Good oral health: The key to overall wellness

Improving oral health coverage can lower overall benefit costs

Oral health is often overlooked when businesses review their health benefits packages. It’s considered something “extra” rather than as an essential component of overall employee wellness. But it is essential. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over $45 billion in productivity and 34 million school hours are lost each year because of dental emergencies that need unplanned care.¹

Promoting good oral health should be top of mind when considering benefits packages for your employees. Poor oral hygiene can lead to an increased risk for developing cavities, gingivitis, and periodontitis. It’s also been linked to chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease.

Empowering employees to take control of their oral health

Fortunately, there’s a solution: offering your employees a high-quality dental plan with no member cost share for preventive services. UPMC Dental Advantage (PDF) plans encourage regular preventive care and foster open communication between members and their dentists. Each of our plans includes a vast network of providers, and some plan designs include coverage for orthodontics.

Regular visits to the dentist are essential to maintaining good oral health. A yearly visit to the dentist can help address any issues and encourage habits that protect your teeth and gums, like:

• Brushing with fluoride toothpaste.
• Flossing daily.
• Cutting down on sugary foods and drinks.
• Cutting out tobacco products.
• Limiting alcoholic drinks.
• Controlling diabetes (which can lead to gum disease).

Even better: Many of these habits go hand-in-hand with boosting employees’ overall wellness.

Our dental plans deliver the high-quality benefits and provider networks for which UPMC Health Plan is known. They can be offered as standalone options or be paired with UPMC Health Plan medical coverage. Learn more about our ancillary benefits (PDF) and how they can help your employees take better care of their teeth and their overall health.