When it comes to employee benefits, medical coverage is almost always front and center. There is another piece of the healthcare puzzle, however, that sometimes gets overlooked — dental insurance.
Leaving dental coverage out of your employee benefits package might look like a smart cost-saving measure. It’s a decision, however, that can chip away at your bottom line in ways not immediately obvious. When your employee benefits do not include dental insurance, it affects not just healthcare expenses, but also productivity, morale, and talent retention. Let’s break down how skipping dental coverage can quietly erode your profitability.
The Direct Costs You Do Not See Coming
Poor oral health is not just about cavities. The Mayo Clinic reports strong links between dental health and serious conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and even certain cancers. Without coverage, employees are far less likely to schedule regular checkups, which can lead to worsening health conditions and higher medical claims over time. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also notes that untreated dental problems drive thousands of costly emergency room visits each year. These trips may relieve the pain in the short term, but they don’t address the underlying issue — accumulating expenses and missed work time.
On the other hand, preventive care saves money. Employers spend less when employees take advantage of preventive dental benefits. For example, if employees had their routine cleanings and were screened for diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, and then were referred to treatment, the U.S. healthcare system could save up to $100 million. Without insurance, small, easily treated problems — like a tiny cavity — can grow into complex, expensive procedures like root canals or extractions.
The Toll On Employee Productivity
The costs are not just financial. When employees are dealing with tooth pain, they may still show up to work, but their focus, mood, and productivity suffer. This phenomenon is known as “presenteeism.” When the pain is bad enough, they may miss work entirely. Dental concerns account for 34 million hours of lost school hours and almost $46 billion lost in productivity every year in the U.S., much of it preventable with routine dental care.
The Impact On Morale, Recruitment, And Retention
Beyond health and wellness and employee productivity, there’s also the question of how benefits shape your workplace culture and reputation. Employees who see that dental coverage isn’t included may feel their well-being is not a priority. That perception can lower satisfaction and loyalty.
The impact extends to hiring as well. Research shows that almost half of job seekers would choose a role with better benefits — even if it came with lower pay — over a higher-paying job with fewer benefits.
Retention is just as important. Employees are more likely to stay with an organization if they are satisfied with their benefits. Employers who skimp on dental coverage risk sending a message that they don’t fully invest in their team’s well-being, a perception that has consequences in the eyes of both current staff and prospective hires.
Dental Benefits Are Worth The Investment
The initial “savings” from cutting dental insurance are often outweighed by the hidden costs in healthcare spending, lost productivity, and talent turnover. Dental coverage could best be viewed as a strategic investment, one that fosters a healthier, happier, and more engaged workforce. Investing in smiles is investing in your company’s success.