Dental insurance: design, need, and public policy.

The demand for dental insurance is likely to increase as our nation ages. However, future dental benefit plans may need to differ considerably from their present day counterparts to be cost-effective. These plans will be designed to minimize adverse selection, limiting or excluding some components found in today's dental insurance plans. Interest in improving access to care for the undeserved has gained significant support as of late. Dentistry should be prepared to provide the leadership necessary to help shape the design of future dental plans and to help improve the effectiveness of public coverage programs.