calm, friendly environments where patients feel at ease, listened to and able to ask questions throughout their visit. For further advice, please see our Dental Anxiety Guide (PDF, 0.3MB).

^*You must tell the dentist you have Bupa dental insurance and provide your membership number prior to your appointment to benefit from this offer. 10% or 20% discounts are available depending on the practice and the dentist you are seeing. To find the selected Bupa owned and approved network dental practices where this offer is available, see finder.bupa.co.uk and search the Bupa Dental Insurance Network. Discount excludes laboratory fees and specialist treatment and cannot be used against NHS and Bupa Dental Essentials services. Discount cannot be used in conjunction with any other discount.

^**Lines are open 9:30am - 5:00pm Monday - Friday. We may record or monitor our calls.