Originating in the year 2020 in Chennai, India, ToothLens is redefining dental care with artificial intelligence and breaking new ground in insurance ⁽¹⁾ innovation. What began as a vision by Manoj Rajan, Aditya Andra, and Deep Mehta has grown into a full-scale solution tackling India’s widespread, yet under-addressed, oral health crisis.

Dentist in Your Pocket
The ToothLens app brings proactive dental care to users through features that:

• Detect early signs of decay, gum issues, and sensitivity

• Track and improve daily oral hygiene habits

• Alert users when professional dental intervention is needed

Joining Hands With Star Health Insurance
Recently, ToothLens aligned with Star Health Insurance, a leading independent health insurance company, to aid the debut of India’s first digital ⁽²⁾ cashless dental (OPD) Insurance, a trailblazing initiative to foster routine dental care financially and logistically accessible to patients across the country.
Significance of Partnership

• Truly Cashless Treatment: Patients accessible to dental care from participating clinics without any upfront payment.

• Comprehensive OPD Coverage: Includes consultations, cleanings, fillings, root canals, extractions, and even more.

• AI-Driven Claims Processing: Powered by SmartCheck®, which analyzes uploaded dental images for fast and fraud-proof claims.

• Empowering preventive Care: Insurance encourages routine dental checkups, decreasing costly emergencies.

• Financial Inclusion: Provide quality dental care to every insurance holder.

• Workplace Wellness: Employers can now offer innovative dental benefits with unlimited virtual consults and no co-pays.

Why Dental Insurance Remains Uncommon in India
Despite widespread health challenges, dental coverage remains uncommon due to:

• Cultural attitudes: Dental visits happen only when there's severe pain

• Cost fears: Treatments perceived as expensive

• Lack of awareness: Preventive care isn’t normalized

• Limited products: Few insurers cover outpatient dental care
  Far-reaching impact of this innovation
  1. Severe oral disease burden: Tooth decay and gum disease affect a significant portion of India's population, among the highest rates worldwide
  2. Treatment Costs: Procedures like root canals or crowns can be unaffordable.
  3. Preventive Culture: Insurance motivates regular, timely care.
  4. Role in overall health: Poor oral health has an impact on overall health, including heart disease, diabetes, and pregnancy risks.
  5. Greater Access: Cashless models eliminate cost-related obstacles to treatment.

AI-powered Dental solutions
ToothLens combines advanced technology with patient care management. including

SmartCheck® Remote Assessments
Patients upload dental images for AI-powered diagnostics and pave the way for early detection.

• Simmetry: Smile Simulation
  AI-crafted previews of expected results of treatment improve decision-making and trust.

• Effective Insurance Integration
  Through Star Health and Vizza Broking Services, users can access dental care without the stressful procedure, like claim paperwork or upfront costs.

• Employer Plans
  AI-backed virtual ⁽³⁾ consultation, instant treatment advice, and zero co-pays, ideal for employee wellness programs.

Comprehensive dental plans from Toothlens

Competitive Environment
ToothLens now operates in 17 global AI dental startups. Leading companies include:

ToothLens distinguishes itself with its deep ecosystem integration in India and its insurance-first model, making it a standout in the region.

The Road Ahead
ToothLens is preparing for expansion through:

• Partnerships with dental clinics and diagnostics labs

• Broader insurance product development

• Market entry into Southeast Asia and other emerging markets

MedBound Times connected with Dr. Aneeta Sebastian, and she shared his insights on this matter:

Digital Future of Dental Health
With AI technology, insurance innovation, and user-centric design, ToothLens is pioneering a healthcare rising model where oral wellness is proactive, personalized, and financially inclusive. By leading India’s first cashless Dental OPD initiative in collaboration with Star Health, it’s creating a future giving every smile the attention it needs.

References:

1. YourStory. “Toothlens Tackles Dental Diagnostics, Insurance with AI.” YourStory, May 2025. https://yourstory.com/2025/05/toothlens-tackles-dental-diagnostics-insurance-ai-artificial-intelligence.

2. APAC News Network. “Toothlens Partners with Star Health, Vizza Broking Services to Launch Cashless Dental OPD Insurance.” APAC News Network, March 2025. https://apacnewsnetwork.com/2025/03/toothlens-partners-with-star-health-vizza-broking-services-to-launch-cashless-dental-opd-insurance/.

3. Democracy News Live. “Toothlens Brings a New Beginning to India’s Dental Care Landscape.” Democracy News Live. Accessed May 21, 2025. https://democracynewslive.com/companies/toothlens-brings-a-new-begining-to-indias-dental-care-landscape-1359140.

 (Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Dr. Anjaly KTK/MSM)