Chairside work and its strains
Dental nurses spend much of the day twisted towards the patient, holding suction and passing instruments. Neck, shoulder and lower back pain are familiar results. Handling sharps and cleaning instruments brings a risk of needlestick injury, and decontamination work involves chemicals and heat.
Insurers group occupations into risk classes. Your class affects the price of income protection and whether claims are assessed against your own job or any job you could reasonably do.
Sick pay in dental practices
Practices set their own sick pay. Larger groups may offer a few weeks at full pay, but many smaller practices pay only statutory sick pay, which is a fixed weekly amount well below most wages. Agency and locum dental nurses usually get nothing extra.
With limited sick pay, a deferred period of four weeks or so means your policy starts paying soon after your income drops. If your practice pays you for longer, you can wait longer and pay less.
- Ask your practice manager what sick pay you get
- Check whether it applies from day one or after a qualifying period
- Note any overtime or extra sessions you rely on
Life insurance for dental nurses
Few dental practices offer death in service. If you have a mortgage or children, a term life policy gives your family a lump sum that can clear debts or cover living costs. Taking cover while young usually keeps the cost low.
If you are buying a first home, you might set the policy to fall in line with a repayment mortgage. Decreasing cover usually costs less than level cover.
Changing hours, roles and practices
Dental nurses often move between practices, go part time after having children or train into roles such as oral health education or practice management. Each change can alter your pay and the sick pay you would get.
Income protection usually pays a share of what you earned before you became unable to work, so a drop in hours can affect the amount you could claim, depending on the policy. Tell us before you change your hours or job, and we can check your cover still makes sense.
How Hi Tomorrow helps dental nurses
We find out what your practice pays when you are off, then suggest a deferred period and level of cover that fits your budget. We compare the insurers on our panel and handle the paperwork with you, so you are not left guessing at medical questions.