When considering health care options during Open Season this year, most federal employees will likely think about their general health needs first. But to get the full picture and make the best health care choices, they need to think about dental care as well.

A recent survey from Delta Dental Plans Association found that 86% of adults and parents of kids 12 and under believe dental insurance is essential to protecting not only their oral health but also their overall health.

“Folks are making that connection between a healthy mouth and a healthy body, and dental insurance can help them achieve both,” said Dr. Al Edwards, principal advisor for government programs for Delta Dental, during Federal News Network’s 2025 Open Season Exchange. “Research has shown a strong link between gum disease and many medical conditions — diabetes, heart disease, stroke, pneumonia, adverse pregnancy outcomes and even dementia. And let’s not forget that regular dental visits can help with early diagnosis and treatment of oral cancers.”

Edwards, a dentist himself, said he has discovered other health conditions, including juvenile diabetes, oral cancer and — in a very rare case — a brain abscess, in patients who came in for routine dental exams.

“What I would say, more commonly, is we’re able to pick up uncontrolled hypertension or high blood pressure in patients, and occasionally things such as possible congestive heart failure,” he said.

The ins and outs of dental insurance

Periodontal disease, more commonly known as gum disease, is a primary cause of systemic health conditions, Edwards said. But with dental insurance, individuals can get access to preventive dental services, putting their minds at ease.

Employees using Delta Dental’s Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) pay no out-of-pocket cost for routine exams, cleanings, X-rays and fluoride treatments when they visit a provider in its network, which is the largest in the nation.

Plans cover two cleanings per year, but pregnant mothers can get three cleanings per year at no cost. Delta Dental negotiates fees directly with its network dentists, so employees save up to 40% off the cost of covered procedures and services.

“We are in business to improve oral health. We work hard every day to help patients get the right oral health care, at the right time and in the right place — and, by the way, at a cost that they can afford,” Edwards said. “We have thousands of dedicated dentists in our network whose aim is to keep their patients healthy.”

For Edwards, one important distinction of Delta Dental is that it doesn’t have leased networks. Instead, it contracts directly with in-network dentists, allowing the association to monitor quality in each dental practice.

“When dental insurance companies lease networks from other carriers, they have less control over cost, and also less control over the quality of care that’s provided,” he said. “That’s a very important distinction to make. Since I am very passionate about quality of care, it’s a big deal with me.”

Partnering with local organizations

Delta Dental also focuses on philanthropic efforts to spread awareness and broaden access to oral health care. By partnering with nonprofit organizations, it helps fund oral health education and supports organizations in local communities, Edwards said.

For instance, the dental insurer has established relationships with both Disabled American Veterans and the American Heart Association, aiming to support veterans, as well as spread awareness about the connection between oral and systemic health. Going forward, Delta Dental plans to develop new ways to detect and prevent heart disease through dental practices.

Earlier this year, Delta Dental launched a $5 million partnership with Howard University’s College of Dentistry and Mary’s Center, providing dental care to about 4,000 low-income and senior residents in Washington, D.C.

“The patients come in not only for a cleaning and exam, but they also get a treatment plan,” Edwards said. “Most of them have been able to complete those treatment plans, resulting in vastly improved oral health, a return to their social activities, enjoying a nutritious diet again and just an overall improved quality of life.”

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Discover more articles and videos now on Federal News Network’s 2025 Open Season Exchange event page.

To discover more insights and advice shared during the 2024 Open Season Exchange, visit our event page.

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