Half of working parents forced to work extra hours due to children’s dental issues – Bupa

Nearly half of working parents in the UK are working extra hours on evenings or weekends to make up for time lost to their children’s dental appointments, according to research by Bupa Dental Care. 

The study found that 46% of parents have had to work outside normal hours, while 45% have missed important meetings, deadlines or work commitments due to dental problems. 

Two in five parents said their workday had been disrupted by their child’s dental pain or appointments, and for nearly one in five this had happened on multiple occasions.

78% of parents said their child had taken time off school for illness in the past year, with the average absence lasting three days. 

18% of parents said working evenings or weekends to catch up after these absences had become a regular occurrence.

Dr Neil Sikka, director of dentistry at Bupa Dental Care, said: “These findings clearly show that children’s dental health is no longer just a domestic issue, it is a workplace productivity issue. 

“When a child suffers from dental pain or misses school, the operational burden heavily shifts to the parents, forcing many to miss critical meetings or log on during weekends just to catch up.

“By managing children’s oral health proactively, we can prevent the acute pain and dental emergencies that lead to sudden absenteeism, ultimately helping parents maintain a healthier balance between family life and their professional commitments.”