Women 40+ Want Menopause-Specific Dental Benefits, New Study Finds

(MENAFN- PR Newswire) The survey uncovered a critical knowledge gap around menopause-related oral health symptoms – such as dry mouth – or what some call "menopause mouth." While 83% of women 40+ say they are not aware of any oral health symptoms brought on by menopause, many are unknowingly experiencing them. In recent months, 40% of women 40+ have noticed increased dry mouth, 27% report heightened tooth sensitivity, 26% have experienced changes to taste and 22% have had tooth decay and loss.

This disconnect between experience and awareness creates significant barriers to care. Currently, 30% of women struggle to find the tools and resources they need to address menopause-related oral health concerns, with many turning to the internet (29%) instead of dental professionals (21%) for guidance.

Preventive dental care, like additional cleanings, can play a key role in managing the common symptoms of menopause mouth. The survey shows women are eager for this kind of support: 82% of women say they would be more likely to schedule additional dental cleanings to combat these symptoms if covered by insurance, and 71% would feel more comfortable asking their dentist for menopause-related oral health information if their dental insurance provided additional benefits like extra cleanings and visits with holistic healthcare providers. Delta Dental is answering this call by introducing enhanced women's health benefits with a phased roll-out in early 2026.

"The connection between menopause and oral health has been overlooked for far too long," said Sarah Chavarria, CEO and President of Delta Dental Insurance Company . "Despite the knowledge gaps revealed in this survey, we're encouraged to see that attitudes are changing and women are ready to break the stigma. They want meaningful support from their insurance provider during this stage of life, and we're proud to be the first dental insurer to listen and respond with comprehensive benefits designed to meet their needs."

More Dentists Are Talking About Menopause

This year's survey shows encouraging progress in dental provider awareness compared to 2024. More dentists are initiating conversations about menopause's impact on oral health, with 55% now more open to discussing the topic proactively compared to 47% last year.

The survey further revealed that 81% of dentists say they would be more inclined to proactively discuss menopause with patients if menopause-specific benefits were in place. Additionally, 89% of dentists indicated they would be more likely to discuss menopause with their female patients if they had access to shared medical record data.

"We're seeing positive momentum in provider awareness, and dentists are eager to better serve their patients," said Dr. Daniel Croley, Chief Dental Officer at Delta Dental Insurance Company . "When we combine this growing awareness with the right support systems, whether through specialized benefits, enhanced training, or better healthcare integration, we can transform how women experience oral care during menopause to maintain good oral health throughout a lifetime."

Delta Dental Introduces Next StageTM Women's Health Program

In direct response to survey findings, Delta Dental will be introducing the Next StageTM Women's Health program early next year, offering whole-health solutions designed to support oral health-related conditions associated with menopause, pregnancy and other hormonal changes in women. This program will be offered as an enhanced benefit for Delta Dental's commercial group clients.

The program's menopause-specific benefits will include:

• Additional cleanings per year
• Extra exams and X-rays
• Specialized procedures such as periodontal maintenance and gum inflammation scaling

Delta Dental is also establishing strategic partnerships to provide comprehensive support. The company is partnering with Midi Health , the fastest growing virtual care clinic in the United States, focused on women navigating perimenopause and menopause. Midi will partner with Delta Dental to offer specialized telehealth services, educational resources focused on menopause, and provider education on the connection between women's health and oral health. Additionally, Delta Dental is partnering with Embr Labs to provide access to the Embr Wave, a wearable smart device that helps manage hot flashes and night sweats.

Women Value Integrated Care and Want It From All Their Providers

It's not just dentists who can have an impact. Sixty-nine percent of women say they would be more inclined to schedule a dental visit if their primary care provider or OB-GYN discussed menopause's effects on oral health, with 78% of peri-menopausal women agreeing, showing women want holistic support from each of their providers as they navigate this important life stage.

The survey findings paint a clear picture of unmet needs on both sides of the dental chair. While 45% of women report that menopause-related oral health symptoms negatively impact their confidence, mood or mental health, many struggle to find appropriate resources. Delta Dental's new program will remove these barriers and empower both patients and providers to have the conversations that matter most.

The impact is already evident: After learning about the menopause-oral health connection, 83% of surveyed women said they're likely to prioritize scheduling their next dental visit.

Delta Dental is committed to providing adults with consistent, quality access to oral health care and resources to improve overall health and well-being. Providing comprehensive support and education to enhance women's overall well-being during perimenopause and menopause is a key priority within the Delta Dental organization. For more information, go to deltadentalins/menopause-oral-health .

Media Contact: Kinga Skowronek

Public Relations Manager at Delta Dental Insurance Company

[email protected]

(415) 975-8272

About Delta Dental of California and Affiliates:

Since 1955, Delta Dental of California and Affiliates has offered comprehensive, high-quality oral health care coverage to millions of enrollees and built the strongest network of dental providers in the country. The Delta Dental of California enterprise includes its affiliates Delta Dental Insurance Company, Delta Dental of Pennsylvania, Delta Dental of New York, Inc., as well as the national DeltaCare USA network, and provides dental benefits to more than 31 million people across 15 states and the District of Columbia.* All are members of the Delta Dental Plans Association based in Chicago, Illinois, the not-for-profit national association that through a national network of Delta Dental companies collectively covers millions of people nationwide. Delta Dental is a registered trademark of Delta Dental Plans Association. For more information about Delta Dental of California and its Affiliates, please visit .

*Delta Dental of California's operating areas encompass Alabama, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

Survey Methodology:

Delta Dental of California commissioned Atomik Research to conduct an online survey of 1,511 women 40 years of age or older and a separate survey of 200 dentists throughout the United States. To qualify for participation in the survey for women aged 40 and older, all participants must indicate they are going through the following stages of menopause: perimenopause, menopause, or post-menopause. Participants indicating that they were not sure which stage of menopause they were in or those who indicated they are not yet experiencing one of the three stages of menopause were excused from participation. The margin of error for the women's survey is +/- 3 percentage points with a confidence level of 95 percent. The margin of error for the dentists' survey is +/- 7 percentage points with a confidence level of 95 percent. Fieldwork for both surveys took place between June 25 and July 2, 2025.

Atomik Research, a part of 4media group, is an independent market research agency.

SOURCE Delta Dental of California

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