The top three health risks for dentists

Daniel Nixon, dental Specialist Financial Adviser at Wesleyan Financial Services, shares Wesleyan Assurance Society’s top reasons dentists claimed on their income protection policies throughout 2023…

Have you ever thought about what would happen if an illness or injury suddenly struck you down and you couldn’t practise?

The last thing you would want to think about is the financial fallout - you’ll want to reserve your energy for rest and recovery. The foundation for a solid and secure financial plan starts with income protection, but not all policies will fit the needs of a dental professional.

Make sure you check the finer details so that you aren’t left vulnerable to common health risks that affect dentists which might not be covered by some policies:

Musculoskeletal

The top reason dentists made a claim on a Wesleyan Personal Income Protection Plan in 2023 is due to health issues with joints, muscles and bones.

This area made up a third of claims from the profession, which is perhaps unsurprising due to the physical demands of practising dentistry and the requirement of leaning over patients day in, and day out.

Musculoskeletal claims from dentists came in much higher than other occupations which sat at just 8%, highlighting this as a key health risk for the profession.

Mental health

Mental health has been a hot topic in the press for some time now, with the mental health of dental professionals becoming ever more prevalent. Mental health issues made up 17% of income protection claims from dentists last year.

With the threat of litigation, patient complaints and increasing workplace pressures, putting a safety net in place to support any potential mental health issues may be wise.

Covid

It’s been widely reported that Covid cases are on the rise again. Dentists experiencing complications of Covid made up 15% of claims.

Christina Pagel, Professor of Operational Research in Healthcare at University College London and member of the Independent Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, said, "While flu and RSV are pretty much confined to November to March, Covid waves can and do happen at any time of year. We are still in three to four waves a year, each causing some disruption to people’s lives, employment, and the NHS."*

With Covid looking like it will be present for some time, this could also be a significant reason to consider an income protection policy.

Seek support from specialists

If you could not work due to ill health or injury, how confident are you that you are secure enough to withstand the financial impact?

You may have a pot of emergency savings, or think you’re covered by NHS sick pay benefits, but it may be the case that those provisions aren’t robust enough to support your lifestyle.

If you are considering an income protection policy, it’s crucial to ensure that the policy contains an 'own occupation' clause. This means that should you suffer an illness or injury that stops you practising as a dentist, but not from taking up a new career, the policy will still pay out.

If you would like support in finding suitable income protection for your career, you can talk to a dental Specialist Financial Adviser at Wesleyan Financial Services by booking a no-obligation financial review.

Wesleyan Financial Services Limited is a broker and its insurance products are provided by a number of selected insurers.

* https://christinapagel.substack.com