The Delta Dental plans in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and North Carolina announced, in a January 15 press release with OraLiva, the commercial launch of an oral lesion test designed to support early identification and monitoring of oral cancer and precancerous conditions.
According to the press release, the collaboration makes OraLiva’s AI-powered cytology platform available to dental providers across Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and North Carolina. The test uses a non-invasive brush biopsy to collect transepithelial samples and applies artificial intelligence to generate a cytology-based risk score intended to assist dentists in determining whether oral lesions require referral, monitoring, or routine follow-up.
Oral cancer remains difficult to detect at an early stage, despite being visible during routine dental examinations. The press release cited diagnostic challenges related to distinguishing benign lesions from oral epithelial dysplasia, particularly in the absence of readily available tools for front-line clinicians. It also referenced national estimates indicating that in 2025 approximately 59,660 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer and about 12,770 will die from the disease, with incidence increasing by nearly 1% annually over the past decade.
The press release further stated that only about one in four oral cancer cases are identified at an early stage, when five-year survival is approximately 88%. Most cases are diagnosed later, when five-year survival drops to about 37%. OraLiva’s test is intended to support detection at the precancer stage, when treatment costs are lower and survival prospects are higher, according to the announcement.
Delta Dental of Michigan, Delta Dental of Ohio, Delta Dental of Indiana, and Delta Dental of North Carolina stated in the press release that they will reimburse providers for the test under CDT code D7288 (brush biopsy—transepithelial sample collection). Providers may also choose to complete a continuing education module on oral lesion recognition and AI-based cytology through Delta Dental of Michigan’s learning platforms.
The initial rollout includes the four named states, with additional states expected to be announced in the future, according to the press release. The announcement described the effort as part of the organizations’ preventive oral health initiatives and noted that the OraLiva platform is based on a clinical study involving 999 patients and analysis of more than 13 million cells.
OraLiva develops cytology diagnostics that combine sample collection, digital imaging, and artificial intelligence to produce risk-stratified reports intended to support clinical decision-making, the press release stated. The participating Delta Dental plans are members of the Delta Dental Plans Association and collectively provide dental coverage through networks of participating dentists across multiple states.
