As a small business, having a dental insurance plan available for your employees offers more benefits than just access to good dental care. From an economic perspective, public health studies report that practicing good preventative dental care, including early detection and proper treatment of any dental issues, represents an annual savings of $4 billion in the U.S. There are also opportunities for economic savings in terms of your overall your business operation expenses.

Having a good dental plan available can help you to attract and retain a quality workforce. For example, dental insurance is the second most popular benefit sought by employees. Workforce productivity can also be enhanced. The Washington Department of Health states that 164 million hours of work are lost each year in the U.S. due to dental disease (Langberg, 2008), and more when a parent needs to accompany their child to the dentist for treatment.

Prevention is perhaps the best reason for having a good dental benefits plan. Practicing good dental hygiene can prevent most forms of dental disease. It is also less expensive to practice good preventative oral care than to pay for costly treatments related to problems that may arise as a result of a lack of care. There are further valid reasons for encouraging the use of dental benefits as a smart small business strategy and one that offers measurable return on investment (ROI).

There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to choosing a dental plan. Cost associated with small business dental benefits plans vary depending upon the size of the organization and the types of benefits coverage selected. There are also variables related to reimbursement practices and amounts depending upon receiving coverage from participating dentists of a non-participating dentist in an approved network. In general, some of the things to look for when evaluating which plan is right for your small business include:

Smaller businesses with anywhere from one to 100 employees have the option of offering voluntary dental benefits plans. Like employer sponsored plans, voluntary plans offer multiple choices around benefit coverage. Variables include what type of dental service is covered when and at what percentage of payment, such as X-rays, cleanings, Fluoride treatments, fillings, oral surgery, and crowns.

If offering a dental plan just doesn't make sense for your small business at this time, you and your employees may sign up for individual and/or family dental plan benefits, which include:

Additional employer benefits information is available through visiting the educational underwriter for this BUZGate edutorial, Northeast Delta Dental.

1. Brush twice a day and away from gums
2. Brush 3 minutes or more
3. Use a soft bristle toothbrush
4. Change your toothbrush every 3 months
5. Floss regularly
6. Visit the dentist twice a year
7. Limit sugar consumption
8. Drink water instead of soda
9. Eat fruits and vegetables
10. Smile regularly

For further information about choosing a small business dental insurance plan, contact Northeast Delta Dental as follows:

"Northeast Delta Dental is a not-for-profit organization that specializes in the administration of dental programs. The company mission is to be a leading influence in the dental prepayment marketplace by offering quality, versatile and affordable dental programs that benefit purchasers, subscribers and participating member dentists."

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