Introducing Aetna
Aetna, a CVS Health company, aspires to build a world of health care around each individual it serves. It offers health insurance plans for individuals, families, and people who avail of medical insurance through their employers. Its benefits are tailor-made to suit the needs of small, mid-size, and large employee groups.
Aetna's efforts to close the health equity gap are rooted in historically marginalized communities. Since 1997, they have invested $1.4 billion in affordable housing while also supporting programs providing access to food, transportation, and medical care. Rooted in the belief that everyone should have a fair opportunity to achieve their best health, Aetna's innovative solutions aim to reach more people and provide them with a higher level of care.
Who are dentists, and what do they do?
Dentists are healthcare providers who diagnose and treat oral health conditions. Caring for your gums and teeth helps prevent oral diseases and reduces your risk for other severe conditions, such as stroke and heart disease. Dentists provide regular dental checkups and cleanings. They also perform oral health treatments, including dental fillings, bridges, and crowns.
Dentists offer treatments in three key areas:
- Preventive dentistry: Preventive dentistry involves maintaining healthy teeth and gums. It helps avoid cavities, gum disease, and other dental problems. Dentists offer preventive treatments to protect your teeth and gums from harmful bacteria. These treatments include dental exams, cleaning, and fluoride treatments.
- Restorative dentistry: Dentists use restorative procedures to repair or replace damaged and/or missing teeth. These procedures, including implants, fillings, crowns, and bridges, help improve oral health and function.
- Emergency dental care: Dental emergencies are dental problems that require immediate attention. Emergency dental care encompasses procedures, such as root canals and tooth extractions, that help treat these concerns.
Dentists complete a pre-medical undergraduate degree and spend four years in dental school, which includes two years of biomedical science studies and two years of clinical practice. After graduating with a DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) or a DDM (Doctor of Dental Medicine) degree, they clear written and practical exams to earn their dental license.
Dentists might then obtain certification by passing the National Board Dental Examination. Further, based on their area of specialty, they might need to complete a postgraduate residency of one to three years. They can choose from the following specialties:
- Periodontics
- Endodontics
- Orofacial pain
- Oral medicine
- Prosthodontics
- Pediatric dentistry
- Dental anesthesia
- Dental public health
- Oral and maxillofacial surgery
- Oral and maxillofacial radiology
- Oral and maxillofacial pathology
What conditions do dentists treat?
Dentists diagnose and treat a range of conditions, including the following:
- Cavities (tooth decay): Cavities (also known as dental caries) are holes in your tooth that develop due to tooth decay. They form when sugar/starch in your food combines with plaque, producing acids that erode your enamel. Toothache, bad breath, and facial swelling are some common symptoms of this condition.
- Bad breath (halitosis): Research shows that dental conditions cause bad breath in about 85% of all affected people. These conditions include cavities, gum disease, and bacteria on the tongue. While mouthwash only masks the odor temporarily, you should see a dentist if you have chronic bad breath. They can help identify the root cause.
- Mouth ulcers: Mouth ulcers are sores that can appear anywhere inside your mouth. These sores can develop on your gums, tongue, inner lips and cheeks, and roof of the mouth. You can get one or more sores, which might be yellow, red, or white. Mouth ulcers are typically painful and can make eating, drinking, and speaking uncomfortable.
- Tooth abscess: A tooth abscess occurs when the soft tissue inside your root canal dies and gets inflamed. This lets bacteria enter the pulp and infect the tooth's root. A pocket of pus can then form around the root, creating an abscess. Pain in the bone surrounding the affected tooth is the most common symptom of an abscessed tooth. Other possible symptoms include a fever, teeth sensitivity, and red and swollen gums.
Aetna's dental insurance plan
Aetna Dental offers affordable plans, starting at just $20, that cover 100% of dental checkups, cleanings, and X-rays. You also get coverage for treatments like crowns, fillings, and root canals. Their plan provides access to a nationwide network and allows you to choose from over 445,000 dental providers.
The different dental insurance plans from Aetna include:
- Aetna Dental Direct Preferred PPO: This plan offers the highest level of coverage, requiring you to pay 20% of the total cost for all basic procedures and 50% for major ones. The deductible under this plan is $50 per person and $150 per family.
- Aetna Dental Direct Core PPO: This plan offers benefits similar to those of the Direct Preferred PPO but with a lower premium. Additionally, you must pay more for dental services - 50% of the total cost for all basic and major procedures.
- Aetna Dental Direct Preventive PPO: This cost-effective plan offers coverage for routine dental care. This plan does not cover basic and major procedures; the deductible is $0. However, the Aetna Dental Direct Preventive PPO is available in only four states: Arizona, California, Florida, and Maine.
