Council on Orthodontic Benefits Update: Meeting Updates, Initiatives, and Resources
Dr. Benjamin Chan
We are pleased to announce that Dr. Layne McCord will serve as the next Chair of the Council on Orthodontic Benefits (COB). Under his leadership, the Council will continue to provide valuable resources and support to our members while advancing efforts to increase patient access to care. We extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Tasha Hall for her outstanding leadership over the past two years.
Insurance Claims Resource Page
We encourage all members to visit the Insurance Claims Resource Page on the AAO website. This page offers essential tools and downloadable resources to help navigate insurance claims more effectively.
New Insurance Tool for Members
We are excited to introduce TINA (Tool for Insurance Navigation Assistance), now live on the AAO member website. TINA, part of the AAO’s Tech Transformation initiative, is an AI-enabled model designed to assist members and staff with common coding and insurance claim questions. Trained on ADA CDT, medical coding resources, and proprietary AAO content, TINA provides real-time guidance and support.
Currently available to all AAO members and Ortho Staff Club members via the Insurance Claims Resource Page, TINA is being launched in beta with opportunities for member feedback. Staff will be monitoring usage trends, common questions, and response quality, with performance updates provided along the way. We are proud to see this project come to life after just two years of planning and development.
Dental Benefits Advisory Service (DBAS) Helpdesk
The DBAS Helpdesk remains a vital resource for members and their office teams, providing guidance on common insurance issues. The phone number is available at the bottom of the Insurance Claims Resource Page.
So far in 2025, the most frequent inquiries have involved dissatisfaction with in-network provider agreements, with many members seeking advice on how to leave their networks. In response, the Council is developing additional resources outlining the benefits and considerations of both staying in and going out of network. A subcommittee has also been tasked with creating detailed guidance for navigating the process of leaving a network.
Industry Meetings and Key Developments
Over the past year, COB has participated in several important industry meetings, including:
- Code Maintenance Committee Meeting: COB is advancing proposed revisions to codes D8210, D8220, and Comprehensive Orthodontic Care descriptors to improve clarity and specificity.
- American Association of Dental Consultants Meeting: AI technology continues to expand in insurance claim reviews. While AI can approve claims, any AI-assisted denials still require review by a licensed dentist.
AAO Annual Session – Coding Corner CE Opportunity
COB is developing new opportunities for members and their staff to earn CE credit by attending the Coding Corner session at the AAO Annual Session. Subcommittees are in the process of restructuring the program to refine offerings for both staff and doctors.
We are very excited about these developments and look forward to continuing to serve our members with up-to-date resources and guidance.