When a dental emergency strikes at 2 AM, your first instinct might be to rush to the emergency room. But if you're an Aetna member, there's a smarter, faster, and much cheaper solution: The TeleDentists. Thanks to Aetna's partnership with The TeleDentists, you can connect with a licensed dentist in under 10 minutes, right from your couch, without the astronomical ER bills or endless waiting room hours.
Emergency rooms weren't designed for dental problems, and it shows in both the wait times and the bills. The average ER visit for dental pain costs between $1,500-$3,000, and that's before you factor in the follow-up dental work you'll still need. Aetna members, however, have access to something much better through The TeleDentists partnership.
Aetna has recognized that dental emergencies don't follow business hours, which is why they've partnered with The TeleDentists to provide 24/7 virtual dental consultations. For select Aetna dental customers, this service comes at no additional cost, meaning you can talk to a real dentist, get prescriptions, and receive professional dental advice without paying extra beyond your regular Aetna benefits.
Let's talk numbers, because this is where Aetna members really win. A typical emergency room visit for dental pain involves:
Compare that to using your Aetna benefits with The TeleDentists:
When you use The TeleDentists through your Aetna coverage, you're accessing in-network rates that have been pre-negotiated. This means no surprise bills, no out-of-network charges, and no wondering whether your insurance will cover the visit.
Dental pain doesn't wait for Monday morning or regular business hours. With Aetna's TeleDentistry partnership, licensed dentists are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Here's what that looks like in practice:
Traditional ER Route:
Aetna + The TeleDentists Route:
The difference is staggering. What takes 4-6 hours at the ER can be resolved in under 30 minutes with The TeleDentists, and you never have to leave your home.
Understanding how to use your Aetna dental insurance with The TeleDentists is straightforward. The partnership means that eligible Aetna members can access virtual dental consultations as part of their covered benefits. Here's what you need to know:
Coverage Details:
What's Covered:
Your Aetna benefits through The TeleDentists also include follow-up support. If your virtual consultation reveals the need for in-person treatment, the TeleDentist can help coordinate care with local Aetna in-network providers, ensuring continuity of care and maximizing your insurance benefits.
Not every dental issue requires an emergency room visit or even an in-person dental appointment. The TeleDentists, working with your Aetna coverage, can effectively handle many common dental emergencies:
Severe Tooth Pain: Licensed dentists can assess your symptoms, determine the likely cause, and prescribe appropriate pain management or antibiotics if an infection is present.
Dental Infections: Through video consultation, dentists can evaluate swelling, drainage, and other infection symptoms, prescribing antibiotics when necessary and advising on when immediate in-person care is needed.
Broken or Chipped Teeth: Virtual assessment can determine the severity of tooth damage and provide interim care instructions while arranging appropriate follow-up treatment.
Post-Treatment Concerns: If you've recently had dental work and are experiencing complications, Aetna members can quickly connect with a TeleDentist for evaluation and guidance.
Medication Questions: Having adverse reactions to dental medications or need dosage adjustments? Your Aetna TeleDentistry benefits cover consultations for medication management.
The TeleDentists platform integrates seamlessly with Aetna's systems, making it easy to verify your benefits and process claims in real-time. The technology includes:
All communications are HIPAA-compliant and encrypted, ensuring your personal health information remains secure throughout the process.
The feedback from Aetna members using The TeleDentists has been overwhelmingly positive. Here's what makes the difference:
Convenience Factor: No need to arrange childcare, take time off work, or find transportation. Access dental care from anywhere with internet connection.
Expert Care: All TeleDentists are licensed dentists with experience in emergency dental care. They're not ER doctors trying to handle dental problems, they're dental specialists.
Cost Transparency: With Aetna's pre-negotiated rates, you know exactly what you'll pay (often nothing extra) before your consultation begins.
Immediate Relief: Fast access to prescriptions means you can start managing pain or treating infections much sooner than traditional routes.
Ready to avoid your next expensive ER visit? Here's how Aetna members can access The TeleDentists:
For Aetna members, The TeleDentists represents a fundamental shift in how dental emergencies can be handled, faster, cheaper, and more convenient than ever before. Instead of dreading that next dental emergency and the inevitable ER bill, you can have peace of mind knowing that expert dental care is just minutes away, covered by your Aetna benefits.
The next time dental pain strikes at midnight or a weekend, remember: your Aetna membership gives you a direct line to licensed dentists who can help immediately. No ER wait, no massive bills, no wondering if you're getting the right care. Just fast, professional dental treatment that fits your life and your budget.
