Decision makers who select comprehensive, high-quality employee benefits that address the dental needs of different generations bear a considerable responsibility. Employee dental needs pose a significant challenge because they include various issues from fillings and crowns to root canals and extractions that can arise across generations. Not to mention the need for pediatric care for your employees' dependents— including sealants, cavity fillings, and other care they may need. The issues don’t need to be major to have a widespread effect. Left untreated, oral health problems can disrupt an employee’s quality of life and contribute to downstream consequences around productivity—to the tune of nearly $46 billion in losses annually in the U.S.¹

Why addressing employee dental needs matters

Something as seemingly simple as a cavity can cause deeper issues, which can compound when you consider how many people have these problems. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017–March 2020 includes notable data indicating that over 71 percent of adults age 20 and older have untreated cavities.²

According to Richard Celko, DMD, MBA, chief dental officer for UPMC Health Plan, “The most common tooth-related cause of absenteeism is pain, either from decay or an abscessed tooth. Pain is a strong motivator to seek relief, and when someone is in pain, they focus on getting it to go away and not on their job responsibilities. They will do whatever is necessary to achieve pain relief, including spending time trying to locate a dentist to assist them with their condition.”

The impact of common oral health issues goes beyond physical pain.

“Having healthy teeth free of decay bolsters one’s confidence,” Dr. Celko said. “Conversely, many people with decayed teeth are embarrassed and sometimes cover their mouths. This can lead to isolation and depression.”

The latter emotional health factor can affect productivity, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which states that nearly 90 percent of adolescents and adults with depression reported at least some difficulty with work, home, or social activities caused by their depression symptoms.³

The significance of supporting oral health for employees and employers

The connection between oral and overall health should never be underestimated.

“Oral health is critical to overall health and well-being because digestion starts in the mouth. The digestive process provides us with nutrients and everything we require to function in a state of health and well-being. Digestion starts with food entering our mouths and mixing with saliva to initiate the breakdown into particles that we can digest and absorb into our system,” said Dr. Celko.

He added that what we consume matters, too, and he underscored the importance of supporting employees in working toward living a healthy lifestyle.

“We can make healthy choices, like eating plant-based diets and drinking nonsugar-containing drinks—preferably water—and avoiding too many foods high in fats, carbohydrates, and starches,” he said.

Dr. Celko noted that offering oral health care coverage benefits employers because it helps employees feel valued and have less reason or need to miss work. Not all benefit plans are created equally. The level of benefits and their structure matter, according to Dr. Celko. He said that “health care is becoming more individualized, and therefore, all aspects of health care—including dental and oral health—need to keep up with trending benefits and plan designs. Offering flexibility in plan designs for benefits will also permit employees to choose a plan that best fits their needs. For example, having orthodontic benefits for older adults may not be necessary; however, they should be able to elect it if they want access to it.”

Offering oral health care benefits alone may not be enough in some cases. Dr. Celko explained that employers may need to develop strategies to encourage employees to use their benefits.

“You can consider offering incentives to employees who regularly visit their dentist and provide additional benefits for those who complete routine dental appointments. Enhancing the benefit and reducing certain fixed costs like copayments and deductibles are other ways that companies can help encourage good oral health for their employees,” he said.

 

What UPMC Health Plan has to offer

There is a lot to consider when comparing health insurance coverage. One of the most important things to remember is that if you aren’t factoring employee dental needs into your plan, it might be time to re-evaluate your approach. Oral health is a must-have in your benefit blend because of its potential to support total health in employees and their dependents—from Baby Boomers and Generation X to Generation Alpha. Prioritizing offerings that support your employees’ needs can help you build a robust package that, in the end, can benefit your company.

UPMC Dental Advantage sits alongside our high-quality medical and other ancillary offerings. You can choose from preferred provider organization (PPO) plan designs, each with a vast network of providers, and purchase it as a stand-alone benefit or integrate it with your UPMC Health Plan medical coverage. It is designed to encourage regular preventive care, which can aid in helping employees to take control of their oral and total health.

¹Health and economic benefits of oral disease interventions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Oct. 21, 2024. Accessed May 9, 2025. cdc.gov/nccdphp/priorities/oral-disease.html

²Oral and dental health. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Reviewed Sept. 24, 2024. Accessed May 9, 2025. cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/dental.htm

³Depression prevalence in adolescents and adults: United States, August 2021–August 2023. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Reviewed April 16, 2025. Accessed May 9. 2025. cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db527.htm