Overview of the anatomy of the dental benefit marketplace and emerging concepts

Abstract

Changing dental trends, increase in the number of stakeholders involved with dental benefits, health care reforms and the oral-systemic connection will all have a significant impact on dental practice. Additionally, the demand from many stakeholders for increased oversight of dental benefit utilization requires the need for development of acceptable metrics to track and report outcomes. The dental profession and benefit carriers will be faced with many challenges to balance these needs and expectations.