Employee benefit plans usually focus on health insurance, but a recent article from Benefits Pro highlights the health benefits of dental plans.  Those with dental insurance are twice as likely to maintain a schedule of regular cleanings and dental examinations, which can actually cut the cost of medical coverage in the long term, because of the relationship between proper dental hygiene and overall health.  According to the article:

“Diabetes, heart disease, blindness and pregnancy complications can all be affected by dental hygiene and impact overall health costs. In fact, the National Institute of Health estimated in 2007 that $174 billion in direct and indirect expenses were created by diabetics, and those suffering from diabetes are 2.3 times more likely to have higher medical costs than people without diabetes. The diabetic population is growing, Sherman says, but with good oral hygiene, it is easier to control one’s insulin levels.”

Besides the ability to cut costs on medical coverage through better overall health, dental plans also assure that an employee is less likely to have a dental emergency and be in pain or leave work, as they may if they have not had the proper preventive care.

To learn more about how dental benefits encourage better overall health, READ THE FULL ARTICLE BY BENEFITSPRO