The road to well-being starts with a smile
On the journey to a healthier you, regular preventive dental care can make all the difference.
Taking the best possible care of your teeth does so much more than brighten smiles. Good oral health is an essential part of your overall well-being,1 and can impact how well you feel, think, and perform at work and beyond. To maintain oral health and safeguard your wellness, choose dental benefits that prioritize the preventive oral care that you and your family need.
On top of helping you lower your out-of-pocket costs, your dental benefits open the door to help diagnose and prevent potentially serious health conditions sooner.
More than 8 in 10 (83%) adults say oral health is important to them, although only about half of all adults recognize the important connection between oral health and overall health and wellness.2
For instance, pregnancy may make a woman more prone to periodontal (gum) disease and cavities. What's more, poor oral health during pregnancy can lead to poor health outcomes for the mother and baby.3
Regular dental visits reveal so much more than your toothpaste flavor preferences at a cleaning (mint, or bubblegum?). What your dentist sees in your mouth can actually reveal the risk, or even the presence — of other health issues, including:
Heart disease
People with gum disease (periodontal disease) have two to three times the risk of having a heart attack, stroke, or other serious cardiovascular event.4
Diabetes
If you have gum disease, your diabetes may be harder to manage. Treating gum disease may be able to help lower your blood sugar over time.5
Anxiety
Your mouth and teeth offer many clues to potential mental health issues. For example, if you grind your teeth at night or experience jaw pain, this could be a sign of anxiety.6
With more than 130,000 providers nationwide, Guardian offers one of the largest dental networks, so chances are good your dentist is in our network, or you can find a network dentist near you.
Choose dental benefits that support oral health and well-being for the long term
Dental benefits from Guardian are simple to understand and use — for you, and your whole family. And because your employer offers these benefits, you can save even more on the dental care you need. Designed with feedback from our own members, our dental plans focus on preventive care that’s easy to access and afford, so you can leave no stone — or tooth — unturned when it comes to your overall well-being.
Here are just a few of the features our members asked for:
Extra cleanings for people with qualifying medical conditions
Urgent dental consultations from home via teledentistry
Links to external sites are provided for your convenience in locating related information and services. Guardian, its subsidiaries, agents and employees expressly disclaim any responsibility for and do not maintain, control, recommend, or endorse third-party sites, organizations, products, or services and make no representation as to the completeness, suitability, or quality thereof. DentalGuard Insurance is underwritten and issued by The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, New York, NY. Products are not available in all states. Guardian® is a registered trademark of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, New York, New York.
1“Oral health: A window to your overall health," Mayo Clinic, Oct. 28, 2021
2"Dental Fundamentals: In-demand benefits that support well-being,” Guardian Life, 2022, page 9
3"Pregnancy and Oral Health,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, March 18, 2022 https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/publications/features/pregnancy-and-oral-health.html
4“Gum disease and heart disease: The common thread,” Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School, February 15, 2021 https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/gum-disease-and-heart-disease-the-common-thread
5"Diabetes and Oral Health,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, December 30, 2022 https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/managing/diabetes-oral-health.html
6"The Link Between Dental Health and Mental Health: What You Need to Know,” The Cleveland Clinic, May 27, 2022 https://health.clevelandclinic.org/link-between-dental-health-and-mental-health/