Engaging Members with Integrated, On-Demand Virtual Dental Care

Is teledentistry destined to be a temporary trend? Though virtual dental care saw a surge during COVID-19, utilization has tapered off with the return to traditional work settings. Only about 30% of providers continue to integrate it into their practice, according to an American Dental Association (ADA) Clinical Evaluators Panel report. However, teledentistry offers a host of advantages for members, providers, and insurers, prompting insurers to reassess its value. 

3 Ways Virtual Visits Empower Dental Stakeholders

Teledentistry allows providers to diagnose, provide prescriptions, schedule in-person visits or refer patients to specialists for continued care using photo and video technology to facilitate an oral examination. Teledentistry is also used for ongoing monitoring of a patient’s oral health. Virtual visits can be accomplished by patients connecting to their provider online in real time, or asynchronously in cases where the patient’s data is stored and shared with a provider at another location. 

Despite the drop-off in use of teledentistry post-pandemic, the global teledentistry market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 16% between 2022 and 2032 to $6.5 billion due to pressures to reduce dental care costs and the convenience of telehealth offerings in general. 

There are benefits to virtual visits for all dental stakeholders:

• For members/patients – accessed on a smartphone, tablet or PC, virtual visits are more convenient. At about 30 minutes a visit, they also save travel and wait time. For some, virtual visits are less worrisome than an in-person visit. Virtual visits can provide access to dental care for members who live in rural or remote regions or areas with few providers, and patients for whom transportation to in-person visits is a challenge. 
• For providers – 63% of providers who participated in the ADA Clinical Evaluators Panel study said they were satisfied with their use of teledentistry, and 57% said it increased access to and quality of care. About one third (31%) said their patients were more receptive to care through a virtual visit. Asynchronous care allows dentists to collaborate with hygienists who are working in rural or remote areas – a flexible model that benefits professionals in both roles.  
• For insurers – Teledentistry has the potential to improve access to oral healthcare and eliminate the disparities in rural areas and urban communities. In addition, the significantly lower cost of teledentistry allows for affordable urgent care, and may be able to head off a more expensive emergency room visit for dental care.  

SKYGEN Offers Integrated, On-Demand Virtual Dental 

SKYGEN helps insurers interested in piloting or implementing teledentistry to seamlessly integrate on-demand virtual dental care. Members can effortlessly access scheduled appointments or immediate assistance with one click. Through virtual dental visits, insurers broaden members' dental care choices and deliver the extra convenience of telehealth services to increase member engagement and utilization of their dental plan.

Like to find out how better member experiences can help grow health plan membership? Download SKYGEN’s latest eBook for insights based on research with 5,000 U.S. consumers.