What is Cigna?
Cigna Group is a health company with a global workforce exceeding 70,000 employees. With over 178 million clients, Cigna is dedicated to enhancing their health and vitality. The company accomplishes this by providing a variety of insurance plans and products specifically designed to address physical and emotional well-being.
Cigna Group tackles significant challenges within the healthcare industry through its two primary divisions, Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth Health Services. These include addressing rising costs, improving access to care, and providing personalized assistance to individuals with complex health conditions. Whether it’s finding a specialist or a Cigna dentist near you, Cigna’s network and services are designed to offer convenience and comprehensive support.
What are deductibles, copays, and coinsurance?
Most health insurance plans typically necessitate you to contribute to the coverage costs through various means, including -
- Deductible - Deductibles are a set amount you must pay out-of-pocket every year before your insurance provider covers the remaining costs. Contact your insurance provider to determine the deductibles for your specific health plan.
- Copays refer to fees for specific services, like prescription drugs or doctor visits, that you are responsible for paying out of pocket after you have paid deductibles.
- Coinsurance - After meeting your deductible (assuming you are within the maximum out-of-pocket limit for the year), you typically have to pay a percentage of the covered healthcare costs.
Plans that provide lower monthly premiums come with higher out-of-pocket costs. It is critical to examine your options carefully when selecting insurance plans. While lower monthly premiums may seem appealing, they often come with higher out-of-pocket expenses in the event of illnesses or medical emergencies. It could outweigh the benefits of the lower premiums.
Cigna's international health insurance plans
Cigna’s international health coverage spans over 200 markets and territories in 30 countries. With nearly 1.5 million health professionals and 24/7 customer service centers in over 50 languages, they ensure comprehensive support across diverse global communities, including helping you find a Cigna dentist near you wherever you are.
- Business insurance plan for global professionals: Cigna works with companies to cultivate a workforce that prioritizes physical and mental health. They provide straightforward, predictable, and cost-effective healthcare and well-being solutions. Whether for small businesses or large corporations, Cigna offers health plans tailored to meet their needs, along with 24/7 customer support available in 170 languages.
- International health insurance for families: This insurance ensures that you and your family can access private healthcare services while living, studying, or working abroad. You can choose your treatment facility and access emergency and routine healthcare options tailored to your needs.
- Cigna offers comprehensive family health coverage no matter where you are, including pediatric care for well-child visits and immunizations, access to orthodontic care and Cigna dentists near you, and round-the-clock customer service.
- Global health insurance for students: A student visa is usually temporary, permitting you to reside in another country for a set period. Consequently, you might discover that publicly funded or universal healthcare services are inaccessible.
- Fortunately, Cigna international student health insurance can be a lifesaver. These policies usually cover essential inpatient treatments like surgery costs and hospital stays. They often include coverage for cancer care, medical emergencies, and mental health support.
- Additionally, students can opt for extra benefits such as dental treatments, physiotherapy, and health screenings. Some policies even cover the expenses of repatriating you to your home country in case of a medical emergency.
- International health insurance for retirees & over-60s: As you age, you may have specific health needs that require attention. If you move abroad, you will face new challenges as you leave behind your local healthcare system.
- Cigna Global Health Options plans offer comprehensive coverage, including full cancer screening and treatment support. They also provide ongoing assistance for chronic conditions, including access to case planners and various treatment options. The plans can help you manage pre-existing conditions such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, glaucoma, arthritis, joint or back pain, and osteoporosis/osteopenia. You can also explore several treatment methods, including physiotherapy, osteopathy, and chiropractic care.
Who is a dentist?
A dentist is a medical expert who diagnoses and treats various oral health conditions. Their treatments include preventive, restorative, and emergency dentistry services. These encompass dental exams, X-rays, cleanings, fillings, tooth extractions, and root canals.
As a Cigna policyholder, you can visit a Cigna dentist near you if you experience issues such as:
- bruxism (teeth grinding)
- headaches
- toothaches
- jaw pain
- irregular teeth size
- tooth sensitivity
- chipped or broken teeth
- swollen or bleeding gums
- abscessed tooth
- bumps, lumps, or sores in the mouth
Why are dental checkups important?
