Innovations to help make dental visits easier and more affordable

You have a terrible toothache, but your dentist’s office is closed. What do you do?

You may be able to arrange a virtual care visit, provided through your dental coverage, to help find options for in-person treatment.

In the past, options for dealing with unexpected dental problems may have been limited. Sometimes, people with tooth pain end up in the emergency room, even though oral health issues rank among the most avoidable ER visits.

These days, dental plan members may be able to start with a virtual phone or video meeting for advice from a licensed dentist on the appropriate setting for in-person care.

For example, many UnitedHealthcare Dental plans now include two virtual dental visits in addition to any in-person preventive visits at no additional cost per plan year, for eligible members enrolled in fully insured, employer-sponsored plans.¹

These virtual connections may make it easier to find the right care in the right setting and, in turn, help to lower costs and improve satisfaction with treatment.

Technology is not only making care more convenient and effective but also helping to create upfront cost estimates — which may help inform decisions about comprehensive care and treatment.

To help support cost transparency in dental care, UnitedHealthcare has launched a tool called the Treatment Plan Calculator. It features real-time processing capabilities for price estimates that are based on actual contracted rates and a member’s plan.

Dental professionals can access the calculator at uhcdental.com while the member is still in the exam room to discuss costs for potential treatments, including any anticipated out-of-pocket expenses — potentially helping to avoid surprise bills that affect millions of Americans each year.