Consumer Preferences in Dental Health Care Evolve with Age

Heightened consumer expectations help drive innovation in healthcare services, particularly in specialties such as dental care. Understanding consumer preferences allows dentists to create a more personalized, positive and inclusive experience for their patient base.

In a recent study of 2,000 adults in the United States with dental health insurance, Humana found that price transparency and in-network dental provider availability influence consumer preferences, more so as they age. Around 81% of respondents in the baby boomer subgroup report that having an in-network provider has a major influence on deciding where to seek care, compared to 74% of respondents in the millennial subgroup. In fact, 62% of baby boomers exclusively seek care with an in-network dental provider.

Our study also showed that younger consumers are more likely to prioritize preventive services than older consumers. Likewise, younger consumers are more open to artificial intelligence (AI) tools being used to supplement their dental care. Examples of AI being used in dentistry include confirmation of clinical diagnosis, surgical planning and estimation of costs.

For dentists, this means it is important to be strategic about joining health plans that provide network access to patients in your area, to be up-front with costs of preventive care and procedures, and to be sensitive about consumer preference when incorporating evolving technologies such as AI to improve the patient experience.

Download our Dental Health Whitepaper: Generational Differences to learn more.