U.S. insurers may have placed about $425 million in new voluntary dental plan business in 2004.

Researchers at Eastbridge Consulting Group Inc., Avon, Conn., have included that statistic in a new report on the voluntary/worksite dental market.

Eastbridge last published a major report on the topic in 2001.

The new report, based on a survey of insurers in the market, covers topics such as sales volume, penetration rates and commissions, according to Eastbridge.