Mar 21, 2025 5 min read Archive

Time to ditch PPOs?

Frustrated with PPOs? In today's edition, we'll look at some alternatives to PPO contracts. We'll also delve into the continued popularity of teledentistry, the latest in digital dentures and how to stay authentic on social media. But first: Meet the woman recently arrested for pretending to be a dentist for eight years.

A new meaning for eye tooth. You hear "eye tooth" and you probably think about a canine. But surgeons are performing a "tooth-in-eye" surgery that involves implanting a lens into a patient's tooth and placing that tooth in the eye to restore vision.

Clarity in dentistry. Dental AI company Overjet is bringing together dental providers and insurers for a new partnership to streamline patient benefits. The Dental Clarity Network (DCN) aims to help patients understand their benefits and reduce the friction that often occurs between payers and providers.

How authentic are you? Content creation can be a valuable marketing tool for dentists, but finding ways to remain authentic on social media can be tricky. On an episode of The Very Dental Podcast, Charlotte Drumi, MCD, talks about navigating social media and creating content that feels genuine.

Listerine and diabetes. People with diabetes are at a heightened risk of gum disease. A 12-week trial of the popular mouthwash brand reveals that Listerine reduces gingivitis and plaque in people who have diabetes.

Tight times for the Tooth Fairy. A new poll from Delta Dental found that the Tooth Fairy's payouts are down. Over the past year, the average payment for a lost tooth decreased 14%, from $5.84 to $5.01.

'Patients are demanding teledentistry'

Telemedicine in dentistry and many other medical specialties existed for years prior to COVID, but the pandemic set off greater awareness and demand for virtual care. Leah Sigler, RDH, president of The TeleDentists, spoke with Dental Bite about the company's roots long before 2020 and how their work is evolving today. -Carrie Pallardy

What was the teledentistry space like a decade ago?

We were the first teledental consultation company ever. Teledentistry was only asynchronous before our company. A hygienist would go out with a camera and portable X-rays and send the photos and X-rays to a dentist at a different location.

When we started The TeleDentists, we had to develop our own boutique platform to perform virtual consultation that was fully remote. There was no competition. Fast forward to today, and other companies have cropped up to essentially mimic what we provide.

How did the pandemic impact TeleDentists and teledentistry in general?

Three weeks after the COVID shutdown began in March of 2020, we had a contract with Cigna to provide teledentistry for their members. Three weeks after that, we had a contract with Anthem to provide care for their members. Additionally in 2020, our direct-to-consumer growth was 1,500% that year alone.

We still see growth and new avenues to use teledentistry. We have identified 15 different silos, including employer clinics and urgent care options, in which we can use teledentistry and are implementing our services to provide immediate care.

How do you view the current state of teledentistry regulation? Are there any particular challenges shaping the legislative landscape for virtual care?

Because of mail-in orthodontia companies, orthodontists have lobbied to restrict virtual care to reduce their competition. The language for their proposals often reduces emergency access care as well. We continue to elevate and educate the public and lawmakers on the benefits of teledentistry.

How do you view the future of teledentistry? What opportunities could there be for patients and providers to participate in virtual care?

Our mission is to provide oral health care access 24/7/365 wherever a dentist is needed!! BIG job ahead.

We have recently partnered with PointClickCare to offer teledentistry in senior care facilities, over 22,000 locations across the nation. We are still working with large dental payer insurance companies and hope to be a covered service in the medical division as well. Our pilot program to offer teledentistry in emergency departments and urgent care is thriving. The sky is the limit!

Edited for clarity and brevity.

Can dental practices move away from PPOs?

Insurance reimbursement rates are down but are PPOs to blame? Jordan Comstock is the CEO and founder of the patient membership platform BoomCloud and he thinks the dip in reimbursements could be partially corrected by moving away from PPO reliance. Dentists can also establish membership plans, outsource PPO negotiation and even cut back on PPO contracts.

Why it matters: PPOs can be an important source of revenue for dental practices, but battles with insurance companies can impact cash flow and profit margins. Dentists experiencing those downsides can explore various strategies to reduce their reliance on PPOs or move to a completely different model. (Dental Economics)

What's new in digital dentures?

Dentists can create dentures from design to finish using digital techniques. New software, better workflows and more advanced manufacturing are driving the field of digital dentures forward. Brian Goodacre, DDS, and George Schmidt, DMD, talk about integrating digital dentures into general dentistry practices on this podcast from the Academy of General Dentistry.

Why it matters: Advances in the field of digital dentures can help dentists learn new skills and improve their patient care. (Academy of General Dentistry)

A patient's word versus their medical history

What happens when what a patient tells you doesn't match up with what you're seeing in their medical records? A patient may claim that they are not allergic to a certain medication when their medical records say otherwise, for example. Pamela Maragliano-Muniz, DMD, and Tom Viola, RPh, CCP, tackle this tricky topic in an episode of Medical History Mysteries.

Why it matters: Effective communication is essential in dentistry. Knowing how to navigate thorny situations with conflicting information from patients and their medical records can help dentists deliver the best care possible. (Dentistry IQ)