People with toothache or other dental problems can take pictures of their mouth and send them to Connecticut-based Cigna Healthcare for a check-up.

The company announced that its dental customers can use their smartphone to screen for potential oral health issues, such as cavities and gum disease.

The no-cost screenings are powered by SmartScan and aim to encourage the millions of people who suffer from anxiety around dental visits to get informed about their oral health from the comfort of their home.

“Many people fear the dentist or the costs that follow a dental visit, which causes them to delay care and makes them susceptible to tooth decay and gum disease,” said Cary Sun, chief dental officer at Cigna Healthcare. “Together with SmartScan, we are providing a quick and convenient way for people to access an oral health screening from home.”

The online tool by Dental.com provides step-by-step instructions to help a patient take five guided photos of their teeth and mouth. SmartScan analyses the photos, which are then reviewed by a Cigna Healthcare network dentist.

In addition to providing an oral health score and personalised dental tips, the tool identifies areas of concern and helps connect users to a virtual or in-person dentist for follow-up care. SmartScan can also be used for quick check-ins between dental visits, especially if a user starts to experience tooth pain.

Roughly 36% of adults have not had a dental exam or cleaning in the past year, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.

“While this is not a replacement for regular, in-person dental care, this tool empowers people to stay aware of their oral health and provides peace of mind when dental concerns arise,” Sun said.

This virtual care is part of Cigna Dental Health Connect, a suite of clinical programmes designed to help employers provide meaningful dental care services tailored for their workforce, and makes it more convenient for users to access care when and where they need it.

It is available to more than 16.5 million Cigna Healthcare users with dental coverage through their employers or ACA Marketplace plans. In addition to SmartScan, Cigna Healthcare users can access other services such as on-demand dental care, including emergency care, through Teledentix.

Cigna Healthcare (cignahealthcare.com) is a health benefits provider that guides its customers through the health care system, empowering them with the information and insight they need to make choices for improving their health and vitality. Products and services are provided by or through operating subsidiaries of the Cigna Group, including Cigna Health & Life Insurance, Connecticut General Life Insurance, Evernorth Health or its affiliates, and Express Scripts companies or its affiliates. Such products and services include an integrated suite of health services, such as medical, dental, behavioural health, pharmacy, vision, and supplemental benefits.