Maintaining healthy teeth and gums is the primary focus of dental care, but its impact extends far beyond the mouth. A growing body of evidence has shown that there is a strong connection between oral health and overall well-being and that oral health issues are associated with systemic conditions, such as cardiovascular disease and respiratory infections. However, despite the essential role of dental care in helping to prevent these serious health issues, many individuals struggle to access the care that they need.
Reduce Anxiety Through Patient Education
One of the primary barriers to seeking dental care is patient anxiety. In fact, approximately 1 in 3 people report experiencing anxiety about dental appointments, with some reporting extreme anxiety.1 Whether it stems from a fear of discomfort during procedures or other concerns, dental anxiety can lead to delayed care and worsening health issues. Recognizing and appropriately addressing anxiety is essential for dental practices that aim to provide comprehensive care.
Patient education can play a vital role in alleviating any fears surrounding dental procedures. Furthermore, educating patients, both early and often, about the importance of maintaining good oral health and the potential health complications that could arise from postponing necessary procedures is critical. For example, patients should understand that treatments to address cavities or remove wisdom teeth are not only about dental health but also about preventing more severe systemic issues.
A simple yet effective method of educating patients who are overdue for a hygiene appointment is to send an email that includes an infographic at the bottom that highlights the importance of routine cleanings and the risks associated with delaying checkups or procedures. This proactive approach can help to reinforce the significance of oral health and the long-term benefits of regular dental visits.
In addition to fears related to procedures, patients also experience anxiety about the cost of dental treatment and how they will pay for it. Being transparent about costs, insurance coverage, and out-of-pocket expenses can help to reduce patients' financial anxiety. Dental practices should provide detailed breakdowns of the cost of care, including what is covered by insurance and what balance remains.
Optimize Financial Solutions to Empower Patients
Financial concerns are a major barrier to patients seeking care. According to the results of a 2023 study, 58% of people believe dental care is unaffordable, and 92% would consider postponing general dental care due to cost.2 Patient financing is a powerful tool that can often be overlooked by dental practices. A 2022 survey found that retailers believe that convenience and frictionless digital payments are essential to retaining customers, with 76% of the respondents indicating that consumers wanted to have a choice of alternative payment options.3 As service providers, it is important for dentists to keep this in mind, particularly with the increasing emphasis on customer centricity to drive growth. In the context of dental care, providing tools that remove financial barriers to planning, receiving, and paying for care is crucial to meeting patients' needs and fostering loyalty. By integrating third-party financing options, dental practices can enhance patient experience while securing a stable financial foundation for the practice.
Enhance Efficiency Through Streamlined Billing Processes
Maintaining a consistent cash flow is beneficial for any business, including dental practices. Revenue cycle management (RCM) is a process that can significantly impact the financial health of a practice as well as the experience of its patients. Effective RCM ensures that services are properly coded, billed, and reimbursed promptly, minimizing delays and securing the financial stability of the practice. By optimizing production and ensuring timely payments, RCM can contribute to a practice's growth and success.
The efficient management of administrative tasks is helpful for effective RCM and overall practice efficiency. By optimizing insurance processing and billing procedures, practices can minimize delays and errors, which in turn improves cash flow and reduces administrative burdens. Leveraging practice management software and scanning technology to automate these tasks and transitioning to digital documentation can further enhance accuracy and allow team members to focus more on patient care, ultimately leading to a more streamlined and productive operation that benefits both the practice and its patients alike.
One addition that can benefit practices' RCM systems is the integration of AI diagnostics. This technology can offer real-time insurance eligibility information and help to accurately estimate patients' out-of-pocket costs, which allows dental practices to provide immediate financial clarity to patients, reducing uncertainties and enhancing trust. Similarly, many third-party financial providers (eg, Synchrony) can be seamlessly integrated into some of the largest software programs on the market to offer prequalification and payment options into the revenue cycle, further enhancing the patient experience and easing the administrative burden on practices.
Healthier Patients and Practices
Educating patients on the importance of timely dental care and providing financial transparency can help reduce their anxiety and make essential dental care more accessible. To be successful today, dental practices need to adopt the right technologies and financial strategies to grow with the evolving landscape of consumer needs and expectations. By integrating practice management software, digital payment solutions, and advanced RCM systems, dental providers can streamline administrative tasks, improve patient experience, and ensure consistent cash flow. Together, these efforts ultimately contribute to better oral health and overall well-being for patients.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Christopher J. Couri, DDS, MS, is a periodontal instructor in OSF Healthcare's General Practice Residency program and maintains a private practice in Peoria, Illinois. Sonia Williams is the senior vice president and general manager of the dental division at Synchrony.
References
1. Hill KB, Chadwick B, Freeman R, et al. Adult Dental Health Survey 2009: relationships between dental attendance patterns, oral health behaviour and the current barriers to dental care. Br Dent J. 2013;214(1):25-32.
2. Synchrony, Health & Wellness. Dental lifetime of care study. Care Credit website. https://www.carecredit.com/providers/insights/dental-lifetime-of-care-study/. Published October 19, 2023. Accessed November 26, 2024.
3. Pymnts and ACI Worldwide. Navigating big retail's digital shift. Pymnts website. https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/PYMNTS-Navigating-Big-Retails-Digital-Shift-December-2022.pdf. Published December 1, 2022. Accessed November 26, 2024.
