Where the Industry is Going
Written by: Dr. Linda Vidone
Healthcare in the United States is changing- dentistry included. Dentistry is constantly evolving and changing as new technology and business structures are introduced.
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Dr. Linda Vidone
Senior Dental Director,
Delta Dental of Massachusetts
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Future/Where the industry is going:
1. Emphasis on Value
The Affordable Care Act changed how Americans view what they expect from the healthcare system. It put a bright spotlight on the need to focus on outcomes and results; not just care provided. Today’s fee-for-service model in dentistry and medicine will start to give way as plans reward providers who keep a patient healthy (such as helping them quit smoking) and help prevent and manage chronic conditions.
While this is becoming a standard practice in the medical area, we are just starting to see this for the dentists too. Dentists are good at measuring tooth decay and periodontal disease but are not yet helping patients understand the impact on dental disease on their health outcomes. As this becomes more common, dentistry will have to adopt diagnostic codes and more robust information in claims data to uncover health issues for members.
2. Increased Consumerism
Today, nearly every consumer checks ratings and reviews prior to purchasing. In fact, a survey by Podium found that 93%(1) of consumers said online reviews impacted their purchasing decisions and that even includes selecting a dentist. In that same study, more than 90%(1) of 18-34-year-olds trusted online reviews as much as personal recommendations.
This increased focus on measuring and reporting will further focus dental care on meeting and managing customer expectations. While it is early in the evolution in the medical space, I’d expect this to continue growing substantially and drive the success of providers and carriers in 2020.
3. Increased Care Coordination and Collaboration with Healthcare Providers-
Walls and silos will be broken down in healthcare as medical and dental teams begin to work more closely to deliver high quality outcomes.
Dentists can be a great first line in uncovering chronic conditions. About 27 million see a dentist, but do not see a physician(2) – that is 8.2%(3) of the population. If dentists performed basic screenings for things like blood glucose, blood pressure, and obesity, they could refer the patient for care and head off diseases before they become a problem.
This is a different role for dentists and would require changes in how dentists are paid. Many younger dentists are open to this approach and dental training schools are increasingly preparing prospective dentists to be alert for connections between medical and dental diseases.
4. Smart technology will change dental care
Smart toothbrushes that track how often and how well someone brushes – as well as the gamification of brushing - are new solutions to the age-old problem of consistent tooth brushing.
Technology will also revolutionize care. Mouthguards will give detailed measurements of grinding. Cameras will make 3D models of the mouth and Teledentistry will allow for diagnosing dental problems over the Internet. And 3D printing is making it easier and quicker to create oral health products right in the office
5. Changes in Dental Offices
We are seeing a movement of individual dentists with local offices joining with larger group practices and DSOs (Dental Service organizations). This is another trend that has moved from the world of medical to dental.
Currently 8.3%(4) of dentists are part of a larger practice or DSO. This appears to be especially attractive to younger dentists and women dentists. About 11% of women and 17% of dentists under age 34 are in DSOs.(4)
While this does offer more stable salaries, collaboration and a host of other benefits for dentists, consolidation of providers has at times driven up the cost of care on the medical side due to negotiating leverage with carriers. Only time will tell if the same pattern repeats on the dental side.
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This article represents the views and opinions of Dr. Linda Vidone and does not necessarily reflect the views of Delta Dental of Massachusetts or affiliated companies.
Sources
1. http://learn.podium.com/rs/841-BRM-380/images/2017-SOOR-Infographic.jpg
2. Vujicic, M., H. Israelson, J. Antoon, R. Kiesling, T. Paumier, and M. Zust. 2014. A profession in transition. Guest editorial. Journal of the American Dental Association 145(2):118-121. https://jada.ada.org/article/S0002-8177(14)60204-X/fulltext
4. https://www.ada.org/~/media/ADA/Science%20and%20Research/HPI/Files/HPIwebinar05222018.pdf?la=en