title: The future of dental benefits.
abstract: The past twenty years have seen dramatic growth and consolidation in DHMO and PPO segments of the dental benefits industry. Purchasers and patients are becoming more vocal in their demands, primarily for controlling costs. It is predicted that emerging trends will include greater emphasis on quality (and its relationship to cost) and on dental practice management companies. It is less clear what role organized dentistry will play in these changes.
authors.affiliation: CIGNA Dental, Plantation, FL 33324, USA.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: DePorter
mesh_terms: D003363:Cost Control; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003729:Dental Care / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends*; D003813:Dentistry / Q000639:trends; D005544:Forecasting; D006264:Health Benefit Plans, Employee; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations / Q000639:trends; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007347:Insurance, Dental; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends*; D011215:Practice Management, Dental / Q000639:trends; D011243:Preferred Provider Organizations / Q000639:trends; D011787:Quality of Health Care