Delta Dental of Wisconsin provides coverage for certain exams done via telecommunication. Teledentistry is when providers use tools like FaceTime or video chat to evaluate a patient’s urgent dental problem remotely, rather than requiring a dental office visit. Ensuring that only patients in need of emergency care are in the dental office pays off in two ways. We can help to flatten the curve, and we can maintain social distancing by using remote, problem-focused dental appointments.
When dentists evaluate patients over the phone or via video conference, patients can find out if their dental problem is an emergency without leaving the house. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that only emergency patients visit dental offices at this time. The CDC also recommends that we hold off on preventive dental care visits for the time being.
When should you contact your dentist? The ADA recommends you do so if you need or experience:
- Bleeding that doesn’t stop
- Painful swelling in or around your mouth
- Pain in a tooth, teeth, or jawbone
- Gum infection with pain or swelling
- After-surgery treatment (dressing change, stitch removal)
- Denture adjustment for people receiving radiation or other treatment for cancer, or adjustments/repairs when function is impeded
- Broken or knocked-out tooth
- Snipping or adjusting wire of braces that hurts your cheek or gums
- Biopsy of abnormal tissue
- Replacement of temporary fillings
- Final crown/bridge cementation if the temporary restoration is lost or broken
Please contact your dental office directly to determine if they offer teledentistry. To check your coverage for problem-focused exams (code D0140), please visit the Plan Features, Benefit Coverage & Limitations page on our member portal, found under the Coverage & Costs tab. If you have trouble finding the page, feel free to chat with one of our live agents Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST.
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