Dental plans biting into benefits market; enrollment in DMOs, PPOs up dramatically.(dental maintenance organizations; preferred provider organizations)

Teeth are big business in Cincinnati as dental managed care plans enjoy an increase in members, both from businesses and dentists. Experts in the industry say many employers are using dental benefits as one more lure in a tight labor market.

"There's no question about it. Dental is still a very, very sought-after benefit," said Iris Klein Christ, CHFC, CLU regional sales director for Ohio for CompDent Corp., a dental maintenance organization (DMO) headquartered in Atlanta. "More and more companies are looking into dental benefits as a way to attract and retain employees."

The National Association of Dental Plans, based in Dallas, found enrollment was up an …