Deciding the type of health insurance you need can feel confusing and tedious. If you are new to health insurance and need help understanding insurance jargon, you can start by reading Zocdoc's Health Insurance 101 guide. Additionally, if you wish to find an Aetna dentist near you, book an appointment with one today on the Zocdoc website.
What is teledentistry? Does Aetna provide virtual dental care?
The concept of telehealth is not a new one. It uses digital information and communication technology to provide remote or virtual access to healthcare. Telemedicine offers accessible primary care to individuals with limited mobility, time, or transportation. With virtual care, many healthcare providers, including mental health counselors, nurses, and medical specialists, can coordinate and manage care for their patients through a smartphone, tablet, or computer with internet access.
Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, there has also been an increased interest in using telemedicine technologies in dentistry. Telemedicine in dentistry may be referred to as "teledentistry." In addition to having a live two-way interaction between the patient and provider, it also involves the exchange of recorded health information ( such as radiographs, photographs, digital impressions, and photomicrographs) through a secure electronic communications system to a practitioner.
Historically, direct or in-person examination has been the most direct and efficient method of providing oral care. However, the American Dental Association believes that examinations performed via teledentistry allow dentists to expand their reach to populations with significant geographic distances and varied locations, subsequently reducing the effect of distance barriers to dental care. Additionally, research shows that teledentistry is a practical and cost-effective way to increase access to oral healthcare among rural and disadvantaged children. When the costs of and barriers to accessing oral health care are reduced, the oral health outcomes for underserved children improve.
If you have Aetna and are in need of virtual dental care, you may benefit from “Aetna Virtual Dental Care” through Dental.com. Through this collaboration, Aetna members can now:
- Access Aetna's no-cost Smart Scan feature, an AI-powered dental photo assessment. This feature allows patients to scan and submit photos of their mouths and teeth. AI (Artificial Intelligence) then analyzes the images and displays a personalized dental wellness report that may help detect issues like cracked teeth, cavities, gum inflammation, or even defective restorations.
- Get detailed second opinions from licensed dentists without leaving the comfort of your home. These dentists can review treatment plans, X-rays, and other health records.
- Speak with an online Aetna dentist anywhere and anytime, available 24/7. The AI Smart Scan may be a great first step to uncovering your dental issues. However, it is vital that you consult an in-network dentist for a detailed discussion about treatment options, emergency dental care, prescription advice, and doubts regarding your diagnosis or other issues like toothaches and tooth infections.
- Get CVS Health and Listerine product recommendations. Aetna members who have a dental issue detected in their Smart Scan get personalized exclusive access to specific product recommendations. Members may also receive a special 20% discount (applicable to online purchase only) on specialty toothpaste, Listerine mouthwash, and other products.
How do you find Aetna dentists near you in Denver, Colorado?
Not all doctors accept your health insurance, and finding the ones that do might be challenging. But with Zocdoc, you can identify top-rated dentists who accept your insurance plan in no time!
Zocdoc is an online platform with a vast database of healthcare providers. It helps you find doctors based on specific criteria, including specialty, location (in this case, Denver), and insurance coverage. The process is easy: head to the website, create a free account, and enter your requirements. Zocdoc will generate a list of doctors who meet your criteria.
You can use Zocdoc's insurance detector to find Aetna dentists in your area or neighborhood. Adding your insurance details to your Zocdoc account makes finding in-network dentists easier. However, since many offices check your insurance card in person, remember to carry it with you to the appointment. Check Zocdoc's patient help center for any other insurance-related queries.
Every doctor listed on Zocdoc has a profile with information about their gender, areas of expertise, educational background, certification, languages spoken, etc. You can also check past ratings and reviews. These details help you make an informed decision.
With Zocdoc, you can book both in-person and online sessions with doctors. While browsing the list of Aetna dentists near you, look for a purple-colored video icon. Providers with the icon next to their name offer virtual consultations.
All bookings you make on Zocdoc are completely fast, safe, and free.
Health insurance-related statistics for Colorado
According to the Colorado Division of Insurance's annual statistical report on the state's insurance industry (2022), 34.3% of Colorado citizens purchased accident and health insurance, which topped the list of insurance plans purchased.
Further, according to USA Facts (2023), 92.03% of all people in Colorado were covered by some form of medical insurance in 2021. 58.75% of the total population had private health insurance, while 21.52% had public health insurance. 11.33% of the population had both public and private health insurance. The website referred to information provided in the US Census and the American Community Survey data for the graph.
According to a 2024 Statista report on the Health insurance status distribution of Colorado's total population in 2021, 53.8% of all insured people availed of health benefits through their employer, 18.7% were Medicaid beneficiaries, 12% were Medicare beneficiaries, and 7% were uninsured.
Sources
Zocdoc
Statista
WebMD
Aetna[1]
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CVS Health
HealthCare.gov
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