Best practices for oral health care have remained fairly consistent over the years – brush twice and floss once daily, see your dentist for preventive care, and so on. However, although the way we take care of our teeth doesn’t change, the world of dental benefits is always evolving.

There can be many reasons for this, from consumer trends or attitudes toward the economy to new discoveries about oral health. With so much opportunity for change, it’s important to stay on top of current trends – so let’s review what’s happening in the modern world of dental benefits.

The impact of the economy

Employees and employers alike are worried about rising costs and the state of the economy, but it helps to explain that dental benefits aren’t an empty cost.

• Let employers know that U.S. adults lose an estimated 243 million work hours to oral health problems each year. By making it easier for employees to afford preventive care, dental benefits support reduced absenteeism and increased productivity.
• Reassure budget-conscious clients that TruAssure can help customize a plan to meet their needs, with both fully and self-insured options.

The moral? Dental benefits don’t have to be costly! Make sure your clients understand that dental coverage isn’t just not a nice-to-have, it’s an essential – and affordable – part of an overall benefits package.

Employees still care about dental benefits

Despite worries about costs and inflation, recent surveys still show that U.S. workers – both current employees and top prospects – continue to value and appreciate dental benefits offered by employers.

• 74% of employees consider dental benefits extremely or very important.^[1]
• Employees are 70% more likely to remain loyal to their employer if they’re satisfied with their benefits.^[2]

It’s not always easy to know what employees want, but when it comes to dental benefits, their opinion is loud and clear.

The rise of ICHRAs and DSOs

Two acronyms to pay attention to? ICHRAs – short for Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements – and DSOs, or Dental Service Organizations.

ICHRAs are a newer form of HRA

• Companies can use ICHRAs to reimburse employees for some or all of the premium the employee pays for benefits like health insurance or a dental plan.
• Employers are not allowed to offer employees both a group benefit plan and an ICHRA – legally, it must be one or the other^[3], so the rise of ICHRAs is something to keep an eye on.

DSOs are third-party businesses that are often employed by newer or smaller dentist offices to help with administrative, marketing, or other non-clinical business needs.

Some dentists prefer using DSOs because it allows them to focus on their patients and providing care, while other dentists prefer the freedom of managing their practice themselves.

• 23% of dentists who have been practicing 10 years or less use DSOs
• 11% of dentists who have been practicing for 11 to 25 years use DSOs.^[4]

DSOs are more popular with younger dentists, so they may be here to stay – and more prevalent in years to come.

Dental benefits keep your clients smiling

By making preventive care more accessible, dental benefits make it easier for employees to care for their oral health. In turn, this helps them remain happy and productive while they’re on the job.

Help employers understand that dental benefit plans are a win-win for their business and for their employees!

^[1] https://www.limra.com/en/research/research-abstracts-public/2024/in-focus-workplace-benefits-dental-insurance–the-current-and-future-trends-that-define-workplace-benefits-dental-insurance-today-and-beyond/

^[2] https://www.metlife.com/workforce/what-your-employees-want/

^[3] https://www.healthinsurance.org/glossary/individual-coverage-health-reimbursement-arrangement-ichra/

^[4] https://www.theadso.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ADSO-Dental-Industry-Analysis-1-24.pdf