Group Dental Insurance for California Employers
Group dental insurance is typically structured across three service categories: Preventive (diagnostic X-rays, cleanings, exams — usually covered 100%), Basic restorative (fillings, simple extractions, emergency palliative treatment — usually 70–80% after deductible), and Major restorative (crowns, root canals, bridges, dentures — usually 50% after deductible). Orthodontic coverage is often a separate rider with a lifetime maximum ($1,500–$2,500 is common).
Annual benefit maximums range from $1,000 to $2,500 per person. More generous plans go up to $5,000. The annual maximum resets every January 1. Preventive services typically don't count against the annual maximum on better plans.
Major Dental Carriers in California
Delta Dental of California is the state's largest dental insurer with the broadest provider network. Cigna Dental has strong national network and integrates well with Cigna medical plans. MetLife, Aetna Dental, Guardian, and Principal are also widely available for CA employer groups. Most carriers offer both DPPO (more flexibility, can see out-of-network) and DHMO (lower cost, must use network dentist) options.
Employer vs. Voluntary Dental
Dental can be employer-paid (employer contributes to premiums) or voluntary (employee pays 100% through payroll deduction). Even voluntary dental is valuable — group rates are substantially lower than individual dental plans, and pre-tax payroll deduction through Section 125 cafeteria plans saves employees 25–30% in tax. Employer-paid dental costs approximately $30–80/employee/month for employee-only coverage.
Why Dental Matters for Recruitment
78% of employees rate dental coverage as an important benefit, per SHRM surveys. Employees without dental coverage often defer care — leading to more expensive problems. Employers in healthcare, legal, tech, and finance routinely offer dental + vision as a package alongside medical.