Will virtual-first oral care transform employee benefits in 2025?

When it comes to health care, today’s consumer expects convenience, choice and accessibility. Although many segments of the health care industry have evolved to meet these demands, dentistry has often lagged.

The traditional reliance on physical dental offices creates barriers for many individuals and makes it challenging to prioritize oral health. What’s more, high costs, provider shortages, accessibility issues and dental anxiety frequently lead to deferred care.

Another troubling trend is that fewer dentists accept dental insurance. According to a 2024 report by the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute, about 24.8% of surveyed owner-dentists had already withdrawn from some insurance networks, with an additional 26.9% contemplating such a move later in the year.

This shift is largely attributed to declining reimbursement rates from insurance providers. A 2023 poll by the Health Policy Institute revealed that one-third of dentists experienced decreased reimbursement rates year-over-year, with 9% reporting reductions exceeding 10%.

Delays in treatment can exacerbate oral disease, increase treatment costs, and negatively impact patient and provider experiences. Poor oral health has also been linked to numerous systemic conditions.

In fact, multiple peer-reviewed studies have established a significant link between poor oral health and various systemic diseases. For instance, a systematic review published in Preventing Chronic Disease found that periodontitis was frequently associated with chronic systemic conditions, particularly type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease.

Additionally, an umbrella review in Nature Communications identified strong associations between oral diseases and 28 noncommunicable diseases, including five types of cancer.

What can be done?

The solution lies in integrating virtual-first oral care into comprehensive employee benefits plans. By leveraging existing teledentistry tools, this model provides an accessible, patient-focused approach to dental care that effectively serves patients, providers, insurers and employers alike.

Consumers have already embraced virtual care

The growing interest in virtual-first dental care was recently validated by findings from Delta Dental’s 2024 “State of America’s Oral Health and Wellness Report.”

This comprehensive survey of 1,000 adults and 1,000 parents of young children underscores the need for more inclusive, accessible dental solutions. The data highlights significant gaps in traditional dental care and reveals a consumer readiness to embrace virtual care models.

Serving the three key stakeholders of virtual-first dental care

Traditional dentistry often leaves patients, providers and insurers underserved. Factors such as geographic limitations, insufficient insurance coverage and fear of dental visits contribute to a significant population of individuals who do not receive adequate care.

Moreover, the disconnect between dentistry and broader medical systems limits opportunities for systemic health improvements. Virtual-first oral care solutions aim to address these gaps with approaches that benefit three key stakeholders: patients, providers and insurers.

1. Patients: Virtual-first care prioritizes patient convenience. Individuals can connect with dental professionals anytime, eliminating the need for time-consuming office visits unless necessary.

Virtual consultations, follow-ups and preventive care guidance can be accessible 24/7 from the comfort of home. This flexible approach reduces barriers such as transportation challenges and taking time off work, enabling patients to engage with dental care on their own terms.

2. Providers: For dental professionals, virtual platforms offer tools to expand patient reach and improve workflow efficiency. Virtual care reduces administrative burdens, enabling dentists to focus more on patient care. By leveraging this model, providers can deliver high-quality services to more patients, enhancing overall satisfaction and outcomes.

Additionally, virtual-first care helps prepare patients before they visit a physical practice, making the patient journey easier and supporting dental offices by sending them educated patients who understand the importance of preventive care.

1. Insurers: Virtual-first care brings cost-saving advantages to insurers by emphasizing prevention and early intervention. This approach helps detect oral health issues before they escalate, reducing the need for expensive treatments.

By engaging patients earlier and diverting non-emergency cases from emergency room visits, insurers can achieve significant health care savings. Virtual-first care also helps engage employees who don't generally use their benefits, ensuring plan value for the employer and better oral health for the employee.

By offering convenient, wellness-oriented dental plans, employers can attract and retain talent in a highly competitive job market. Virtual-first dental care can be offered as a stand-alone benefit or integrated into an existing benefits package.

A blueprint for the future of integrated care

Virtual care is rapidly transforming the health care landscape, and innovative virtual-first solutions are driving this evolution in dentistry. Here are two examples of how these solutions deliver a comprehensive, patient-centered approach.

1. Preventive care excellence: Virtual-first platforms can empower patients with tools and resources to maintain optimal oral health. For example, regular virtual check-ups, personalized care plans and AI-driven wellness scans can help identify and address potential issues early. Additional services include dental benefits navigation, expert second opinions and oral health coaching.
2. Seamless hybrid integration: While virtual care is highly effective, certain treatments still require in-person visits. Leading virtual-first dental platforms ensure smooth transitions between virtual consultations and in-office care through robust referral networks. With access to nationwide dental providers, patients receive coordinated care from vetted professionals when necessary. This hybrid model enhances accessibility without compromising treatment quality.

Pioneering the future of oral health care

Virtual-first dental care is reshaping the dental care model by making it more accessible, integrated, and cost-effective. It can be easily integrated into an existing plan or offered as a stand-alone benefit.

By bridging gaps in access and fostering connections between oral and systemic health, virtual-first care supports healthier populations, empowers providers, and reduces costs for patients, insurers and employers alike.

As this model continues to grow, its commitment to innovation and patient-centered care will drive the evolution of dental care. The future includes deeper integration with the broader health care system, ensuring millions can benefit from connected, convenient and comprehensive dental services.

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Brant Herman is the founder and CEO of MouthWatch and Dentistry.One. Contact him at [email protected].