Companies are letting staff down when it comes to providing funding for access to dental health care, according to the results of a new survey.

Research by healthcare benefits provider HSA found that despite nearly 60 per cent of companies believing staff would value a corporate dental scheme, only a quarter of firms were happy to finance the arrangement.

Employers who help staff with funding via a corporate dental plan could benefit in a number of ways, according to HSA.

"Allowing employees to visit the dentist based on need rather than on affordability may help towards the prevention of serious conditions," said Suzanne Clarkson from HSA.

"Secondly, as availability of private dental appointments may be more flexible around work hours, the length of absence taken for treatment may be reduced; and thirdly by providing a benefit that staff will use regularly and truly value this might aid recruitment and retention."

Sickness absence as a result of staff taking time off work for dental treatment and check-ups equates to an estimated 12 million working days lost each year with associated costs of around £754 million.

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