:DentalPlans Offers a Look into 2015

Will Americans be smiling about our nation's dental health status by the end of 2015? All indications point to small but significant improvements in accessibility to children's dental care. But we will have to address the looming public health crisis of adult oral health.

One in four Americans over the age of 65 has lost all of their natural teeth due to decay and lack of access to affordable treatment, according to the American Dental Association. This situation will not improve unless we can find ways to make dental care more affordable and accessible to all Americans.

Bill Chase, vice president of marketing for :DentalPlans, believes that 2015 will bring increased awareness of the critical role good oral health plays in our overall wellbeing.

"And as the importance of regular, preventive dental care increases, I am optimistic that providing greater affordable access to dental services will become a national priority," says Chase. "Perhaps this won't happen in 2015, but I do believe it will and must happen soon."

:DentalPlans believes the following issues will also headline health news in 2015:

New ways to pay. Dental savings plans, medical tourism and health care loans and credits will be in the news this year, as people look for alternative ways to fill the gaps in programs such as Medicare and traditional insurance coverage.

Dental education loans: While cost continues to be a primary barrier to dental care for many Americans, access to dentists has also become an issue especially in rural communities. The nation could manage this growing crisis by offering funding for dental education, which could be paid back with a year or two of service in a rural area or public dental clinic.

Dentures on demand: 3-D printing technologies, already in use to create customized medical devices such as hearing aids, will be used to print dental prosthetics. The immediate benefit will be more comfortable, better fitting dentures but cost savings will soon follow as dentists buy 3-D printers for their offices.

A new role for hygienists: There will be discussion around the benefits of dental hygienists performing routine procedures, such as filling cavities, freeing the dentist to focus on providing advanced treatments. This should make basic preventive care more affordable, and allow dentists to help more people with health-threatening dental issues.

Dental spas: Why not combine dental care with other wellness treatments? Imagine following up a dental cleaning and checkup with a manicure and massage.

About :DentalPlans
:DentalPlans, founded in 1999, is the largest dental savings plan marketplace in the U.S., offering consumers access to 40+ dental savings plans from trusted healthcare brands, like Aetna, Careington, Signature Wellness, and UNI-CARE. Plan members have access to more than 100,000 dentists nationwide.

:DentalPlans, which has been included in the INC. 5000 list 2011-13, is committed to making you smile by making access to quality oral healthcare affordable and available to everyone. Visit us at www.dentalplans.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dentalplans.