Regular dental checkups help maintain a healthy smile and overall oral health. They help prevent oral bacteria from entering the bloodstream and affecting various bodily systems. Neglecting oral health can cause severe health problems such as cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer's, diabetes, respiratory problems, and cancer.
The benefits of regular dental checkups include:
Rare dental conditions parents should be aware of
Extra teeth (Hyperdontia)
Hyperdontia is when a person has more teeth than usual, most often in the upper jaw. Usually, it’s just one extra tooth, but in some cases, these extra teeth don’t break through the gum. This can cause problems like delayed eruption of other teeth, crowding, and crooked teeth. Dentists often recommend removing the extra tooth, but sometimes, braces or other orthodontic treatments can help instead.
Talon cusps
A talon cusp is a small, pointed bump forming on a tooth's back. It can lead to several issues, such as:
- A misaligned bite (malocclusion)
- Crowding that affects nearby teeth
- Irritation of the gums, cheeks, or tongue
- Plaque buildup in the groove where the cusp meets the tooth
Dentists must be cautious because a talon cusp might or might not contain pulp (the soft tissue inside a tooth). Usually, they’ll grind down the cusp, but a root canal might be needed if pulp is involved. Talon cusps can also appear in adults, so it’s something to watch.
Geminated teeth
Gemination happens when two teeth develop from a single tooth bud, creating a large or oddly shaped tooth. This tooth will have two pulp chambers but just one root. It can cause a misaligned bite, increase the risk of decay, and lead to crowding. If the tooth isn’t too large or problematic, dentists may recommend simply watching it to see if it falls out on its own. However, if it affects nearby teeth, they might suggest removing it.
How do you find the best Cigna dentist near you?
Finding the best Cigna dentist near you in Charlotte, North Carolina, can be challenging. However, Zocdoc simplifies the process by allowing you to access in-network dentists through its website or app. You can specify the condition or specialty (dentist), your preferred location, and your insurance plan, and it will generate a list of dentists that match your criteria. You can refer to Zocdoc's health insurance guide to understand insurance terminologies.
On Zocdoc, each practitioner has a dedicated profile featuring their educational qualifications, board certifications, hospital affiliations, areas of expertise, years of experience, clinical interests, and additional details. You can also customize the search by filtering dentists based on gender, languages spoken, and whether they treat children. When you book an appointment on Zocdoc, you must either provide your insurance details or confirm that you'll pay out of pocket. Some providers require insurance information before you can schedule a meeting with them. If you don't have insurance or prefer not to use it, you can look for a different provider on Zocdoc. For more insurance information, visit Zocdoc’s insurance page.
Additionally, you can read user-verified patient reviews to learn about others' experiences with a specific dentist, helping you make an informed decision. With Zocdoc, scheduling an appointment with a Cigna dentist near you is simple, secure, and free!
Statistics on dentists and dental care in North Carolina and the U.S.
According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, 13.6% of North Carolina adults aged 65 and older had lost all of their natural teeth in 2024. Access to dental care also remains uneven across the state. The North Carolina Oral Health Collaborative reported in 2026 that 93 of North Carolina’s 100 counties are designated Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas. The organization also reported that half of the state’s dentists are concentrated in only six urban counties, while four rural northeastern counties have no practicing dentists.
Research by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey highlighted the oral health trends in the United States. The survey indicated that between 2015 and 2018, nearly 13.2% of children aged 5-19 had untreated dental cavities, highlighting a significant portion of children facing oral health issues. Around 25.9% of adults aged 20-44 had untreated dental cavities. For those aged 45-64, it is slightly lower at about 25.3%. The rate dropped further for adults aged 65 and over, with about 20.2% experiencing untreated dental cavities.
The 2023 State of Oral Health Equity in America survey by the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health found that approximately 68.5 million adults lacked dental insurance. Notably, adults in rural areas (≈34%) were more likely to be uninsured than those in suburban (≈24%) or urban (≈29%) areas. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of May 2023, approximately 4,120 dentists were practicing in North Carolina.
Source
The Cigna Group
Cigna Healthcare[1]
Cigna Healthcare[2]
Cigna Healthcare[3]
Cigna Healthcare[4]
Cigna Healthcare[5]
Cleveland Clinic
Miami Orthodontist Group
John F Rink
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
North Carolina Oral Health Collaborative
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
Colgate
