Don’t skip on dental: Oral health is a strong indicator of overall health

Stephanie Santoro
Posted 6/11/15

By STEPHANIE SANTORO

We’re in the midst of a shift in the way we approach health and healthcare.

The focus is shifting from treating diseases once problems already exist, to working to …

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Don’t skip on dental: Oral health is a strong indicator of overall health

Posted

By STEPHANIE SANTORO

We’re in the midst of a shift in the way we approach health and healthcare.

The focus is shifting from treating diseases once problems already exist, to working to prevent issues from arising and emphasizing wellness. Today’s healthcare is about staying well, not just getting better. And that’s great news – this approach leads to better quality of life overall, better outcomes when you are ill, and cost savings across the healthcare system.

As you embrace foods like quinoa and edamame, try yoga and meditation, and get serious about those annual physicals, there’s one connection you might not be making in your quest to live well: dental health. We think so much about the health impacts of what goes into our mouths, but what about our teeth and gums? Research shows that there is a strong connection between oral disease and other physical ailments. Preventive care isn’t just limited to our bodies – a strong dental hygiene regimen and regular cleanings and check-ups can have a much deeper impact than your smile.

Bacteria in the mouth can lead to gum disease, which in turn leads to dental infection. When these infections enter the bloodstream, they’re connected to a host of health issues, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and even premature birth. Since 47 percent of American adults suffer from periodontal disease at any given time, the risk is real.

A long-term study from United Concordia Dental shows that regular dental treatment and maintenance has a major impact on patients with diabetes, cerebral vascular disease (stroke) and coronary heart disease. Over a five-year period, hospital admissions decreased significantly for patients who received regular preventive dental care. Admissions were down 39.4 percent for diabetes patients, 28.6 percent for patients with heart disease, and 21.6 percent for stroke patients.

Annual medical costs also decreased dramatically: costs were more than 40 percent lower for diabetes and stroke patients, and a staggering 73.7 percent lower for pregnant women. Regular dental cleanings can help break the infection cycle, keeping you healthier and reducing unnecessary spending on avoidable hospital visits. One way that regular dental healthcare helps to lower costs is by avoiding ER visits for dental issues.

These ER visits typically provide only temporary relief and don’t address the root cause, leading to further medical needs down the road.

Through the RI Mission of Mercy on May 30 and 31, more than 500 dental health professionals volunteered to provide care at no cost to more than 750 Rhode Islanders. This critical care for our neighbors in need not only helps to improve their quality of life and overall health, but also reduces the broader cost burden on healthcare system, ultimately helping to manage costs for everyone. Over the last four years, Mission of Mercy has helped more than 3,000 Rhode Islanders with both preventive and necessary dental care. This is a tremendous effort, but we must do more.

It’s critically important for all Rhode Islanders to get and use dental insurance, and take full advantage of those benefits. This will help to ensure a healthier Rhode Island, ultimately bringing down healthcare costs and improving everyone’s quality of life.

Stephanie Santoro, RDH, MA, is the dental program administrator for Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island.

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  • ronruggieri

    It has been clear to any health literate American citizen for years now that dental health is inseparable from general physical health -even mental health. But why was this fact not recognized during the long debate on health care for ALL Americans? Why should even private dental insurance be separate from Blue Cross ? It is a shame to see so many kids with rotten teeth. Why should a 74 year old woman on Medicare panic when her pet dog chews up her lower denture ? This happened to my neighbor and friend, Dorene.

    I commend the dental health professionals for organizing these clinics. But bad teeth and gums should not be the responsibility of mercy missions.

    True , Obamacare is a long way from Teddy Kennedy's dream of health care as a basic human right.It would have been better to just extend Medicare to ALL Americans. Sell that idea to this Ayn Rand inspired Republican Congress .

    [ http://radicalrons.blogspot.com] I will reference this article on my blog.

    Sunday, June 14, 2015 Report this