National Smile Month | The Importance of Dental Health

It’s National Smile month and now more than ever, the dental landscape is facing an increasing amount of change. Between January and March 2021, some patients were being asked to wait up to three years for an appointment with a National Health Service (NHS) dentist, or six weeks for an emergency appointment.¹

Poor oral health contributes to greater overall health risks. Research has shown that gum disease, if left untreated, can lead to an increasing risk of heart disease, a stroke and even Alzheimer’s disease.²

Some NHS Dental surgeries have reported they have hit crisis levels with full waiting lists and no new appointments available, limiting access to care and treatment. Delays are resulting in worsening and painful symptoms and the risk of patients overusing painkillers to get through the day.

Assistance with dental treatment is a widely appreciated benefit that employees will use every year, helping to support their overall health and wellbeing. Many dental plans are continually evolving to provide product enhancements to make sure that employees receive a highly valued benefit.