Dentistry is in crisis right now in the US – and that's not hyperbole. Some 70 million Americans live in areas without enough dental providers. And last year, the average patient-to-dentist ratio was 1,538 to 1. In some areas of the country, that ratio jumps to an incredible 20,000 to 1 – creating what many are calling ‘dental deserts’ across the United States. And the problem is only getting worse. Millions are having to wait several months for a routine check-up. Delays are increasing even for urgent problems. Many local practices are unable to take on new patients. And this isn't just a blip caused by COVID – it’s a crisis that has been years in the making. One that's all too likely to get even worse over the coming years.Tragic impactsThese delays aren't just a simple inconvenience – it's also likely to have a profound and potentially tragic impact on people's health. Despite popular belief, dentists aren't just there to prevent toothaches – they also spot serious medical conditions such as mouth cancer, which will affect 1 in 60 men and 1 in 141 women in their lifetime. If mouth cancer is spotted early enough, treatment can be effective. But fewer dental checkups are making that less likely to happen. In this case, it's not surprising that the idea of dental insurance as an employee benefit is rapidly gaining ground. Here are six key reasons why organizations should provide Group Dental Insurance in 2023:1) It helps your employees maintain their overall healthThe most obvious reason to provide dental insurance as an employee benefit is that you want your workers to stay healthy and productive.We don't often think about it, but dental health is closely linked to general health. Tooth decay, gum disease, and oral infection don't just cause pain and discomfort – they can also lead to serious health issues such as heart disease and stroke. Regular dental check-ups can help prevent these problems, and early detection and treatment can help keep them from becoming more serious. Additionally, dentists can help identify issues related to other health problems, such as diabetes or eating disorders, which can then be addressed by other medical professionals.2) It keeps your employees loyalEvery employer wants their staff to be happy in their job, and job satisfaction doesn’t always come down to salary. More fundamentally, workers are looking for respect and appreciation at work – they don't want to feel like a replaceable cog in a machine, but a valued member of a team. In this light, providing dental insurance as an employee benefit is a great way to show you care about your staff's wellbeing. It shows you have their best interests at heart, and it can make a big impact on engendering loyalty, reducing churn and boosting retention. 3) It helps reduce absenteeismAccording to a survey, 64% of Americans would visit the dentist more regularly if it was employer-funded. That means dental insurance can make a real and measurable difference to an employee's health. And that's likely to seriously reduce the organizational costs of absenteeism. In other words, providing dental insurance as an employee benefit isn't just a nice thing to do. From a purely financial perspective, it will pay for itself, and potentially boost the bottom line by reducing the number of lost working days overall.4) It also supports your employees’ familiesSome of the most common causes of absenteeism include the need to care for sick children or nurse a partner back to health, making the availability of family healthcare a worthwhile provision. The best group dental insurance policies will typically cover dependents (with no age limits), not just the individual employee.5) It helps to recruit the best peopleIn survey after survey, a majority of employers said they view group dental insurance as important to attracting and retaining the best talent. And that’s not surprising! For the same reason that this benefit can inspire loyalty in existing employees, it's likely to sweeten the pot for new recruits too. And in an era where finding the best people is increasingly difficult due to the 'Great Resignation', that's a tangible benefit every employee will be attracted to.6) It can save livesArguably the best reason overall to offer dental insurance as an employee benefit is that it can save lives. Mouth cancer is a disease that affects more than 50,000 people in the US every year.Regular dentist check-ups help detect and prevent mouth cancer by identifying suspicious changes, such as sores, lumps, or discoloration. If this is done at an early stage, it can make a big difference to the success of treatment.About YuLife.YuLife is an employee benefits and wellbeing app working to reimagine the insurance industry by protecting lives, rewarding living and inspiring life. We’re on a mission to transform traditional insurance into a life-enhancing experience every employee will value and use daily. How does it work? Our award-winning app uses behavioral science and game mechanics to reward your people for living well while offering protection in case of crisis. And with our top-rated employee assistance program, your team gets access to mental, financial and social support, nutritionists, life coaches and more to help them live their best lives.Because we believe that your employees should benefit from their insurance from day one – and that wellbeing should be accessible every day, for everyone.Request a demo for your team today.