Empallo and The TeleDentists Partner to Connect Heart Care and Oral Health
New TeleDentist Marketplace listing and two-way care coordination pathway bring virtual dental care to cardiac patients, and virtual cardiac care to dental patients.
EMPALLO — Oct. 5, 2026: Empallo Health, a virtual-first cardiology group, and The TeleDentists, a leading provider of teledentistry services, today announced they are working together to connect cardiac care with oral health. Empallo is now live in the TeleDentists Marketplace under affiliated services, and the two organizations have established a care coordination pathway that lets clinicians at each organization refer patients to the other when oral health or cardiac evaluation is clinically indicated.
Cardiac patients frequently have unmet oral health needs, and non-traumatic dental problems account for nearly 2 million hospital emergency department visits a year in the US, most for conditions a dental office could treat. For patients already managing heart conditions, a dental problem that goes unaddressed can add strain, delay needed care and turn into an emergency. Meanwhile, cardiology practices rarely have dental infrastructure of their own to direct patients to — and the reverse is true for dental providers whose patients may need cardiac evaluation.
The American Heart Association recognizes an association between periodontal (gum) disease and cardiovascular disease, though causality has not been established. That association is a practical reason for the two care teams to work hand in hand: patients managing the heart should not be ignoring the mouth, and patients being treated for oral health problems deserve attention to their overall cardiovascular risk profile. Modeled benchmarks from The TeleDentists network suggest that upstream virtual dental intervention can divert 84% of dental-related emergency department visits and avoid approximately $1,436 in cost per diverted encounter. These figures are modeled benchmarks, not guaranteed outcomes.
"We recently began screening our patients for dental wellness, and we found that more than half have unmet dental needs. That told us we needed to do more, so we're focused on expanding access to high-quality dental resources for our patients. Partnering with The TeleDentists is an important step,” said Claire Beskin, CEO and Founder, Empallo, Inc.
“Dentists are trained to see the whole patient, and cardiologists have always known the mouth tells a story about the body,” said Dr. Maria Kunstadter, DDS, Co-Founder and CEO of The TeleDentists. “What's changed is that patients no longer have to choose between getting dental care and getting cardiac care. Both are now a video call away. This is what the future of coordinated, virtual-first care looks like.”
The messaging for patients is simple: “Your heart has a care team. Your mouth should be part of it.” For providers: “When you're treating the heart, don't forget the mouth.” And for anyone who does not currently have a dentist: “No dentist? No problem. Start virtually.” Empallo explores the connection between oral health and heart health in our recent patient education piece, “Dear Heart, We Should Talk. ~Your Mouth.”
About Empallo
Founded in 2021, Empallo, Inc. and its affiliated medical groups, Empallo Medical Group (collectively, “Empallo Health”) is a virtual-first cardiology practice delivering cardiac care to patients at home, enabling heart health for everyone without the wait or worry. Empallo Medical Group's experienced cardiac specialists treat arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy, dysautonomia, heart failure, hyperlipidemia, hypertension and valvular heart disease, along with the cardiometabolic conditions that affect long-term cardiovascular health. When possible and preferred by the patient, diagnostics are shipped directly to the patient's home. Otherwise, they are coordinated at facilities near the patient. Care is available through most major insurance carriers as well as self-pay. The Empallo Marketplace connects patients with vetted partner services that support whole-heart health. Learn more at www.empallo.com.
About The TeleDentists
The TeleDentists (E-Dental Services, LLC d/b/a The TeleDentists), founded in 2014, is the first and leading teledentistry provider and Google's top-rated teledentistry service. The company connects patients to licensed dentists 24/7/365 — in under 10 minutes — by video, phone, mobile app or web, covering emergency dental care, acute pain triage, routine consultations, pediatric dental care, orthodontic and implant consultations, whitening guidance, treatment recommendations, prescriptions when clinically appropriate, and referrals to local dentists when in-person treatment is needed. With services available in all 50 US states, The TeleDentists serves as the virtual front door for oral health, catching dental problems upstream before they become emergency department visits. Learn more at www.theteledentists.com.
