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Worth of Mouth - The latest on business, wellness and more

Word of Mouth

The latest on business, wellness and more 

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5 ways to build a dental benefits package that employees will love

In the midst of the Great Resignation, benefits are more important than ever for attracting and retaining employees. About 37% of employees would rather receive more substantial benefits than additional salaries or bonuses. To create a dental benefits package that stands out and gets your company amazing applicants, consider these five plan enhancements.
 

1. Lower your plan’s deductible for individuals and families

Lower deductibles are appealing to employees for a variety of reasons. They’re easier for employees to hit, meaning they’re more likely to have their plan pay for their dental treatments, and employees who frequently reach their deductibles are more likely to save. The same is true for family deductibles.

Delta Dental PPO™ plans generally do have deductibles or maximums, but they can be adjusted depending on the wants and needs of your organization. Another option is DeltaCare® USA plans, which are particularly appealing for this reason — they don’t have deductibles or maximums.
 

2. Add a D&P waiver

With Delta Dental’s D&P Maximum Waiver® feature, the costs of covered diagnostic and preventive services (D&P) don’t accrue against a plan’s yearly maximum. Covered services typically include regular exams, x-rays and cleanings.

Employees can then spend their coverage dollars on other needed dental services. D&P waivers are effective immediately, renew automatically and don’t require extra work from the employee or group to track remaining dollar amounts.

For more information, check out  this flyer (PDF) or contact us.
 

3. Provide orthodontic coverage for all ages

The number of adults seeing orthodontists is at an all-time high, according to the American Association of Orthodontists, and that means the pool of prospective orthodontic patients is wider than it’s ever been.

Without coverage, prospective orthodontic patients can expect to pay between $3,000 and 6,000 dollars depending on their age. Delta Dental plans can help cut these costs in half. Orthodontic coverage is available under all DeltaCare USA group plans and can be optionally included in any Delta Dental PPO plan. Instead of limiting orthodontic benefits to dependents under 19, consider offering orthodontic benefits to children and adults.
 

4. Add implant coverage

The majority of adults ages 35 to 44 have lost at least one permanent tooth, and by age 74 more than a quarter of adults have lost all their permanent teeth.

One treatment for a lost tooth is an implant. Implants are an appealing option because they closely resemble real teeth, they’re permanent and comfortable, and they slow down the bone loss caused by losing a tooth. However, they can be expensive for patients without coverage. A single implant can cost up to $3,000 to $5,000.

Delta Dental offers several different options for implant coverage for groups. Implant coverage is available under Delta Dental PPO and some DeltaCare USA group plans.
 

5. Offer expanded coverage to employees with chronic conditions

Serious health issues like heart disease, diabetes and HIV/AIDS effect millions of Americans each year and people with these conditions are more likely to have oral health related problems as a result. With SmileWay® Wellness Benefits, you can add expanded coverage for your employees with chronic illnesses and make your plan more attractive.

If your company chooses to make this benefit available, your employees who have been diagnosed with diabetes, heart disease, HIV/AIDS, rheumatoid arthritis or stroke can receive 100% coverage for additional cleanings and gum treatment.

This optional benefit is only available for Delta Dental PPO plans, and your eligible employees must opt in to receive the additional coverage. These benefits can help keep your employees smiling and healthy, and healthy workers are a win-win for your company!


Having a competitive benefits package is key to recruiting and retaining valuable employees in a labor market that is replete with resignations. When you’re evaluating your benefits package, consider enhancing your company’s offerings. An appealing benefits package can be the edge you need to attract prospective employees.