Four ways United Concordia Dental is reimagining its approach to dental benefits

In recent years, technological advancements, Covid-19 pandemic pressures and growing evidence about oral health’s connection to total health have accelerated the pace of change in the dental insurance industry. At the same time, the emergence of new competitors and business models are further driving innovation in this space. As these evolving developments influence the dental benefits landscape, United Concordia Dental is not just adapting; we are continually reimagining how we do business to better serve customers and strengthen our market position.

Here are four areas that set our approach to business apart from other insurers:

Oral and overall health connection

The importance of good oral health care goes beyond the mouth itself; evidence shows it may lead to better overall health throughout a person’s life. Recent Gallup research points to regular dental visits as an essential aspect of improved well-being. The study, which included nearly 12,000 adults across the United States, found that those who had seen a dentist within the last year were far more likely to describe their health as “excellent” or “very good.”

Additionally, more research is showing an association between gum disease – which about 47% of Americans aged 30 years and older experience in some form – and systemic conditions, like diabetes, heart disease and Alzheimer's. These findings demonstrate the significance of regular preventive dental care and oral disease management, and the need for greater understanding about how the health of the mouth affects the rest of the body.

To support better total health outcomes, United Concordia Dental offers extra benefits and programs to members with certain medical conditions, like diabetes and heart disease, that can increase the risk of dental issues. Along with these enhanced care options, we offer educational and training resources about the mouth-body connection emphasizing good oral health habits and preventive care. One of our most valuable assets devoted to dental hygiene is our wellness consultants. Their main focus is to show members how making smart dental choices contributes to a healthy mouth, body and life.

Improving the dental office experience

We are committed to enhancing the experience for both dentists and office administrators in many ways, including a dedicated provider relations team, investing in technology and providing superior customer experience – all with an end goal of making it easier to do business with us.

Dedicated provider relations team. From credentialing and onboarding to claims submissions and everything in between, office administrators with questions to ask or feedback to share have dedicated business support at United Concordia. Our team works closely with dental offices to provide personalized service, enabling a greater familiarity with any reoccurring issues and quicker resolutions.Technology. We’re also continually looking to improve customer experience in the long term, investing in tools, platforms, infrastructure and other technologies that make engaging with us easier. From simple enhancements to larger system changes, our goal is to streamline interactions for both office staff and patients.

Best-in-class service. With a focus on quick and efficient inquiry responses, we strive to proactively reach out for input on various matters, including satisfaction with issue resolution, claim processing and payment policies. We also place high importance on constructively addressing any critical feedback received.

A total health approach to perks programs

According to the 2025 WebMD Health Services Workplace and Employee Survey, only one in four employees strongly agree that their organization cares about their well-being — a key indicator of an engaged and strong workforce. It also found that those who felt a genuine sense of organizational care reported 70% higher overall wellness.

One way to improve an individual’s well-being is to make taking better care of their total health a little easier. That’s why we developed United Concordia Perks— a new health, wellness and lifestyle discount program — to help our customers and the communities we serve lead healthier lives. The program launched earlier this month with a variety of wellness-related perks and discounts for dental, hearing and everyday activities offered through our like-minded partners: Firstgrin, LifeMart, Philips Sonicare, Smile Brilliant and TruHearing.

Over time, our goal is to expand what’s included in the program’s discount offerings by taking into consideration health needs and preferences, using data-driven insights and what’s going on in the market to help guide us.

Innovations expanding oral health care access

Data today shows Americans still face numerous barriers to accessing oral health care. A major obstacle for many individuals in getting the dental services needed is a shortage of dental health professionals across the country. According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, nearly 64 million people live in a shortage area.

To help reduce these disparities in oral health care access, we’ve adopted several innovative solutions. One example is teledentistry – a significant trend emerging from the Covid-19 pandemic; it’s an invaluable tool that can enhance care and education delivery through virtual visits when in-person appointments are not viable. We also offer mobile dental programs, which use portable dental equipment and mobile units to deliver low- or no-cost services to underserved populations and communities. Another area that we are investigating is salivary testing technology to see what role it may play in improving patient engagement and preventive care. And with research showing that a diverse dental workforce is associated with expanding access to dental services, our company is funding scholarship programs to support historically underrepresented groups in their pursuit of careers in dentistry.

As the industry continues to evolve, it will be critical for us to retain a dynamic strategy, exploring alternative approaches and considering different perspectives to meet customer needs and expectations, tackle future challenges and achieve long-term, sustainable growth.