Revolutionizing Dental Care: How Rising Dental Simplifies Employer Engagement and Patient Growth

In today’s dental landscape, practices face increasing pressure to prioritize patient-focused care while managing the complexities of running a business. Striking a balance between being a skilled clinician and a successful entrepreneur is no small feat. One innovative solution gaining traction is direct contracting with employer groups to establish an insurance-free relationship. However, while this model holds promise, the effort required to identify potential partners and foster these relationships often overwhelms dentists, detracting from their core mission of providing care.

Rising Dental is transforming this dynamic by acting as a bridge between dental practices and employers. Through strategic collaborations with benefits innovators and employers, the company connects a nationwide network of independent dental clinics with organizations seeking simplified dental care solutions. This case study explores how one practice harnessed Rising Dental’s expertise to forge employer partnerships, expand its patient base, and deliver superior care.

“There’s a need for education around direct dental implementation for employers, and that makes it difficult to effectively tap into the employer market. We think we have cracked that code.”

— Dr. Matthew Ross, Founder, Rising Dental

Expanding Without the Effort: Dr. Herrejon-Ruiz’s Journey

In 2022, Dr. Mario Herrejon-Ruiz, founder of Val Vista Smiles in Gilbert, Arizona, was navigating a rapidly growing community of over 275,000 residents. While the demand for direct dental care (DDC) was evident, his practice had yet to explore partnerships with local employers. The thought of approaching businesses individually seemed daunting, potentially pulling focus away from his patients.

Everything changed when Rising Dental stepped in, facilitating a partnership between Val Vista Smiles and a local school district that sought to enhance its dental benefits. After joining Rising Dental, Val Vista Smiles experienced a noticeable boost in revenue, driven by the higher value of Rising Dental patients compared to those with traditional insurance. On average, the annual revenue per patient increased from $739 for traditional patients to $813 for Rising Dental patients—a significant 10% rise. This revenue growth was further bolstered by utilization trends. In the first year, Rising Dental patients utilized services 30% more than traditional patients, indicating strong engagement with the practice. By the second year, however, the utilization for Rising Dental patients dropped below that of traditional patients. This shift suggests that Rising Dental patients’ proactive approach to care in the first year likely addressed underlying dental issues, leading to fewer treatment needs over time while still maintaining consistent preventive visits. This balance ultimately translated to increased profitability and less chair time per patient, allowing the practice to efficiently manage its growing patient base. We expect each passing year to have higher profitability than the year before as the patient base completes any needed dental work.

At Val Vista Smiles, the profitability of these Rising Dental patients skyrocketed even higher when comparing the administrative costs of patients. In a traditional insurance model, the administrative patient costs include the following: Compliance, credentialing, verification, estimation, billing, adjusting, appealing and collecting. These tasks create thousands of hours of work annually by the average dental office. In the Rising Dental model, 95% of these costs were eliminated, and thanks to Rising Dental, these new patients arrived informed about their dental benefits, alleviating the need for additional education from his office. This allows dental practices to lower front office workload and decrease costs.

Simplifying Dental Benefits Nationwide: A School District’s Story

From the employer’s perspective, the story improves just the same. Lisa Mueller, HR Director at Gilbert Christian Schools, faced the challenge of providing high-quality dental benefits to a dispersed workforce. Frustrated with the inefficiencies of traditional dental insurance systems, Mueller sought an alternative that would offer employees better care and streamlined benefits administration.

“I have had so many employees try out the program, and immediately after experiencing their first visit, they call to add their spouse and children.”

— Lisa Mueller, HR, Gilbert Christian Schools

The Rising Dental Solution

By partnering with Rising Dental, Mueller seamlessly integrated DDC into the school district’s benefits package. The partnership enabled her to secure a single contract that provided uniform dental benefits to employees while tapping into a network of reputable clinics. The collaboration resulted in over 500 employees and their dependents gaining access to comprehensive dental care. With Rising Dental managing the logistics, Mueller found the process stress-free and effective. “I have not heard one negative comment from a single employee about the program and their dental care.” she said.

Why Direct Dental Care Works

Direct dental care redefines traditional dentistry by fostering stronger relationships between patients and clinicians. Through a recurring membership fee, this model reduces overhead costs and administrative complexities, allowing dentists to spend more time with patients. The result? Enhanced care experiences, lower costs, and greater satisfaction for patients, dentists, and employers alike.

By addressing the gaps in employer engagement and streamlining patient acquisition, Rising Dental exemplifies the potential of innovative partnerships to revolutionize dental care. Practices like Val Vista Smiles and organizations like Gilbert Christian Schools are proof that direct dental care can create lasting value for all stakeholders.

Conclusion

Rising Dental’s approach to simplifying employer engagement and expanding patient access is a game-changer for dental practices and organizations alike. By bridging the gap between dentists and employers, Rising Dental empowers clinics to grow effortlessly while ensuring employees receive top-tier dental care. This case study demonstrates how innovation, collaboration, and a focus on patient-centered solutions can transform the dental industry.