Becker’s Healthcare Podcast: Interview with Vilas Sastry, CEO of Teledentistry.com

Date: August 24, 2025
Host: Ariana Portolatten
Guest: Dr. Vilas Sastry

Episode Overview

This episode of Becker’s Healthcare Podcast features Dr. Vilas Sastry, veteran dentist and CEO of Teledentistry.com. He shares insights on the pressing challenges and opportunities reshaping the dental industry, from policy change and technological disruption to the evolution of teledentistry. Dr. Sastry dives into the impacts of current legislative trends, new care delivery models, and what it takes to be an effective healthcare leader in the years ahead.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Dr. Sastry’s Background & Teledentistry.com’s Growth

Timestamps: 00:22–01:28

• Dr. Sastry introduced himself as a dentist (Boston University, 2005) with deep roots in practice, business, and innovation.
• Founded a DSO in Las Vegas, then an insurance brokerage (aimed at channeling more patients to dental offices), and later sold it.
• Founded Teledentistry.com in 2017 to improve access to care via a virtual platform.
  • Growth Highlight:

    “Fast forward to 2025. We are now currently serving 90 insurance carriers plus and providing services to approximately 150 million lives across the United States.” (01:16)

Major Issues Facing the Dental Industry

Timestamps: 01:28–02:43

Dr. Sastry tracks several significant trends:

• Fluoride Removal from Public Water Supplies:
  A “big one on my radar,” due to potential acceleration of dental disease.
• Changes to Medicare Advantage/Medicaid via the ‘one big beautiful bill’ act.
• Growth of Tech Platforms (e.g., EPIC):
  Observes large players integrating new solutions, sometimes replicating products from partners and leveraging distribution.
  • “They vet out who are the successful additions to their platform and then replicate... to create their own solution.” (01:53)
• Provider Licensing Compacts:
  Increasing support for multistate licensure—“something very near and dear to me.” (02:08)

Impacts on Teledentistry and Patient Access

Timestamps: 03:07–05:14

• Pandemic drove massive growth for teledentistry as ER diversion and continuity of care solutions.
• Evolving model:

  “Not everybody has a dental emergency all the time... We look at our business as an evolving model... to help care to patients wherever they are.” (03:44)

• Now, focus is broadening to preventive care services alongside emergent dental consults, strictly adhering to state dental practice acts.
• Intensified concern about fluoride removal and resultant spike in preventable dental disease:

  “When you have such a strong voice, you know, removing fluoride from the public water and acknowledging... there will be accelerated dental disease... it’s a bit baffling.” (04:13)

• Response: Expanding preventive offerings to bridge anticipated gaps in public oral health.

What Excites and Worries Dr. Sastry about Dentistry’s Future

Timestamps: 05:22–07:59

Excitement—Tech Empowerment:

• The potential of AI and Augmented Reality (AR) to support practitioners:

  “I’m excited to see some of the advancements in AI and augmented reality... practitioners... can now leverage these tools to be able to do so without additional stress on the body and mind.” (05:43)

• Example:
  “You can literally visualize the root canal anatomy of a patient while they’re in their chair using augmented reality. That’s incredible to me.” (06:08)

Concerns—Sustainability and Accessibility:

• Practitioner wellbeing amid physical/mental demands and rising patient expectations.
• The challenge of deploying costly technologies in a way that's affordable for patients:

  “AI, augmented reality... ultimately sometimes patients, they just don’t want to pay for that kind of, you know, advancement. So that's where the rubber hits the road.” (07:24)

• Need to balance technological advancement and economic sustainability for all parties.

Success Factors for Healthcare Leaders—Looking Ahead

Timestamps: 08:09–10:10

• Core trait: Ability to leverage new technology while bridging generations of practitioners:

  “You’re dealing with doctors... using a pen and paper to make scheduling decisions all the way to somebody who's using AI... and everything in between.” (08:45)

• Importance of mental safety and support for providers:

  “How do you accommodate that range of healthcare provider... and provide them a safe mental space to work in? It’s hard to do.” (09:06)

• Effective leadership means fostering a cohesive team—doctors, assistants, hygienists—all aligned and empowered to use new systems to deliver effective, patient-centered care.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Business Impact and Pandemic Era:

  “We got our big boost during the pandemic... needing a solution to help people who are having a dental emergency avoid the emergency room at that time.” (03:15, Dr. Sastry)

• On Public Health and Policy:

  “It’s a bit baffling... all based on science that’s not necessarily true or not necessarily proven 100% but nonetheless a knee jerk reaction is being taken in this regard.” (04:21, Dr. Sastry)

• On the Doctor’s Perspective:

  “Dentistry as a profession is reliant on the practitioner to be of sound mind and body… as I’m aging… you’re not able to practice at that level of efficiency.” (05:29, Dr. Sastry)

• On Technology’s Double-Edged Sword:

  “Everything sounds great... AI, augmented reality... While those companies are... valued at billions... it’s going to cost a lot of money to deploy them... sometimes patients... just don’t want to pay.” (07:22, Dr. Sastry)

• On Leadership:

  “As healthcare leaders, how do we make that easier... to make sure that the care that's being delivered is again, effective and meets the patient's demands.” (09:38, Dr. Sastry)

Useful Timestamps

• Introduction and Dr. Sastry’s background: 00:22–01:28
• Major industry issues in 2025: 01:28–02:43
• Effect of policy/market shifts on teledentistry: 03:07–05:14
• Exciting and concerning trends in dentistry: 05:22–07:59
• Advice for future healthcare leaders: 08:09–10:10

Conclusion

Dr. Vilas Sastry offers a candid, incisive view of dentistry in flux: policy turbulence, technological transformation, and shifting public health priorities are front and center. His enthusiasm for new technologies is balanced by pragmatic concern for affordability, provider wellness, and real-world leadership. The episode is essential listening for anyone invested in the future of dental care delivery.