Dental Industry Trends Summary Jul 13 - Jul 19

AI Needs Whole-person Health Information and That Includes Dentistry 

As artificial intelligence continues to transform health care, the integration of dental and medical records is becoming increasingly critical. When oral health data is excluded from patient health records, AI tools and clinicians lack a complete picture, potentially missing crucial indicators of systemic or oral diseases like periodontal disease and untreated decay. Experts emphasize that incorporating dentistry into whole-person care and leveraging AI to translate comprehensive data into actionable insights will improve early risk identification and personalized prevention. 

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ADA Opposes Insurance Companies Charging For Paper Checks

The American Dental Association (ADA) is strongly opposing a new policy by Delta Dental of California that imposes a 5 weekly fee on dentists who choose to receive claims reimbursements via paper checks. The ADA argues that this administrative charge unfairly coerces dental practices—many of which operate as small businesses—into adopting electronic funds transfers and shifts administrative costs directly onto providers. In response, the ADA has urged the National Association of Insurance Commissioners to intervene and protect dentists' freedom to choose their preferred payment methods without incurring extra fees. 

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