Why Value-Based Dental Care Matters to the Patient Experience

The traditional dental care model often feels like going through the motions — visit every six months, get the same routine cleaning, and only address issues once cavities appear. However, in a recent podcast episode with Danielle Apostolon of CareQuest Institute of Oral Health, we discussed how value-based dental care is revolutionizing how patients experience and engage with their oral health. Plus, this blog outlines how dental and oral surgery practices can transition to value-based care!

A more personalized approach

Value-based care puts patients in the driver’s seat of their dental health journey. Value-based dental care is a delivery model that rewards providers for quality health outcomes rather than the quantity of care delivered. Rather than following a one-size-fits-all approach, dentists work collaboratively with patients to develop personalized treatment plans. They focus on prevention first, using evidence-based approaches like specialized toothpaste and preventative treatments before jumping to more invasive procedures.

This proactive approach helps patients better understand their options and become more invested in their oral health. When patients feel heard and involved in decision-making, they’re more likely to follow through with recommended treatments and tackle larger dental procedures when needed. The improved patient experience is a key outcome of this model, fostering trust and long-term commitment to oral health.

One of the most powerful aspects of value-based dental care is its holistic approach. Dentists aren’t just looking at teeth — they’re considering the whole person. For example:

• Screening for oral cancers
• Assessing nutrition and its impact on oral health
• Identifying connections between oral health and other medical conditions
• Addressing barriers to care, such as dental anxiety

This underscores how the patient experience is boosted by this approach. But, many dental and oral surgery practices might be nervous about making the transition.

The transition challenge

While the benefits are clear, transitioning to value-based care isn’t without its challenges. Healthcare systems need to:

• Update IT infrastructure to better share patient information
• Align medical and dental coding systems
• Develop new payment models that reward outcomes rather than procedures
• Create tools for measuring and tracking patient outcomes

However, these challenges aren’t insurmountable. Organizations like CareQuest Institute for Oral Health are developing assessment tools and resources to help practices make the transition step by step.

Value-based dental care represents a fundamental shift in how we approach oral health. By focusing on prevention, patient engagement, and comprehensive care, this model promises better outcomes for patients and more sustainable practices for providers. While the transition may take time, the movement toward value-based care continues to gain momentum as more providers and patients experience its benefits firsthand.

Remember: good oral health is about more than just clean teeth — it’s an essential component of overall wellness. Value-based care helps bridge that gap, creating a more integrated and effective healthcare experience for everyone.

Intiveo: where trust and the patient experience meet

We are proud to offer a number of resources to dental and oral surgery practices across Canada and the United States as they create trust-based patient experiences. Our resource library includes guides, template packages, self-assessments and more. Or, tune into our podcast, The Patient Experience Blueprint, on Apple or Spotify.

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