The added value of dental coverage

Dental may be the one bright spot in health care because it costs much less than medical coverage - about a dime of every medical-coverage dollar.

Since dentistry focuses on preventive care, dental insurance can help an employer control costs by emphasizing preventive care to head off problems and illness. One study, examining 15 years of claims data, indicated that every dollar spent on prevention saved four dollars in treatment. The American Dental Hygienists' Association provided a figure that was even higher: For every dollar spent on prevention in oral health care, $8 to $50 is saved in restorative and emergency procedures.

Dental health also can be an early indicator of more serious diseases, such as diabetes or heart disease, which could lead to earlier intervention.

According to a 1999 study conducted by LIMRA International, dental benefits are second only to medical insurance in popularity among employees. More than being merely popular, dental benefits are also good for employees' health. People with dental insurance visit the dentist nearly twice as often as those without, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. When patients visit the dentist for regular, periodic checkups, they and their employers save on - and often avert the need for - higher-priced restorative procedures.